Oliver lye sleepless in bed one week later: admiring his sleeping, very pregnant wife. Lisa lye smiling brightly with her head against his chest: and her hand cradling her six-month pregnant stomach. Oliver lye his hand on her stomach: feeling the baby move under his touch.
The day of decision had arrived and his heart and mind were racing. They'd been on the farm six months, and she'd only promised to stay there with him six months. Would she stay or would she go? He was nervous because New York was fresh in Lisa's mind. She'd stayed with mother, and then gone back with him on a two-day business trip earlier in the week. The baby's sudden kick caught his attention and brought him out of his thoughts.
"I'm so sorry little one." Oliver whispered to the baby. "I think you would've liked the country, but your Mom's going to choose New York." Lisa opened one eye and closed it again quickly so her husband wouldn't catch on. She lye there and listened to him talk to their baby.
"In New York, I'll leave for the office before you ever wake up and get home once you've gone to sleep. I'm not looking forward to that." He admitted, pausing for a moment. "I was looking forward to being a big part of your life. I promise, either way, I'll find a way to be, okay?" He laughed, feeling the baby kick again. "You're smart! Oh well, it's your Mom's decision. If she goes, you go. But just know, even for the sake of my life's dream: your not leaving here without me. I love you."
Lisa was stunned, and now confused. She hadn't thought of it that way. He was right. If they raised the baby in New York, Oliver would never be there and she'd be a single mom.
Oliver's early morning words sent Lisa spiraling into a quandary. She was torn between what she wanted, and what Oliver wanted. The problem was that she didn't know what was really best for the baby: her choice or his.
"Vhat to do, vhat to do." Lisa mumbled to herself as she paced the kitchen, it was noon now and she wished there was an easy way to make up her mind, and she wished she had someone to talk to, to confide in. Oliver was frustrated, and Eb was anxious. Both men wanted answers.
"Hi Lisa." Oliver came into the kitchen. "Well, have you decided?"
"No, not yet."
"Lisa, it's a simple decision. My patience is getting short."
"I'm sorry, it's not so simple for me Oliver. This is very stressful. It's my interests, verses yours, verses the baby's. And it's my job to sort it out. You see, I think ve better go back to the city, but…."
"Alright, fine, just move everything!" He startled her deeply when he yelled; he virtually never yelled at her and it broke her heart.
"Oliver, I vas trying, to-"
"Fine, if that's the way you feel about it, then…"
Oliver went on ranting and something deep inside stopped Lisa in her tracks.
"Oliver!" She cried. Suddenly the pain was too much.
"What, what? What's wrong?"
"Oh Oliver!" She gasped in pain, leaning over and clutching her stomach and reaching out for his hand. "Oliver it hurts! It hurts so…"
"It's the baby!"
"Ahhhhhhh!" She screamed as she began to cry. "I think the baby….ahhhh!"
"Oh Lisa, it's okay…it's going to be okay, I promise." He soothed, gently sitting her at the kitchen table.
"But the baby, something's vrong, it's too…haaaaaa early!"
"She'll be fine. She'll be fine. Eb!" He yelled at the top of his lungs. "Eb!" He quickly went to work helping Lisa put her shoes on. "Ebbbbbbbbb!"
"Oliver!" She shrieked as he picked her up. He had a difficult time picking her up, but didn't want to let on.
"Eb!" He called. Oliver sighed in relief when he saw Eb already in the car with it running. Sometimes that stupid kid was good for something. He piled Lisa into the back of the car and barely jumped in before he demanded that Eb drive off.
"Is Mom having the baby?" Eb asked as he sped onto the county road.
"Yes, and she's not your…"
"Yes Eb darling, I'm…ahhhhhhhhhh!" She squeezed Oliver's hand. She was sobbing by this point. She didn't want to loose the baby. "Oliver, I'm scared!"
"Lisa I promise it's going to be okay." He soothed, wrapping his arm around her and holding her tightly. He wished he hadn't promised her. He was scared too. "Eb, can you drive a little faster?"
"Ahhhhhhh! Yes please, a little faster."
"Wait, wait…." Oliver cautioned when he thought maybe Eb was going a little too fast.
"Not that fast! Eb!" Lisa screamed, hearing a siren not far behind them.
"Oh you stupid!" Oliver was furious. They were pulled over by a cop on motorcycle.
"License and registration please."
"Please, officer, my wife's having a baby…three months early…we're just trying to get to the hospital."
"Oh, why didn't you say so before?" He asked. "Follow me."
Oliver was at first happy that the officer dispensed with the ticket and volunteered to escort them all the way to Pixley…or so he thought. Unfortunately, that was too good to be true. The officer sped off once they'd reached the office of Hooterville's resident family doctor.
"Oliver please the pain's too bad, I think I need to stop here." Lisa whispered, her head on his shoulder.
Against his better judgment, and with a heavy, worried heart Oliver obliged.