Chapter 7 - Heaven Must Have Sent You

"I'm glad you came." Murphy said as she lay in bed eating Praline cookies and drinking milk. Avery was in the bathroom doing her nightly ritual.

"I'm glad I came too. I forgot to ask, how far along are you?"

"Four months."

"Four months?" Avery came out of the bathroom still putting cold cream on her face.

"Yes, four months."

"That means you should be showing by now."

"I am showing."

"Can I see?"

"Oh Mother, I don't really like...oh all right, but not too long." Murphy put down the cookies and unbuttoned the bottom half of her nightshirt. "There."

"Are you sure you're only four months, Murphy? Maybe you shouldn't eat anymore of those cookies."

"Okay that's it, show's over." Murphy put a cookie in her mouth and started to button up her shirt.

"Hold on." Avery put her hand on Murphy's stomach. "Hi there. This is your grandma Avery. We can't wait to see you. There, I'm finished." Avery stood up and headed back to the bathroom.

Murphy felt as awkward as Avery. "What was that Mother?"

"You should talk to it." Avery turned off the light in the bathroom and laid down next to Murphy.

"I do talk to it." Murphy leaned over and turned off the light on her side of the room.

"I know. I heard you last night."

Murphy laughed as she rolled over on her side. But after feeling that little bit of happiness she started to feel sadness. "Do you really have to go tomorrow? Couldn't you stay a while longer?"

"I wish I could, my daughter, but I must leave you tomorrow. But if you need me all you have to do is call and I'll be here with you."

Her relief had come, so she smiled. "Good night, Mother."

"Good night, Murphy. I love you."

"I love you too." Although the words seemed a little easier to get out, it was still a foreign process.

Murphy was about to drift off when she felt another nudge from within. This time she had to share it. "Mother, give me your hand. You've got…" Murphy rolled over to look at her mother, but as she did she noticed that no one was lying beside her. "…to feel this."

"Mom?" Murphy heard a small voice from the room across the hall. "Mom! Come here."

Murphy came to the realization that she had had the dream again, the one that had been plaguing her for such a long time. "I'm coming."

Murphy, still half asleep, got up and walked into Avery's room. "What is it Avery? Did you have a bad dream or do you want water? You have to go to sleep, you know. You have school tomorrow." Murphy looked at the clock; it was 3:24 a.m. "No, you have school today."

Avery looked at her with some concern. "Are you okay, Mom?"

"Okay? What do you mean? Of course I'm okay."

"Did you have the dream again?"

Murphy laid down next to Avery, cradling the small boy in her arms. "Yes, I did."

"Did you get to finish it this time?"

Murphy began to tear up. "I did. It sure was good to see her again."

"I wish I could see her."

"Although you might not be able to see her Avery, she's watching you."

"Good." Avery smiled and kissed his mother on the cheek. "Nite, Mom."

"Good night, Avery." Murphy put her arm around her son and they fell asleep there, together. There they left the world behind for a little while and drifted back into dreamland.

I've cried through many endless nights
Just holding my pillow tight
Then you came into my lonely days
With your tender and your sweet ways
Now I don't know where you come from, baby
Don't know where you've been, my baby
Heaven must have sent you
Into my arms
Now in the mornin' when I awake
There's a smile on my face
You've touched my heart with gladness
Wiped away all my sadness
So long I've needed love right near me
A soft voice to cheer me
Heaven must have sent you, honey
Into my life

The Elgins

THE END