John phoned Julie and she was excited for their grill-out. She promised to be there early to help out.

I looked at our home and realized that it should be cleaned.

"Mary," John said, "This house looks fine. Julie and I can straighten it up a little before the guys come."

I nodded and winced a little at the pain in my abdomen.

"You alright?" John saw me with my hand on my belly.

"The doctor said I might feel ligaments get stretched to support my growing uterus," I explained.

He still looked concerned.

"I'll go lie down and take some Tylenol," I offered.

"I'll go to the kitchen and get the Tylenol. You get upstairs," he said, "or do you need help up the stairs?"

"I'm fine," I assured him. "I'll see you up there."

I laid down on my bed on my side. I rubbed the side of my abdomen where it was sore."

John came in with the pills and a glass of water. I took them and laid back down.

John sat with his back against the headboard. I leaned in against him with my back to his chest.

"Here," his voice was comforting as he covered us with a brown blanket. He reached down and those rough hands gently rubbed the sore spots, making them not so bad.

With my husband's tender attention, I drifted off to sleep

I woke up and heard people moving downstairs. There were a couple of muffled voices that I assumed were John and Julie. I got up slowly, the pains seemed to have gone for the moment. I grabbed a sweater and went downstairs. "Hey, honey," John came over as soon as he spied me and gave me a hug. "Do you need more Tylenol?"

I shook my head. "I'm okay right now."

I looked past John and saw Julie busy with dishes. Another lady was making potato salad.

"Mary!" Julie called to me. "I'd come over but I am up to my elbows with suds right now."

I just smiled at her.

"Mary," John let me over to the other woman. "This is Kate."

The woman seemed so warm and friendly. "Oh, Mary," she came over to us. "Let me get a good look at you." She felt my belly. "You aren't big at all. I was huge with each of my kids by the time I got to the point where you are."

"Really?"

"Yep," Kate continued. "And you were so wonderful. You kept telling me that I looked so pretty and would bring me little presents such as earrings, bubble bath, or a cute little baby outfit. You helped keep my spirits up when I looked like a blimp. Now I'll be happy to do to some for you. You just call whenever you need anything. She gave me a hug and was careful not to press on my belly.

"Thank you, Kate," I felt a bond to her that I could not explain. Most likely part of a forgotten memory.

"Well," Julie wiped her hands off as she walked over. "Let's go upstairs and make you 'party ready'."

"Um, okay," I followed her as she bounded back up the stairs.

She picked out a blue maternity trapeze tunic that had matching leggings. "This will be perfect with your hoop earrings."

I just let the force named Julie take over. She picked out my clothes and accessories. She did my makeup and hair. She had her own ideas about style but I just let her run with it. It felt too good to be pampered to disagree with anything she wanted to do to get me 'party ready'.

"So, John said there will be single guys here," Julie liked at my reflection in the mirror. "Are there any ones I should be particularly aware of?"

"I don't know, you'd have to ask John."

"Any good looking ones?" I took a moment to consider my answer and Julie exclaimed, "Don't tell me I should ask John about that, too!"

"No," I replied. "They were all wearing their work clothes. You know I am kind of fond of men in uniforms," I gave her a smile.

"Mary, it is just sick how hot you think John looks in his uniform," Julie said and I blushed.

"I don't know why it is, I just do," I said in my defense.

"Yeah? Well, I guess even ugly uniforms can't hide a nice body," Julie said more to herself than anyone else. "Now let's get downstairs and knock John's socks off."