Chapter Forty-Three

"I think now might be the best time to talk about why I came to visit," Sarah announced ceremoniously at the end of the Sunday dinner, "I wanted to tell you in person that I'm going to have a baby."

"When?" Emma reacted first while Diane and Will were still processing the fantastic news.

"In a few months," Sarah replied to her niece's question then accepted the congratulations of her brother and sister-in-law. The only person who didn't really care about the news was Nat.

"Is it going to be a girl or a boy?" Em's next question came the fastest again.

"It's too early to tell."

"I would want a sister, boys are boring," Em's next remark made everyone laugh, even Diane who didn't really mind that her daughter wasn't interested in boys yet.

"Next time you visit us, will you bring the baby with you?" the girl kept the questions coming.

"No, we'll have to go visit Aunt Sarah ourselves, she'll have to stay home with the baby," Diane replied instead of Sarah.

"We're going on a trip to Aunt Sarah? When?" she already seemed a little too excited.

"In the summer."

"But that is so far away!" Emma's enthusiasm suddenly turned into disappointment.

"I'm sure school will keep you busy until then," Sarah tried to reason with the girl, "Time will fly by."

"Which reminds me, don't you still have some homework to do?" Diane's maternal duties kicked in at the mention of school, it was Sunday evening already and Emma hadn't spent too much time with her homework during the weekend.

"Not much."

"Let me help you with that," Sarah offered and Diane appreciated it very much. She knew that her sister-in-law's going to be a great mother, she could only hope her husband had come on board with the situation as well, "I'll take Nat with me too, I can play with him while helping Em," Sarah offered and Diane simply hugged her in return.

"I'm really happy for you and we need to talk tonight. No wine for you though," she added playfully.

"Of course," Sarah smiled and took the kids hands.

After they left the room Diane turned to Will.

"She's going to be an amazing mother," Diane smiled at the future uncle who was obviously happy about the news.

"Just like you are," Will placed a kiss on her cheek and started putting the dishes into the dishwasher.

"You're flattering me. Do you want something?" Diane sent him a questioning look then joined him with the dishes.

"Why would you think that?" Will shrugged without looking at her.

"I don't know, you've been so absent the whole weekend, always on your phone or the laptop," he'd only stopped working when Sarah had arrived a few hours ago

"It's work," he explained and while Diane was aware that he couldn't really do anything about it, she still wished for them to spend more time together as a family.

"I know, but it's every weekend now and Thanksgiving. Will you at least slow down for Christmas?" the holidays were only two weeks away and ever since the kids had been born Christmas had gotten special importance in their lives. It was the celebration of love and family and they wanted their children to have the best possible Christmases they could give them.

"Absolutely," Will replied, looking right into her eyes this time and she wanted to believe him, but she had to make sure he meant it.

"Can you promise me that?"

"Yes," he kissed her to support his word and Diane truly couldn't wait for the holidays to finally come so they could be just a loving family again for at least a few days.

When they filled the dishwasher and set it to work Will turned to her.

"Looks like Emma really wants a baby sister, it's not the first time I'm hearing this from her."

"I know," Diane admitted and was actually glad Will brought up this subject, they had to talk about it someday, "Do you think we should tell her that this wish won't come true?"

"I don't know, we probably shouldn't take her hope away yet."

"Maybe she'll be happy with a little cousin."

"If it's a girl," Will chuckled.

"Two are enough for us, right? I mean we didn't even want to have children on the first place," Diane stayed with the topic, because she felt it still needed to be dealt with a little more.

"No, we didn't, but I'm glad we've changed our minds."

"Me too and I just want to make sure you don't regret that we won't have a third one. Soon it will be too late."

"Can you imagine starting all over again?"

"Not really, not with the new firm, it's already like a third baby to me."

"Then there's really no reason to talk about this. We're happy as a family and you're living your dream with your own firm, I don't think there's anything else we need."

"There is one thing that I need," Diane replied after a few minutes of silence.

"What is it?"

She looked at him, knowing very well that she'd spoken too fast, because she couldn't tell him the one thing she still needed to be perfectly happy.

"I'll write to Santa Claus, maybe he'll deliver," she joked it off and was hoping he wouldn't insist knowing the answer.

"But if he doesn't, you'll have to tell me at Christmas the latest. I want to make all your wishes come true," he smiled at her and she was hoping he already knew what was that single wish and that she wouldn't have to wait for too long for it to come true.