Blessings

Chapter: 4

Rob relaxed against the sofa. "Wow." he breathed out. "Pregnant."

"Yeah, it's a shock to say the least." she wanted to cry. She felt like she was on an emotional roller coaster. Her thoughts were all over the place. And Rob's reaction, so far, didn't help even a little bit.

"A baby." he ran his hands over his face. "How about that? And we weren't even trying."

Laura looked over at him. "I know." she replied. "How do you feel about this, Rob?"

He sat up and reached for her hands. "I think it's a wonderful surprise." he smiled. "We're going to have a baby!"

The tears that welled up in her eyes began to fall. "Oh, Rob." she sighed. "I was so scared. I still am."

Rob wiped away her tears. "There's nothing to be scared of." he assured her. "We've done this once before. And Rich turned out pretty great. He's going into a sensible career of being a lawyer instead of something unstable like a comedy writer."

Laura smiled. "I think you've done very well as an unstable comedy writer." she said. "It's just that Richard is grown and now we're starting all over again. I thought you wanted an early retirement?"

He pulled her into his arms. "It was just a passing thought. I plan to write for the rest of my life. Writing a sitcom is hard work and I get restless, that's all. I just need a good, long, vacation with my wife and son."

"So you're happy about the baby?" she looked up at him from under thick eyelashes.

"Of course I'm happy." he assured her. "Is that what was wrong? You were afraid I was going to be upset?"

"I wasn't sure." she said. "In fact I wasn't sure how I felt about all this. I'm still not."

"You just need some time to get use to the idea, that's all." he said. "It's your body that's going to be changing and growing. That's a pretty big adjustment. Did the doctor give you a due date?"

"The first of November." she told him. "He said I was around seven weeks."

"Well you have about seven months to get used to the idea." he joked.

"Very funny, Rob." she said. "I just found out and I need some time for it to sink in."

He placed a kiss in her hair. "I know." he said. "Just try and relax. Remember how wonderful it was when we had Rich? And then teaching him to walk and talk. Watching him explore things on his own. He was so adventurous. And a climber. Remember how he used to try and climb the bookshelf in the livingroom?"

Laura laughed. "Yeah." she smiled. "And how he used to hide in the cabinets under the island in the kitchen. It's hard to believe he's going off to college."

"But now we get to do it all over again." he said. "Maybe with a little girl this time."

"Maybe." she said. "Although I would be just as happy with another boy."

"No, I think we need a little girl." he observed. "Someone who can learn to sing and dance like her momma. She'll be in ballet shoes and dancing on her toes as soon as she can walk."

Laura smiled at the thought.

"Feeling a little better about all of this now?"

She nodded. "Much." she said. "Thank you."

Rob leaned in and kissed her. "You're very welcome." he said. "So do you want to tell people or do you want to wait until the shock wears off a little?"

"Well, I at least want to sleep on it." she said. "And I suppose we should tell Richard."

He nodded. "He always wanted a brother or sister."

"I'm not sure he's going to be crazy about one at his age." she replied. "I think I'll tell him when he gets home from school, unless you want me to wait for you."

"Yeah, I think you should wait." he said. "I think we should tell him together. I'll even come home a little early."

/

Laura found herself a tad nervous as she began to set the dinner table. Rich was going to the library after school to finish up a book report and then he would be home. And hopefully Rob would be home not too long after him. She heard the door open and close.

"Hey, mom." Richard said. "What are you doing home tonight? It's Tuesday."

"I decided to take the evening off. Aunt Millie's taking over for me." she reached for the plates off the bar. "Hungry?"

"Starved." he said. "What are we having?"

"Your favorite." he replied. "Hamburgers."

"Is it ready now?"

"Almost." she replied. "Just as soon as your father gets here."

"Dad's getting off early?" he asked.

"Yes." she replied. "Why don't you go wash up?"

Richard started for his room and then came back again. "Hey, mom?"

Laura looked up. "Yes?"

"Is everything alright?" he asked.

"Of course, darling." she told him. "Why would you think something's wrong?"

Richard shrugged his shoulders. "Well for starters you skipped out on your ballet class." he said. "You've made my favorite dinner and dad is coming home from work early."

"And that makes you think something is wrong?"

"Yeah, it's a little strange." he admitted. "You and dad aren't getting divorced or anything are you?"

Laura laughed. "No we're not getting divorced." she assured him. "Far from."

tbc...