It was evening in Lima, Ohio. The sun had set low behind the hills and the sky was cloaked in black. Yet, the dinner table had just been cleared. As Wyn Abrams was clearing the table, Artie was wheeling into the living room with his little girl in his lap. She was about two years old. She held onto her kitty doll, one Wyn had when she was a little girl. "Daddy?" asked Bridget. Artie looked down. "I have to go to the potty."
Artie set her down onto the floor. "Daddy will be here when you get back," he smiled to her.
She clung to his chair's wheel. "I'm scared of the potty!" she whined, looking up to him. Her big eyes met his eyes behind his glasses. He picked her up again and wheeled her to the bathroom.
"We will face the potty together," said Artie. Bridget tried to squirm off his lap. Artie grabbed her and placed her on the ground in the bathroom. "Princess, you're almost three and your mummy and daddy think it's time you learn to use the potty."
Bridget looked into the bowl then back to Artie. "No potty," she said.
"Come on now, sweetie, you don't wanna wear diapers forever, now do you?" asked Artie. She nodded and Artie sighed. "I hear Beth has been toilet trained for awhile."
He showed her all the steps of using the toilet. "And when you're done, you push on this silver thing," said Artie. The toilet flushed and she cried. "It's okay! It's okay!"
"It's too loud!" she howled.
"Why don't you give the toilet a flush?" asked Artie. She shook her head. "Its okay. The potty won't hurt you."
She flushed it after some nudging from her father. Bridget watched as the water went down the hole. "Water go down the hole!" she said happily.
"Yes, sweetheart," said Artie. "But look, the water came back. So do you like the potty now?" She nodded. "Why don't you go to the potty and I'll stand right outside the door, okay?"
Artie left Bridget alone in the bathroom to see Wyn standing there. He closed the door. "Daddy!"
"What is it baby!" cried Artie.
"Just making sure you didn't leave me," said Bridget.
"You're a great father," said Wyn as she bent down to kiss Artie. "And you'll be just as great with another one in seven months."
"Thank yo-another one!? You're pregnant!?" cried Artie. "When did you find out?"
"This morning, been saving the news for the right moment," said Wyn.