Chapter 1

I DO NOT OWN NANCY DREW, BUT I DO OWN MY CHARACTER NAMES

" Yes, I know. Yes, please come over and babysit. Thanks! Talk to you later tonight!"

"Bess Underwood hung up the phone. The 20 year old former Bess Marvin had just gotten off the phone with her best friend, Nancy. She had called to ask if she could babysit her little girl, Robin. She was two years old. The girl's mother had asked her once if she wanted a baby brother or sister. She had said yes. Well, she thought, It could be sooner than later! Because today, she had found out that she was pregnant again. She couldn't wait to tell her husband, Robert. She planned on taking him out for a nice quiet evening. Then, when he was comfortable in a chair in a nice restaurant where he couldn't get overexcited, she would tell him the news. She was so proud. After Robin was born, they had tried and tried with little success. Now, their dreams were about to come true. Bess planned on telling Nancy that night, right before they left.

So Bess went off to her room to get ready. It was already 5:30. After an hour of putting on makeup and her brand new silk dress, she headed downstairs and into the waiting arms of her husband, returned from work. "How was your day?" she asked, stroking his hair tenderly. He responded by pulling her into his arms and kissing her tenderly. Their little daughter squealed and ran up the stairs. Laughing, Bess watched as he chased her up the stairs and gave her a big bear hug. "How's my little girl?" he asked, and Robin laughed and petted him. "Time to go!" Bess said, and headed toward the door as the doorbell rang suddenly.

She gave her best friend a hug, and exclaimed when she saw her cousin, George standing next to her. "Oh! When did you get home?" she exclaimed, pulling the disheveled girl into the doorway. George had been on a trip to Europe for the past year, and hadn't spoken with Bess for a long time. George smiled and returned the hug, then excitedly held up her hand. A small diamond ring sparkled under the setting sun. "You- you- engaged- George…" Bess held the hand to her and looked astonished. "Who- why- how- when…" George and Nancy laughed and George smiled, "His name is Antoine. I met him in Italy last fall." The three friends had a group hug, and Bess, finally recovering, led the girls in the living room. "Out, out out!" commanded Bess to her husband, who, looking bewildered, took Robin to play upstairs.

She settled herself in a comfortable chair and then ushered the girls around her. "Guess what." She said, looking at the confused look on her friends' faces. "I am pregnant." She stated simply, and then Nancy looked up suddenly in shock. "You. Pregnant? Again? How?" Nancy blushed at the last part. "You know what I mean."

Bess laughed. "What I meant to say," Nancy said, "I mean, so am I!" The three women looked at each other. How could this have happened? George, engaged, Bess pregnant again, and Nancy pregnant! At the same time! By this time, the three girls were rolling on the floor laughing. Robert peeked his head in. He was all dressed up and ready to go. "What's wrong with you crazy women?" Robin, who was clinging to his pant-leg, giggled when she saw her mother on the floor. Bess quickly recovered herself and hurried the girls to the kitchen "Now you know, I haven't told Robert yet. So don't say anything yet." Nancy and George nodded solemnly, and reached for the list of numbers Bess held out to them. "Robin's bedtime is 8:00. I will call you later." Bess headed out the kitchen door, and hurried out the door with Robert in order to make their dinner reservations.