TWO MONTHS LATER –WJM NEWSROOM-MONDAY MORNING

The wedding was less than a week away and everything seemed to be falling into place. She and Andy didn't feel the need for a big production, given it was the second time for both of them, but Mary's parents wanted her to have something special after everything she had been through. So they settled on a ceremony at the church in the smaller chapel with about twenty to thirty people. But they were having a reception at her parents' country club. Andy's friend Steve was an amateur DJ and would provide the music, a lot of Motown, a favorite of both the bride and groom. Rhoda, of course, would be the maid of honor and Lisa would be the matron of honor. Mary walked into the newsroom and hung up her coat. She had been feeling a little run down the last couple of weeks but figured it was from all the planning and running around.

"Good Morning, Murray." She said getting a cup of coffee

"Hey, Mare." He said typing away, "So, the big day is just around the corner."

"Yeah, I think everything is in place, finally." She told him taking her seat and putting her purse in her drawer

"Yeah, even small weddings can be exhausting to plan, I guess." Murray said, "At least that what women tell me."

She smiled, "So you and Marie will be able to make it, won't you?" she started to take a drink of coffee but was hit with a sudden wave of nausea and quickly sat the cup back down

"Something wrong with the coffee?" Murray asked, "I think Ted made it."

"No, just needs to cool off a little." She told him. Oh god, it can't be.

Andy walked into the newsroom smiling upon seeing his future bride, "Hey, Babe." He walked over to her desk and kissed her on the cheek

"Hi, sweetheart." She replied, "Don't forget you've got your tuxedo fitting this afternoon."

"Right, I'll be there." He rubbed the back of his neck, "I should never play poker on a week night. I need some coffee."

"Oh, here, take mine. I haven't touched it." She handed him her cup

"Don't you want it?" He asked

"Nah, I guess I'm not in the mood for it today." She explained

"Oh, okay, thanks." He said taking a drink, "You wanna get lunch today?"

"I'd love to but I have a couple more errands to run myself." She said getting up and walking over to the filing cabinet

"Alright." He said, "I'll see you later then." He walked over to her and pulled her close kissing her then pulling away and heading to the studio, "See ya, Murray."

Mary looked for a file, "Mur, is Mr. Grant in?"

"No, he's in a meeting with the station manager. He'll probably be there for a while." He replied

"Oh, okay." She slipped into his office and called her doctor. She prayed this wasn't what she thought but if it was she needed to know now.

LATER THAT EVENING

Andy came over as usual and they ate dinner and put the kids to bed. He noticed she had been rather quiet and most of the time new brides were bubbling with excitement. They were on the couch, Andy watching a game and Mary reading a book, or trying to. She was trying to find a way to tell him what she had to tell him. Her feet were in his lap and he began to tickle them.

She wriggled, "Stop that!" She squealed more in playfulness than irritation, "Just watch your game mister."

"It a commercial." He explained

"Well, you know I hate that, especially while I'm trying to read."

He looked at her for a moment, she seemed tired and pale. He hoped she was just feeling run down from all the planning, "Are you alright?"

She was silent for a moment but decided she couldn't put this off. She sat up and looked him in the eye, "Andy, there's something I have to tell you and I'm not sure how you're going to react."

He smiled, "You can tell me anything, you know that."

She exhaled heavily, "Alright, then I'll just say it." She paused for a moment, "I went to the doctor today at lunch. I didn't have any errands to run."

He was puzzled, "Why didn't you just say you had a doctor appointment?" he asked, "You're okay, aren't you?"

"Well, sort of." She said, "I'm perfectly healthy." She assured him, "But I'm also perfectly pregnant." She bit her lower lip as she waited for his reaction

"You're what?" He asked stunned

"Pregnant." She repeated, "Are you okay?"

He put his head in his hands, "I thought you were on the pill."

"I am but it's not one hundred percent and I was off of them for a while because I wasn't well…and it didn't seem necessary to take them." She explained

"You realize this means we'll have four kids between us now. That's not going to be easy, even with both of us working. And you'll have to keep working now. We couldn't possibly support four on my salary." They had briefly discussed whether Mary would keep working after they got married. They hadn't decided yet but she had wanted to since Emily and Jake were now in school full time

"Honey, I know we sure didn't plan this but I can't lie and say I'm not a little bit happy." She told him taking his hand and placing it on her still flat abdomen, "I love the thought of having of your baby."

He smiled rubbing his hand across her abdomen, "Yeah, I guess things could be a whole lot worse. I mean the kids are all healthy and happy and so are we."

She kissed him, "We may not be able to give them a lot of extra stuff but they'll have what they need and they'll never be short on love."

"You've got that right." He agreed

"But I don't want to say anything just yet, huh?" she said, "Let's get through the wedding and the honeymoon before we say anything."

"Alright." He said, "You know I didn't even ask when you're due?"

"I'm about eight weeks so it looks like April." She informed him

He pulled her in his arms, "I love you."

Her eyes were moist with tears, "I love you, too."

SATURDAY

The wedding was intimate but beautiful. Mary and Andy exchanged vows they had written themselves and she looked radiant in a simple white dress. Everyone was gathered at the country club and the reception was beginning to wind down. They were spending the night at the Hotel Leamington then leaving tomorrow for the Caribbean. The honeymoon was a gift from Andy's parents since it's tradition for the bride's parents to pay for the wedding. Mary and Andy were talking with his brother and sister in law who were getting ready to leave. As they walked away and headed for the door there was a moment of quiet as there appeared to be only their parents and the wedding party left. Steve was breaking down his equipment and Dottie and Rhoda were starting to clear the tables. Andy, without really thinking gently slid his hand over her abdomen and whispered in her ear and Mary laughed. Dottie spotted them from across the room and was all too familiar with that gesture. But she said a silent prayer that she was wrong as she took some of the dishes into the kitchen.

A WEEK LATER

Mary and Andy had returned from their honeymoon and fortunately she didn't experience too much morning sickness and they had a wonderful time. Dottie, Rhoda and Andy's brother and sister-in-law were helping them move into their new home. It was a modest three bedroom home in a nice but middle class neighborhood and the kids would be able to stay in the same school.

Rhoda and Dottie were unpacking the living room while Mary and Janet were working on the kitchen. Janet opened a box and it was actually some books, "Oh, these are books, I'll take these into the living room."

"Okay, thanks." Mar said unpacking some glasses and putting them on the shelf. She reached up and felt someone come up behind her and put their arms around her waist, "Let me do that. I don't want my pregnant bride straining herself."

"Shhh." She said, "Not so loud."

She moved to side and turned to face him, "No one else is in here." He rubbed his hand over her abdomen, "You know I think you're beginning to fill out."

"Yeah, these short are getting a little tight already." She said

Dottie had overheard their conversation as she was about to enter the kitchen to get a dust rag. She cleared her throat upon entering, "Sweetheart do you have a dust rag in here?"

"Uh, yeah, Mom, underneath the sink I think." Mary told her

There heard a truck pull up outside, "Oh, great, the movers are finally here. I'll go let them in." Andy said and walked out of the kitchen.

Mary went back to unpacking the glasses and Dottie decided she had to say something, "When were you planning on telling me?"

Without looking at her Mary put the glasses in the cupboard, "Tell you what?"

"That you're pregnant." She replied matter of fact

Mary almost dropped the glass she was holding and looked at her mother, "You overheard us just now, didn't you?"

"Yes but I had a feeling before that." She said, "I noticed Andy rubbing your stomach at the reception. There's usually only one reason a man does that."

"Well, Mom I don't need a lecture, alright." Mary told her. She turned around and leaned her back up against the counter

"Sweetheart, what were you thinking?' Dottie said as softly as she could, "You already have three children between you."

"Well, it wasn't like this was planned but it's done and we're not exactly unhappy, Mom."

"Mary, how are you going to support four children on his salary?" She asked

Mary arched an eyebrow, "His salary?" She asked, "I'm going to keep working, I have to now."

"Oh, and I supposed you expect me to take care of the baby while you work?" Dottie asked a little irritated

Mary sighed heavily, "We were going to talk to you about it." She informed her, "If I put the baby in daycare it will eat up all the money I make. Then I might as well stay home."

Dottie was surprised that her daughter would let something like this happen. She usually thought things through, "Did it ever occur to you that I might not want to have to look after another baby. You know I love Emily and Jake and I understood you had to work and gladly helped you in any way I could."

"And I appreciate it, Mom. I really do." She assured her

"But now you could stay home. I thought that's what you wanted."

"Mom, I never said I wanted to stay home. The kids are in school full time and what would I do with my days?" She said, "Working gives me an identity apart from wife and mother. I can't go back to who I was when I was with Bill. Too much has changed. But if you are really that upset then don't worry. We'll figure something else out." She headed out of the kitchen

"Mary…" Dottie said. She never wanted to hurt her daughter

She turned back, "I need to help Andy." She said and walked out of the kitchen

TBC