Chapter 4- Dinner for Two or maybe Three

Bob could still not believe that his last days at this office were approaching. He'd been working there since before he'd even met Emily and it was their tenth wedding anniversary. She was right. It was time for a change. That night he planned on celebrating their anniversary with a quiet, romantic dinner for two followed by a surprise dessert with all their friends (minus Howard who they hadn't heard from since he left for Cleveland), Bob's parents, his patients (like Mr. Carlin, Michelle and Mrs. Bakerman) as well as various people they both worked with. He'd called Ellen to invite her a few days ago and had heard nothing back, even though he'd left a message at her office. Bob smiled to himself, supposing that Howard had found her and convinced her of something.

Poor Emily had been miserable that morning, emotionally. She still wanted so much to have the baby that day but unfortunately she felt just fine…compared with the last few days, or even the last month. She regretted agreeing to meet Bob at his office and wished that Howard would've been there to drive her. She boarded the train, very pregnant, on the brink of crying and in heals. The real reason she went was not to see her husband, but because the doctor had told her walking might help start labor.

Bob knew that Emily would be there any moment and grabbed his coat. He had spent the last hour packing, and going through patient files, it was completely surreal. Meanwhile, Carol was savoring every last moment at her desk and was so glad that she was leaving when Bob and Jerry were. She couldn't imagine working there without them, nor did she want to. Dr. Newman would surely find a way to make her days hell without Bob around to protect her, and Jerry there to occupy her time. And then there was that lunch with Courtney.

Carol would admit to you that she was a little nervous about that. She planned to take the globetrotter out and give her a piece of her mind, and a warning not to hurt Jerry again. The elevator dinged, bringing Carol out of her thoughts.

"Emily! What are you doing here!" She exclaimed as she saw a very pregnant Emily get off the elevator.

"Nice to see you too."

"I didn't mean it like that I…"

"I know Carol I'm kidding."

"Can I get you water or anything?" She asked, watching Emily manage to sit herself down in a chair outside Bob's office.

While Emily was more comfortable than she had been, she'd also gotten bigger in the past day and was having a difficult time walking…the heals didn't help. Carol didn't dare say it, but Emily looked as though the baby wasn't going to wait much longer at all, like not even minutes let alone days.

"Oh no, thanks Carol, if I drink anything my bladder will pay me back for it. How long will Bob be?"

"I'll let him know you're here. He's not with anybody." Carol smiled, picking up the phone. "By the way Emily, I love your shoes!" She said, admiring Emily's beautiful garnet colored heels.

"Thanks Carol, I'm glad somebody's enjoying them, I can't see them anyway."

Emily looked down at her feet in a vein attempt to sneak a glance at her own shoes.

"Bob, Emily's here. No, I think you'd better come to her if you want her to come in." Emily caught onto this and nodded. She was tired and didn't want to walk another step further…unless it was a step toward the car.

"Hi honey." He said, poking his head out into the lobby, "you wanna come in for a minute?"

"Oh Bob, my feet hurt, can't I just sit here?"

"I guess. But you know, we're just going to leave anyway."

Emily groaned, leaning her head back against the wall. Carol excused herself and went inside the office, pulling Bob away from the door.

"Look Bob, I think maybe you better make sure the restaurant is close to a hospital."

"What, is she close?"

"Have you seen your wife today?"

"Oh Carol, she's fine. I told you the doctor said she'd be late." Carol thought he was taking this for granted and that the doctor didn't know what she was talking about.

"Ok, but be careful."

"No Carol, you're the one who should be careful." Bob warned as she followed him back out into the lobby.

"About what?" Emily interjected.

"Her lunch with Courtney."

"Oh, you're having lunch with Courtney." Emily laughed as Bob helped her up. She knew exactly what Carol had up her sleeve: just what she'd been thinking of doing: giving their friend Courtney a warning.

"Yes."

"Be gentle on her Carol, and…remember that it's not really any of our business. Jerry's gonna do what he's gonna do." Bob said as he hit the elevator button.

Bob, Emily and Carol were surprised to see Jerry and Courtney on the elevator when it finally arrived at the seventh floor, only the couple were making out and didn't seem to notice them, or that they'd arrived at their destination.

They stood for a moment, watching them kiss. Bob decided to grab the elevator door and hold it open so that he and Emily wouldn't have to wait any longer to get back to the car…and also to not watch this anymore, it kind of made him sick.

Carol, on the other hand, studied the kiss carefully. Jerry and Courtney had something that she had only ever had with Larry…it was evident in the way that he held her face in his hands…maybe she shouldn't say anything, and if she did, boy was it going to be a tall order.

Meanwhile, Emily, who was anxious to get wherever it was that she and Bob were going, decided to get on the elevator anyway, even if that met distracting the deeply enamored couple.

"Oh, uh. Hi Emily." Jerry greeted when she interrupted their embrace. Bob took the opportunity to follow his wife onto the elevator.

"Be careful." Emily teased. "That," she said, referring to the kissing, "is exactly what leads to this." She finished, indicating her own obviously pregnant condition. She giggled as the elevator doors closed, leaving Jerry, Carol and Courtney standing there in the lobby.

"Well she didn't have to put it that way." Courtney said. The free spirit was offended. "Sex doesn't have to be about having babies."

Carol cringed, at hearing this and tried not to listen as she sat back down in her chair. Jerry was like a big brother to her, she didn't want to hear him talking about that stuff. Yuck.

"What, they're having a baby, so what, what's wrong with that?" Jerry laughed.

"Well…I don't ever want to have children. I know we were going to adopt when I was last here Jerry, but now I'm not really into it."

Jerry paused for a moment. Was this a problem for him? He'd grown up an orphan and always wanted a family of his own. Jerry had thought for months that Bob was extremely blessed to be becoming a Dad and just didn't know it yet. He liked kids, unlike Bob. It's why he was a children's dentist (mostly) and why he hung out with Howie Borden if he was ever around. Now to find out the love of his life didn't want to have a family with him?

"Oh Courtney, it uh…I don't know about this. Having a family is something that's really important to me. Cause, I like kids and because I grew up without anyone. You know, no real family."

"Jerry, I know, but children tie you down."

"Yeah I, I guess they do." He answered, sitting at the edge of Carol's desk.

"Look, you're just being silly. When we get out there and see the world, you'll be fulfilled. I promise." Courtney said, kissing him sweetly and stepping toward the elevator again. "Carol, I'll see you tonight? I can't make lunch today, I'm sorry…maybe the next time we're in town!"

So much for lunch. Carol had a feeling she would do this anyway. And as for the next time they came to town, when was that going to be? At least three years from them. Carol nodded at Courtney and Jerry waved, although not enthusiastically. Carol noted that he looked sad now.

"Jerr…" She began.

"No uh…she's right. She…"

"Jerry listen to me for a sec. If kids are important to you, which I'm not going to lie, I know they are…then she needs to know that. If being grounded is important she needs to know that too. And as far as the world fulfilling her: strange new places...then why does she never stop? She gets her adrenaline rush, goes to a place…falls in love with its food, it's customs…it's people…"

Jerry looked into her eyes when she said this and the look in his own eyes broke her heart. He understood exactly what she was saying: Courtney used people and was incapable of making a commitment, not only to something as simple as choosing a continent to live on, but also to him.

"You're right." He reasoned. "But Carol…"

"Yeah Jerr."

"I have to go anyway."

"Howard, I'm so glad you decided to do this it was the most romantic thing anybody's ever done for me." Ellen said. By romantic she meant that she didn't want to know how much it was costing him.

"I know." He said.

Howard rested his head against hers and closed his eyes. He felt like he was in utter bliss. He was in the air, the place he most liked to be, holding the love of his life in his arms.

"I tell you Howard, having breakfast in Paris, it was just such a beautiful idea honey." She grabbed both his cheeks and then kissed one of them. Howard smiled. Her kiss put a smile on his heart.

He had pulled some stings and gotten them two Concorde flights. One from New York to Paris the previous evening and one back to Washington D.C. now they were on their fourth flight in the last sixteen hours and headed back to Chicago. It was a quick but very glamorous trip. Howard wanted desperately to show her how life with him could really be.

He watched her giggle as she twirled the champagne in her glass and took another sip. She was tipsy…it had taken him all night and all morning, but he'd finally done it! Now to just get her tipsy enough to say yes to the wedding! Otherwise he'd have to cancel the church again and he didn't think that Reverend Robbins would be as nice about it this time.

"Howard, why do you want to marry me?"

"Because I love you."

"Is love enough?" She asked. Again, she was on the verge of being drunk and thought she was being philosophical.

"It is for me, is it for you?"

"Don't you need me Howard?" She asked. He hoped this wasn't some kind of a trick question. She wanted to be needed.

"Of course I need you Ellen, I'm hopeless without you."

"This is because Emily's not going to be around to take care of you anymore, isn't it?" Howard was upset when he realized she was probably still more lucid while tipsy than he was the majority of the time.

"Well I mean, she'll be busy with the new baby and everything…"

"Oh Howard come here." Ellen said, pulling him in for a kiss. "You're a very sweet man Howard Borden, and I love you."

Howard was not sure what this really met. It couldn't have just been an, I love you, there was a yes or a but there and he couldn't tell which one it was. He was immediately comforted when Ellen lye her head back on his shoulder. That was her way of saying yes.

Emily was excited about Bob's surprise and hoped that it would help take her mind off of the likelihood that she was not having the baby that day.

"How are you feeling?" He asked.

They were at a very elegant restaurant for their anniversary dinner, which by all counts was really more of an anniversary lunch. But it sufficed for a romantic candlelit dinner for sure. In fact, Bob had arranged for them to be served by candlelight.

"Huge…but better."

"You're beautiful this afternoon."

"No I'm not." She said, as he placed a simple kiss on her forehead.

"Sure you are. If I'd've known…eleven years ago, how beautiful you were going to be, I would've married you on the spot."

She laughed. "Without getting to know me? Seems awfully risky."

"No, nothing about loving you has been risky. A little…challenging at times maybe, but not risky."

"Challenging?"

"You make me grow." She smiled at this.

"So uh, you're telling me that this uh, this me having a baby thing hasn't been uh-challenging for you?" She teased.

"You know what Emily?"

"No, what?"

"It's like I've been trying to say, I'm intimidated yeah, actually, I'm scared to death! But I have to consider that, I was like that for a while about getting married."

"You were?"

"Yeah. When we got married, I was going to tell your father that I'd take good care of you, you know, but I didn't. It seemed silly. You're a grown woman, you can take care of yourself, it seemed too…stereotypical, I guess… and besides, your father didn't think much of me. I knew he thought I couldn't take care of you. And then, later I realized it was wrong for even thinking that. I don't take care of you, you don't take care of me: we take care of each other." She smiled.

Give and take was truly the essence of their relationship.

"And in the same way, I'm not solely responsible for the baby." He continued. "It's our baby, and that's why little by little, this whole thing makes me less of a nervous wreck than it did the day before, and I begin to realize that it's not an inconvenience, it's just simply beautiful…and so are you."

"Do you realize that's the most romantic thing anybody's ever said to me?" She was crying a little now.

"Yes."

"Well Bob, you're wrong."

"Huh?"

"Well first off, it's kind of ironic: you're great at taking care of other people: you do it for a living…and second and most important. You do take care of me. It's not like I'm not scared too…sure you're all caught up in the emotional side of this." She began.

He thought she was the one caught up in emotion. She was the one who cried…very often, snapped during Lamaze the day before and had been having periodic mood-swings for months.

"But physically, this is my problem. I'm the one who is going to have to have this baby, probably in just a matter of hours," she was right about this by the way, "and I'm terrified!"

Bob didn't know what to say. He wanted to try, 'oh it won't hurt that bad', but he knew that A. he'd be lying and B. he didn't exactly have the jurisdiction to say that to her. It would be construed as offensive.

"I'll be there. Every second of this thing. I promise." He decided to offer.

"Thank you."

"I'm you're husband and the father, I'm supposed to be there. And I want to be with you every step of the way."

He wanted to say that she wasn't bringing a baby into the world, they were, but he knew that wouldn't be a popular comment with her and soon, as in a few hours from now, he would realize that would be a totally inappropriate remark to ever make to a woman who was in the middle of having a baby. Emily thought he was trying too hard to convince her of his loyalty. She decided their tenth anniversary would be the best time to ask him a very sensitive question.

"Bob?"

"What honey?"

"How come um…how come every time I needed something over the past nine months you jumped, in fact, you panicked, but you told me, almost every day, in some way that you don't want to have a baby with me. I'm only asking now because your opinion seems to be changing and I think baby and I deserve to know what it is your really feeling. Oooh!" She cringed.

"Emily what is it?!"

"Oh nothing, nothing," she exhaled, "I think it's just the false labor again." She'd been feeling it for weeks now.

"Oh, okay. Emily I…" He began to explain.

"It's just that you dote on me and you insist you love a baby you don't actually want. It's very hurtful and its very confusing Bob."

"Emily, I understand that and I-"

"Surprise!" Emily jumped when at least a dozen voices came out of nowhere at once.

Suddenly she and Bob were swamped with well-wishers and she knew in an instant that he'd planned an anniversary/going away party for her. She thought it was the sweetest thing in the world, but perhaps one of the more ill timed things also.

"Oooh!" When the second pain came, Emily knew it met real labor had finally begun. "Bob." She said, panicking momentarily.

He was too busy talking Jerry about whatever third world destination he and Courtney were headed to. If that weren't enough, it would seem that the excessive noise from all the other people chattering, was also keeping Emily from getting Bob's attention.

"Bob…" She said a little louder, then took a deep breath to try to calm herself, noting the pain was already intensifying.

"Just a second honey." He laughed, finishing listening to something else Jerry was saying, she was sure it was inane. "This is really funny!"

"Bob!" She shouted, catching his and Jerry's attention and no one else's. "Baby coming out!"

"What?!" He practically yelled, jumping up to help Emily out of her chair.

"Bob, I think these are real contractions." She confessed, letting out a deep breath. Bob put his arm around her waist and they began to walk out of the restaurant, Jerry in tow.

"It's okay, just re-relax, Emily. Think about what we've learned in class and we'll be at the hospital in no time, I promise."

The Maitre d', panicking that he might not get paid, sprung into action and decided that he'd follow Bob and Emily to the car if need be.

"Sir! Sir!" The Maitre d' followed, catching Bob just as he pressed the down button on the elevator.

"Oooh! I can't believe it hurts this much already." She moaned as Bob held her around her waist still.

"I know honey, it'll be okay. Just breathe with me."

"Sir!" The Maitre d' brushed past Jerry and walked straight up to Bob. "You need to pay your bill before you leave! It's for twenty people and two who didn't show up!" He seemed angry about the no shows.

Jerry marveled at how oblivious this guy was to the situation at hand. It was very obvious, at this point, that Emily was in fact having the baby. Just then the elevator doors opened and out walked Howard and Ellen.

"Emily!" Ellen gasped sympathetically. She was very shocked to see her. "Are you okay? What are you doing here?!"

"I've been better. Oooh ouch! Bob these are close together, hurry!"

"The baby's coming!" Howard was excited, more like a child than a grown man. "I'm going to be an Uncle!"

"How about this." Bob offered the headwaiter. "I'm going to take my very expectant wife to have our baby, and about your little problem with the bill…this man will take care of it." Bob smiled, patting Howard on the shoulder as he and Emily hurriedly got on the elevator.

"Oh yeah, me! That's right guys, whatever it is, Uncle Howard will take care of it!" He shouted at Bob and Emily as they got on the elevator. "I'm- I'm the Uncle to be you know." He said reiterated, proudly addressing the Maitre d'. "Wait, I'll take care of what?"

Jerry laughed to himself. He thought it was brilliant that Bob had finally found away for Howard to pay him back for years of free dinners and borrowing stuff, and this was a real clever one. He turned around and looked at the party going on in the restaurant behind him as Howard wrote the check and realized no one had noticed the rather unusual departure of the party's hosts, especially Carol and Courtney who had very obviously gotten into a fight.

"Look at this place! It's a mess!" Howard was disgusted. "I'm not paying for a party that's a total disaster. Come on everybody! Emily's having the baby, why don't we take this over to the hospital!"

"Oh, no Howard…" Jerry warned, he didn't think this was a good idea at all.

"Howard." Ellen warned, she agreed wholeheartedly with Jerry and the two snuck each other concerned glances.

But it was too late, and so the room full of guests set off to wait at the hospital for the birth of baby Hartley.