"Here we go," I announced. "Round two."
James laughed nervously. We were going on yet another weekend trip to share our news, this time with the Yamakawa family in Ashfield, New York. We thought it best to tell them in person. No one in my family had spoiled that for us, thank goodness. James was a nervous wreck, of course, just like I had been. That's why I was behind the wheel this time instead of him.
"When we get home, I need you to take another look at my research paper," James said. "I know that I've covered everything. But I still think it needs more revisions."
"I'm flattered that you asked my opinion," I replied. We were stopped at a red light, so I took the opportunity to lean over and give him a peck.
"You know I value your opinion more than anything." (He knew how to butter me up!)
"You're too sweet," I retorted.
"I'm so nervous," was his answer. Well, I had him distracted for a minute. I tried again.
"I really hate these old clothes."
He looked me over. "Janine, you won't be showing for another month or so. You could wear your regular clothes. You don't have to pull out those oversized things."
"I guess I'm paranoid," I confessed. "But really, these loose clothes do feel more comfortable right now. Even if they aren't very fashionable." I let out a sigh. "I'll just be glad when everyone knows."
"It's stressful," James agreed.
"As if we aren't stressed enough as it is," I added.
"And my family," James put in. "So much is going on. With the move to Stoneybrook, you know. Arranging for Will to stay in Ashfield next year is giving my parents a headache. Then there's the thing with Zach..."
I bit my lip. "Gosh, poor Zach..."
James absently flipped through his wallet, until he landed on a picture of the two of them together.
"There's Zach and Sarah last year at the Spring Fling," he commented sadly. "Look at the two of them. Look at her. So beautiful." James shook his head. "It breaks my heart."
I was trying to concentrate on the road as the tears starting blurring my vision. I wiped them away quickly. James took notice and put his arm around my shoulder.
"Maybe getting away from Ashfield will be good for Zach," James said, sounding choked up. "There are just too many reminders, you know? They grew up together. Best friends."
"They were so in love," I commented. "Even at thirteen."
"I just don't understand it," he muttered. "How some drunk idiot could take the life of this beautiful, young girl. You know what the disgusting part is? The bastard wouldn't even own up to what he did in court. We didn't tell Zach this, of course. But the guy showed no remorse for what he did. None."
I cringed at the thought. James and I fell silent. I thought of the pretty, blonde haired girl that I had only met a few times. I remembered how her smile lit up a room; I remembered her warm, outgoing personality. I remembered watching Zach looking at her, wondering if it were possible for two people this young to love each other as much as James and I loved each other.
Then I shuddered at the thought of that awful, rainy night in January when James's father called us with the awful news. "There was an accident. Sarah and Stephanie Gilson were in an accident involving a drunk driver. Stephanie, she broke some bones, but she's okay. But... Sarah didn't make it."
"Here we are," James announced as I turned on to his street. "You ready?"
"I think so," I replied. "How about you?"
"I'm ready." He spotted Will mowing the lawn and I heard him draw in his breath. The younger brother saw James at about the same time, turned off the lawn mower, and started waving wildly.
Before I could even turn off the ignition, Will was opening my car door for me. He offered me a hand and said, "My lady?"
"My lady, William." James tried to look stern.
Grinning from ear to ear, Will actually helped me out of the car. Where did all these good manners come from? I wondered. Then I saw him survey me carefully when I stood up, and I narrowed my eyes, suspiciously.
"Do you know something you're not supposed to know?" I asked him under my breath, while James was unloading our overnight bags out of the trunk.
"Are you?" was his reply. I nearly fell over in shock; he knew! But how? There was no way he could tell right now! Not at only eleven weeks!
"Could you tell?" I exclaimed, bewildered. Immediately, I pulled at my sweater self-consciously.
"You are," his eyes lit up. "No, I can't tell! You look the same. Claudia told me."
"Claudia!" I folded my arms across my chest. James appeared beside me.
"What's wrong?"
"Claudia already told him!" I rolled my eyes.
"It slipped out," Will assured me. "Really! We were talking on the phone and she accidentally told me. Don't worry, though. I didn't tell Mom and Dad."
"What about..." James began. We looked up to see Zach approaching with a wide grin on his face, eyeing me the way Will had done. James and I both gave Will a Look.
Will smiled sheepishly. "But Zach overheard me while I was on the phone."
"Congratulations," Zach said quietly, giving me a quick hug.
"But you didn't tell Mom and Dad, right?" James wanted to know. "Just the two of you know?"
"Mom and Dad don't know," Zach told us. Will nodded in agreement.
"I can't believe you're already having a baby," Will blurted out.
"If I had a nickel for every time I've heard that," I scolded him.
"Sorry," Will blushed. "My mouth got ahead of my brain."
"It's okay," I said.
"When's the baby due?" Zach wanted to know.
"Shh!" James shushed him as his parents appeared at the doorway.
"Come on in," Sheri, my mother in law, called to us. "I've got lunch ready. Hi, Janine! Hi, James! You hungry?" We both nodded our heads as she let us inside where the house smelled of Sheri's wonderful cooking. Immediately, I knew she had prepared spaghetti with her homemade sauce and baked apple pie for dessert. All of James's favorites.
"This looks delicious," I told her.
She had prepared lunch buffet style, and insisted that James and I go first. I grabbed a big piece of garlic bread and loaded my plate with spaghetti and green beans. Just earlier that day, I had been too sick to even eat breakfast. Now that the morning was over, I was famished.
I put my food on the table and glanced over at Will. He looked at my plate, smiled, and cocked one eyebrow. I knew exactly what that look meant: "Eating for two?"
I made a face at him and went to pour myself a glass of iced tea. And then I went back to the table and waited. Once we were all seated, then we'd drop the bomb.
When everyone was finally sitting down, Zach suddenly asked: "Can I say a blessing?"
James quickly lowered his forkload of spaghetti. "Oh... yeah, of course."
Before I go on, let me stop and explain that neither my family nor the Yamakawas are very religious people. That's why we forget to pray at most meals. We attend church on some occasions, but its never been a big part of our lives. Zach, however, started attending a Baptist church with Sarah when he first began dating her. After she died, he kept going back there for support from her closest friends. He told us that he wanted to be around the people that loved her most. And ever since her death, he's been different. I'm not sure if losing his best friend or finding his faith is ultimately what changed him. But I do know that whatever is keeping Zach going must be good for him. Sometimes it makes me wonder...
"Dear Heavenly Father," Zach prayed. "Thank You that we all could gather here together as a family. Thank You for bringing Janine and James here safely. Please bless them in their everyday lives. Thank You for this food; please nourish it to our bodies. It's in Your Holy Name we pray, Amen."
"Amen," I glanced up at James. He bit his lip slightly and nodded. This time, we had decided, it was James's announcement to make. I only hoped that he could manage okay.
"Family," James began formally. It certainly sounded like he had something important to say! At this, everyone put down their forks and gave James their full attention. I wanted to hide under the table.
"Janine and I," he started again. "Well, we've been married for eight months now, nearly nine. I'm finishing law school this month, and she's starting graduate school soon. (I gave him a small smile, begging him with my eyes to get to the point a little faster!) But, um, even more exciting than all of that is... we're expecting."
Like last time, this was met at first with silence.
Then Sheri spoke up: "... A baby?"
I smiled timidly, and said the first thing that popped into my head. "Surprise."