As Angela drove to the Palo City Hall, she wondered how to broach the subject of whether Emily was rushing into this marriage. After all, Emily had rushed into the whole relationship. But a one-morning stand, or even living together, could be backed away from. Marriage was more serious. Yes, it could be ended, but Angela knew how hard divorce was. She didn't want her dear friend to go through that if it were avoidable.

But was it Angela's place to speak up? After all, she was tired of people interfering in her love life, "or lack thereof" as Mother sometimes said. Maybe her role was to be Emily's supportive friend, to stand up for her at the wedding. And who was to say that this romance, this marriage wouldn't work out? It had already lasted three months longer than anyone could've predicted.

"I suppose you think I'm rushing into this," Emily said.

"Well."
"I am. I know. But I've never felt like this before. And Eddie and I are good together, really good. Not just in bed. He makes me laugh and he's sweet and understanding."

"Those are important qualities," Angela said, although she didn't feel they were enough.

"Also, well, I'm not getting any younger. I want a family. And of course Eddie does, being Italian."
"I understand," Angela said softly. She thought of how a month and a half ago she and Tony had looked after the baby of one of Mother's coworkers. Baby Clint was adorable and so was Tony while caring for the little guy. Tony had asked her if she ever thought about having another baby. She had dreamily said, "Sure, but how?" He had teased he'd tell her later, not in front of the kid.

By "how," Angela had meant that she hadn't been in a serious relationship since Michael and it wasn't easy to meet men who weren't intimidated by her success. And she knew she'd have to slow down, at least for nine months, if she somehow did remarry and get pregnant. What would happen to her career then? Would Jim Peterson, that snake, undercut her in her absence from Wallace and MacQuade? Or would she put the baby into day care and feel neglectful? Of course, if she had a househusband, someone like Tony who enjoyed staying home, that would be different. But where would she meet someone like that?

Yes, there was Tony himself, who was as traditionally Italian as Eddie and clearly loved babies. But if there were barriers to her even dating Tony, how would she get past those and the additional barriers to marriage and parenthood?

She tried to focus on Emily again. "We're, you're not that old. Why not wait a year or two, spend some more time alone with Eddie?"

"I'm afraid I don't have time to wait."

Angela glanced over at Emily, even though she felt more like staring. She put her eyes back on the road as she said, "You're pregnant?"

"Yes, three months."
"Oh!"

"I wasn't sure about it when I asked Eddie to move in with me, but I wanted to live with him either way. And we've been talking about marriage for a month, since I was sure. But it's not what you think."
"I don't know what to think," Angela admitted.

Emily chuckled. "I understand. You see, in a way I feel like it's Fate. But I also feel like this is something I've chosen. There are many possibilities of what I could do, including raising a baby on my own, or giving it to Eddie's sister who can't have a baby and really wants one. But it feels right to me, to build a life, a family, with Eddie. OK, so it's all happened quickly, but isn't that better than not happening at all?"

"I suppose," Angela said. She was thinking of what it would be like if it never happened for her. Would that be worse than, say, falling into bed with Tony, maybe at the run-down motel near their old summer camps, and having ended up pregnant? If they had, if she had, if she'd gone through with it, the baby would be a month old now. And Tony, would he be her devoted husband, her doting househusband? Or would it have been too much for their relationship and broken them up even as friends? And what about her career? And how would Jonathan and Samantha feel about a baby sibling?

"I know it's not going to be easy. I can continue some of my research from home but I know that the baby will take up a lot of my energy. And Eddie jokes about having a half dozen kids, at least I hope he's joking. I might just want one, like you with Jonathan. There are things we'll need to work out. And I know his family is going to, well, they already do, feel funny about him dating a Protestant career-woman. And he has his own old-fashioned ideas about women. We try to see each other's viewpoint, but it's not easy. And, yes, I'm scared of this big Italian wedding in a few weeks. Meeting his family and friends. Being judged by them. But part of me envies him, this close-knit community he's given up for me but that's still a part of him. I want our child to know Brooklyn, to visit once or twice a year. To eat pasta."

Angela laughed. "Yes, your baby deserves that." She sighed. "I feel like I should warn you, or at least prepare you, but it sounds like you're aware of what you're facing, good and bad."
"I try to be. But one thing I've learned this spring is that life can surprise you, no matter how well-prepared you think you are."
"Yes."

"Oh, there's City Hall."

Angela found a parking space and a moment later the guys pulled up in Emily's car and took the spot next to theirs. The four of them got out of the cars and Tony said, "Let's get these two married off before they come to their senses." Angela would've scolded him but both Emily and Eddie laughed.