Dimitri drove me to Dr. Friedman's office for the second ultrasound. I could tell he was just as excited as I was.

On the screen, our little 'peanut' looked slightly larger than it had before.

"These are the arm and leg buds," the technician said as she pointed them out.

"What is this shaded area?" Dimitri pointed.

"That's the ear," the technician told him.

He smiled. "Of course. I should have known that."

"Everything looks fine," said the technician. "Your baby seems to be developing right on schedule. See the receptionist for your next appointment."

I made an appointment for November, and then Dimitri drove me home.

"Things are looking up for us, Roza," he told me as we rode along. "There's the baby, and now Lukas has an idea for a new movie about Archduke Franz Ferdinand. If it's approved, production could start early next year."

"Who's that guy you mentioned?" I asked.

"Archduke Franz Ferdinand. He was the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne about a hundred years ago. His assassination was the main reason World War I started."

"Wow, that sure was a long time ago," I commented.

"Yeah. I've never been much of a history buff myself, but if it's approved, I believe this could be just the thing to get my acting career going again."

"I hope it works out for you, Dimitri." All I could think about was how easily he's shucked me aside when he'd been at the top before, how he'd come crawling back to me when he'd hit the bottom. If he made another hit movie and became a star again, would he abandon me once more?

"For us, Roza." He patted my hand. "For you, me, and our baby. I want our child to have the best start in life possible. Don't you?"

"Of course I do!"

"I want my son or daughter to have all the advantages I had growing up. Vegetarian OK?"

"Sure, that's fine."

He picked up a pizza for our dinner, and we went home and ate it. I tried my best to believe him, to push my worries and doubts aside and be happy for him, and I almost succeeded.

Mom took me shopping one weekend.

"You'll start outgrowing your clothes before you know it," she told me.

We went to the maternity store in the mall, where I bought a maternity bra that could also serve as a nursing bra, two pairs of pants with stretchy stuff in front, and three huge shirts.

"That's probably enough for now," she told me as we left the store. "Although I'm sure you'll want to come shopping again several more times before the baby's born."

We went to the food court for a snack before returning home. It gave us a chance to talk.

"It's so nice to spend quality time together with you," Mom said as she sipped her drink. "We haven't really spent any time together, just you and me, in how long?"

"Since before I got married last summer." We laughed.

"Time really flies, doesn't it?"

"Wow!" Dimitri's eyes nearly popped out of his head when I showed him the new clothes I'd just purchased. "I can't imagine you ever getting that big, Roza!"

"Neither can I." Suddenly I felt terribly depressed. Would Dimitri still think I was sexy when my abdomen became huge?

"Aw, cheer up." He came to me and gave me a hug. "You're not even showing yet!"

"I'm just tired." I yawned. "It's been kind of a long day."

"Why don't you get some rest." His voice was tender as he kissed my cheek. "You definitely don't want to overdo it."

Afraid perhaps I had overdone it, I went to bed soon afterwards.