"Okay, honey, put Henry's mommy back on the phone, okay? Love you bunches, Sweet Pea, daddy and I will be home in a couple of days," Melissa spoke into her cellphone. She waited for a moment while Anna apparently complied with her request to put JJ back on the phone and absently ran her hand over her abdomen again. Catching herself in the act, she smiled, thinking everyone was right; she did do that constantly! Spencer had mentioned it. JJ, Garcia and even Anna had all noticed it.
The sound of JJ's voice got her attention.
"She's being a doll, Melissa. Anna is so good. And she helps with the baby, it's amazing."
"Thanks. I'm glad she's behaving for you. I was a little worried about her being away from us."
"No worries! Honest, every once in a while there's a wistful look in her face like she's missing you or Spence, but then Henry, bless his heart, he distracts her. And Muttli. She can't get enough of him, you know. Anyway, how's it going? How's the shopping? And how's the time away with Spence?"
"It's going great, haven't been shopping yet and he'd kill me if he knew I was discussing this with you, but the time away has been fabulous. It's funny, JJ, I thought he'd pretty much read everything ever written about pregnancy and childbirth." She paused to take a breath and heard JJ's snicker. "I had to highlight a couple of chapters in two of his books though. He was honestly concerned that, you know, he'd hurt the baby if we, you know," Melissa paused significantly, knowing that JJ would infer what she meant.
"Will was the same, Melissa. I think it's part of their male protective psyche thing. But I'm guessing he's over that now?" she laughed knowingly.
"And how," Melissa stated. "Oh God, don't say anything to him at work though, okay?"
"Lips are sealed," JJ promised through giggles.
"Sounds like you guys are at the park," Melissa changed the subject.
"Yeah, We are. Who can swing higher? Who can climb faster? And who wants a cookie?" JJ recounted, "I'm still gonna hafta give Spence crap for that. Those cookies are for Michael."
They both laughed, and Melissa pointed out "I thank God every day for Michael's need for those cookies. It's thanks to him, really, that I met and fell in love with Spence."
"A matchmaker at age eight months. Imagine that," JJ laughed and abruptly stopped. "Wow, Melissa, I'm sorry I brought up the subject of that day. It must bring back some pretty harrowing memories," she said softly.
"It's okay, JJ. He's recovered, we're all good, if it weren't for that day we'd never have met and married. There's a reason for bad things happening. It helps us grow, shapes us, and it's what makes us who we are. Geez, listen to me, now I'm a philosopher," she paused for a moment as they both chuckled at her self-deprecation. "Really, JJ, bad memories are almost as important as good ones. Spence and I have had several conversations about memories, good and bad, from our pasts. It helps to understand one another better."
A moment passed as JJ surveyed the playground; the three children were all still happily playing in the sandbox, the puppy toddling around between them. Melissa found herself rubbing her tummy again and finally spoke.
"Okay, enough with the Sophocles act, thanks for letting me talk to Anna, and thanks again for, well, everything, JJ. You even took in a not quite house-trained puppy! I should let you get back to the kids."
"Have a great time, and don't worry! Anna's fine. Muttli's fine. Great name for a dog, by the way. Spend the time with Spence. Bye." And she hung up before Melissa could retort.
She picked up the last of Spencer's errant clothes and tucked them away into the laundry bag then collected her purse and sat down to put on her shoes. The sound of knocking at the door startled her and she wondered whether Spencer had returned because he'd forgotten something. She dismissed that almost immediately, Spencer didn't forget things. Putting her eye up to the peephole, she saw a woman she didn't recognise. Although she couldn't quite see what the woman was wearing, she assumed it was probably Housekeeping and opened the door cautiously.
It certainly wasn't Housekeeping. It was a fortyish woman, whose clothes and hair and makeup spoke of some wealth but whose face bore the image of someone who had recently suffered a tremendous ordeal. Although Melissa's guard was always up, she softened slightly at the vision before her. The woman's eyes noticed the hand across Melissa's belly, the wedding ring on her finger and lifted her eyes to meet Melissa's.
"I'm looking for Spencer. Spencer Reid," the woman offered by way of explanation. "We went to school at the same time here in Vegas."
