It would be another four and a half years before Sam and Diane would be shocked by yet another pregnancy. The first four of Maria's life kept them busy enough. She was definitely their wild child. She was running as soon as she could walk, voicing opinions and asking questions as soon as she could talk and beating the her brothers at every sport as soon as she was big enough to pick up a baseball bat and throw a ball.
Maria's high-spirited nature never made Sam blink one time. He thought she was great and always got a kick out of whatever else she would find herself able to do. It was an amicable admiration; she adored her father. Almost every night after a bath or after a swim in the ocean at their vacation house Sam would live out his father-daughter fantasy. Sam would get an oldies station on the radio going and Maria would run out to the family room giggling because she knew what that meant. She would leap into her father's open arms, wrap her little legs around his torso and he would dance with her around the room. It was always their special moment.
Diane was another story when it came to her daughter. She knew she loved her daughter very much, how could she not? There was however some distance when it came to Maria. Maybe, she thought, because she was a tomboy? Was it disappointment that she didn't enjoy all the girly activities that Diane had hoped she would? She didn't understand why she didn't feel close to Maria and the fact killed her on the inside. She never told anyone including Sam how she felt because she felt like a terrible person simply knowing this by herself let alone letting anyone else in. She was thankful for her baby boy, Ernie. Even though he was male, it was he who Diane felt the most connection with. Funny how the one who Diane dreaded the thought of coming so soon was the one who made her feel better about mothering. He would do arts and crafts with her, read along with her, and loved to sneak in a quick snuggle whenever possible.
Big boy Spencer was the ying and yang that balanced out his brother and sister. He could rough-house with Maria and go back to coloring with Ernie. Read a chapter from Charlotte's Web with his mother and then go play catch his father. Sam and Diane couldn't have been more at ease with one kid then it was with Spencer.
On Ernie's eighth birthday, Diane gave birth to another baby girl. Diane secretly hoped that since this baby girl was born on Ernie's day that she would feel closer to this one that she'd had with Maria.
"I think I know what to name her this time," Diane stated. "I want to name her Elizabeth Emily after Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Emily Dickinson. They are my favorite female poets."
"That's pretty," Sam said while scooping up his second daughter in his arms. "Hi, Elizabeth. Mama gave you a pretty name because you're such a pretty girl," he told her with a seal of approval kiss on her cheek.
"You're so good with our daughters," Diane remarked.
"I thought I loved women, then I met you and then I knew I loved you and now I know how much I love baby girls."
"You amaze me," she said tugging at his shirt to bring him closer to her. "I couldn't have said that better about my boys."
"Were we made for each other or what?"
"We are," Diane agreed with a kiss. Sam gave Elizabeth back to her and she let out a heavy sigh.
"You okay, Sweetheart?"
"Yeah. I just realized how truly blessed we are, Sam. I never want anything negative coming in and ruining our little family unit."
"What makes you think it will?"
"I guess I'm just being silly," she said through a flood of tears.
"Hey, everything's going to be okay, Sweetheart," he said putting his hand on her shoulder. "I promise you."
"Okay."
