Well, this is chapter three. Shall we review what we have learned? No...good, I did not feel like recapping anything anyway. You thought you had read cheese well wait until you read this part, Danielle Steele eat your heart out. Here goes nothing and then some:

             A very pregnant Max knocked on the door. The door flung open. Sounds of children at play flooded her ears.

"Why do you bother with the knocking? You damn near live here. And plus you got a key. Use it." Max looked Cindy dead in the eye.

"I like having you open the door for me. I feel important. Besides not knocking is 'Party Foul # 4 section 16.'"

"You're late."

"I'm big as a house. I have an excuse."

"So you do. But how do you explain being late for everything else, even when you weren't pregnant?" Max opened her mouth in protest but alas, she knew Cindy was right. She hated when she was right.

"Auntie Max!" A little voice screamed among the confusion.

"Is that my girl?" Max yelled back.

Sydney Maxine Theodore came charging from the party. She was Cindy's oldest, a charming, beautiful little girl with brown curly ponytails and soft brown skin, the essence of Cindy as a child complete with brutal honesty coupled with a and overtly girly nature. Max bent down as best she could without toppling over to meet her goddaughter with a hug.

"How's my girl?" Max asked.

"Fine," the little voice replied, "did you know today's my birthday party?"

"I know that is why I am here silly. How old are you today?"

"This many." Sydney put up two fingers then three, finally settling on a number.

"It's a steady process," Max kissed Sydney on her head, found her way up and pulled a small present from her bag, "In honor of your birthday I bought you a little present."

"What is it?" Sydney said excitedly.

"If I told you it wouldn't be a surprise. Now would it? Turn around and let me get a good look at you." Sydney spun on one foot. She looked like an angel; in her patent leather Mary Jane's and white dress with matching ribbons.

"Wow you look like a little angel in that a pretty dress."

"Mommy made it. Come on we're gonna miss my party" Sydney took Max's hand and led her into the room Cindy following closely.

"Mommy out did herself this time. Mommy's gonna have to lend me some of her Little Cindy Homemaking skills." Max laughed as Cindy rolled her eyes.

"Wait till you baby boo here, then we will laugh at your cutesy projects. You'll be worse than me." Sydney led max into the living room where everyone was gathered. Normal, his wife Shauna, their son Ronald, Alec, his daughter Tara, Joshua, and a small group of Sydney's friends greeted her. Max sat in the first available chair to rest her aching and swollen feet; the extra pounds made her feel used and tired 'but it is all for a greater good' she told herself. Sydney curled up next to her.

"Auntie Max," she said looking puzzled at her stomach.

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"I know the baby is in your stomach. But when is it coming out?"

"The doctor said about three more weeks."

"How long is that?"

"Well, you know how I come and visit you an your mommy come see me at my house every weekend?" Sydney nodded. "Ok, if you come an visit me three more times I will probably have him by the third time."

"Three more times is a lot of times"

"You are tellin' me. You want to feel him kick?" Max put the small hand on her stomach Sydney's eyes went wide and a large smile leapt across her face.

"That's your baby?"

"Yep that's my baby."

"What's her name?"

"The doctor says it's a he."

Sydney's smile widened, "I know but he's a she."

"How do you know?"

You know

"I just do and when she comes I am going to give her all of my old baby clothes and a pretty new dress."

Cindy interrupted them, "Honey, you are missing your party. I'll keep Aunt Max company while you play." Cindy gave her daughter a little push. "So, Aunt Max, what was the questionnaire about today? Turtles? Bunnies?"

"Well, Mrs. Cindy Homemaker, the baby was the subject today. I guess Sydney is getting tired of waiting. I am also."

"She told me the other night during her bath that he was a she."

"I think she may be right. Where's the husband?" Max re-adjusted herself rubbed the base of her back, hoping to numb the pain.

"Calvin is on changing duties. I told him that since he wanted another he was on his own. It's a good thing we had a boy because I am not having another for a very long time."

            For a self-professed 'big lesbian' Cindy sure did love her family. Max suspected the growing sexual tension between Calvin and Cindy before they did. Then after catching select male clothing on the floor of Cindy's room then a different excuse for every item, a Halloween costume in March? Max became suspect, and then when Cindy and Sketchy (or Calvin as he is currently called) disappeared for two weeks, she knew was convinced something going on. Sure enough, Max got a call from Vegas saying that Cindy and her man had eloped and before she knew it her godchildren were born, Calvin Jr. and Sydney. She loved them more than anything except her own child and maybe her husband. Max sat in silence f her own thoughts, her child and her husband consuming her     

I'm nothing