Elizabeth was confused, uncertain of what to do. She knew Pearl Godsey could be very unpleasant sometimes, and secretly, she wondered how Ike could have endured her for the past several years. Possibly his feelings for Sharon, she surmised, but how could Pearl have been so cruel to her own daughter over such happy news?

"It's all right," she told her friend at last. "As long as you and Anton are happy, that's all that matters."

"I-I was hoping Mama would be happy, too," Patty choked out.

Elizabeth sighed. "Well, Patty, you're all grown up now, and you have your own life. It would be nice if your mother weren't the way she is, but she is, and there's nothing anybody can do about it. You just have to accept it and go on."

"I know." Patty sniffled. "But it's hard."

"It'll get easier as time goes on," Elizabeth predicted. The two young women sat in silence for awhile, watching Max and Laura splash around. Then Patty spoke.

"Elizabeth, does it hurt a lot when the baby comes out?"

Elizabeth smiled. "It's a lot of hard work, and yes, it does hurt a bit. But when it's all over with, and you're holding your baby in your arms, you'll know it was all worth it." She saw how worried her friend looked and gave her a comforting pat on the arm. "Don't worry, Patty. You'll be just fine."

Patty visited a while longer, then told Elizabeth she'd better go.

"I don't want Anton to worry," she explained.

She arrived to find her husband carving a small object out of wood and whistling a happy tune. When he saw her, he frowned and walked over to her. He touched her face.

"You have been crying."

Patty tried to smile. "I'm all right, Anton. I just tend to get weepy sometimes. I guess it's my hormones."

"I am sure that is part of it, but did something in particular happen today?"

She shook her head. "Oh, no. I went to visit Mama, then spent some time with Elizabeth. She's such a good friend. What's that you're making?"

"A rattle for the baby."

Patty smiled. "That's great! Our baby will have such a loving father."

"And a loving mother as well."

As the weeks passed, Patty found that her symptoms did subside, and she was soon eating ravenously, as Anton had predicted. A week before Christmas, he found her consuming leftover chicken in the kitchen at two o'clock in the morning. She was afraid he'd be cross at her, but he just laughed.

"I would not eat so much if I were you," he told her. "You might have a difficult time losing weight after the baby is born."

She felt a sudden dread inside. "Will you stop loving me if I get fat?"

"Of course not, but I want you to stay healthy."

On Christmas Eve, Anton came home with a square cardboard box.

"It is your Christmas present," he told his wife.

Patty fell asleep that night wondering whatever could be in that box. They still had all the baby furniture they'd used with Sammy, and she couldn't think of any appliances she needed.

On Christmas morning, as soon as the breakfast dishes had been cleared away, she darted into the living room and peeled the wrapping from the package.

"It's...a television?"

"I thought it was something we would both enjoy." Anton wasn't sure how to interpret her reaction.

"I'm sure we will - thank you so much!"

"You are welcome, my dear." Anton found a stand for the television and sat it on top. He switched the set on, and Patty saw figures in black and white moving around.

"It's just like being at the movies!" Mesmerized, she had a hard time tearing herself away from the screen to focus on the rest of the presents.

The television soon occupied a major place in Patty's day-to-day life, and each day, she couldn't wait to find out what was happening on Search For Tomorrow, Love Of Life, The Brighter Day, and various other programs. Anton became accustomed to being regaled with the details of the different plots.

"Why can't Irene just leave Keith alone?" she complained one day. "It's obvious he really loves Jo!"

At first Anton just laughed, but as time passed, he began to notice that he often returned home from the hospital to find the furniture dusty, the floor not swept, piles of dirty dishes in the sink, and dirty clothes overflowing from the laundry hamper. Several times, he smelled their dinner burning in the oven while Patty sat glued to the television, totally oblivious.

One afternoon, he came home from a particularly tiring day to find his wife hadn't even started cooking yet.

"Patricia." She jumped as if she'd seen a ghost, then turned around and saw her husband with a frown on his face.

"Anton! You're home already?"

"It is almost six o'clock, Patty, and I am very hungry."

Patty went into the kitchen to see the chicken still sitting on the counter, completely thawed. Her eyes filled with tears.

"I can't believe it!" she cried. "I forgot to start dinner!" She turned on the oven to preheat. "It'll take about an hour and a half to cook. Could I just make you a couple of sandwiches while we're waiting? I'm so sorry!"

Anton sighed. "Yes, I suppose that would be all right, but we do need to talk about this obsession you have developed with the television. It has completely taken over your life."

"I suppose you're right," Patty admitted. "I never meant for it to happen. I just get so caught up in these people's lives - for me, it's like they're real!"

She was slicing tomatoes to make a sandwich. Anton came up behind her and hugged her from behind. She turned to look into his eyes.

"It may seem that way to you, PR, but it is important to remember they are not real. They are make believe, but what is real is me, you, and our baby."

"I know," said Patty. "Can you ever forgive me?"

He kissed her cheek. "Of course I forgive you, PR. I love you, but please take my words to heart."

"Oh, I will!"

Patty found it very difficult to wean herself off her soap opera addiction, but she made a real effort, and over time, her housework returned to its former quality.