July 4th, 2003
Week 28
Faith finished the end of her braid as she waddled into the kitchen. She pulled the potato salad from the fridge. This was their first party at their house. People from work and the neighborhood were in the backyard.
"Can I help?" Emily asked.
"Get the punch and green salad out from the fridge." Faith said as she walked outside. Alex took the salad from Faith.
"You really should be resting and not carrying a lot of things." She said. Faith chuckled.
"I know, I look like I'm ready to pop, but I'm not." Faith smiled, "I can really carry some salad."
"Okay." Alex smiled softly walking back over to the picnic table. Smoke bellowed out from the barbecue that Bosco was working at.
"Christ, Bosc." Ty said as he took a sip of his beer, "Are you trying to get rid of those eyebrows?"
"No." He said, "Just trying to make the best hamburgers in the world." Ty chuckled.
"After you kill us all." He said sitting at the picnic table. Charlie and a few of his friends ran up to Faith and Alex.
"When are the fireworks?" He asked.
"In forty-five minutes." Faith said, "First it's dinner." Charlie groaned.
"Can we eat then?" Charlie asked. Faith glanced over at Bosco who nodded.
"All right. Kids first. Grab a plate and get whatever you want off of the table." Several kids ran to the table and talked at once. Some of the mothers chuckled. Bosco went up to Faith and extended his hand.
"Need help up?" He asked.
"Yes." Faith chuckled pulling herself up, "Thanks." Bosco kissed her cheek and went over to the table. Faith grinned. Food, oh how she loved it. She started to pile he food on; corn on the cob, potato salad, macaroni salad, hamburger, and all the great stuff. She waddled back to the picnic table and eased herself down.
"Here you go." Bosco put a glass of Lemonade down in front of her.
"Thanks." She smiled, "Oh, Frannie, this potato salad in fantastic."
"Thanks." Her neighbor said, "I can give you the recipe if you want." Faith nodded.
"So, Faith." Alex said, "How does it feel being pregnant and everything?"
"Like your body is being over taken by an alien." Faith chuckled, "Why? You thinking about it?" Ty shifted uncomfortably.
"No." Alex said, "I was just curious." She patted Ty's leg.
"So…ah…names?" Ty asked, "Have you decided on a name?" Bosco nodded
"Well, I chose Giovanni for his middle name." Bosco said, "But Faith can't decide on a first name."
"I already picked a first name." Faith said biting into the corn. Bosco looked at her.
"You have? Since when?" He asked.
"Since last month." Faith chuckled.
"Last month? You plan on telling me my son's name?" He asked. Everyone chuckled slightly.
"Well," Faith giggled, "I thought long and hard about it and I thought Vincent Giovanni Boscorelli had a beautiful ring to it."
"I like it." Alex smiled. Bosco nodded.
"I love it." He said.
"Really?" Faith smiled, "I was so afraid you'd hate it."
"I love it. It's the perfect name." Bosco said kissing her cheek.
* * *
Bosco helped Faith down onto the blanket. She smiled softly. Emily and Charlie sat in front of them with their friends. Ty fixed the radio so they could hear everything that was happening down the river. Bosco wrapped his arms around his wife, snuggling her close.
"It's starting." Ty announced. The children looked up into the sky as the fireworks started to explode. Everyone started to cheer as blue, green, and purple sparks exploded throughout the sky.
"Vincent is jumping." Faith giggled as she put Bosco's hand on her stomach. Every time there was a boom in the sky, the baby moved. Bosco chuckled.
"That's my boy." He said.
July 18th, 2003
Week 30
Faith waddled down the aisle as she pushed the shopping cart into the frozen food section. She loved this section. It made her hot flashes a little less unbearable. Being pregnant in the summer was the worse. She threw open a door and grabbed a bag of frozen carrots and peas. She threw them into her carriage and pushed her cart only to run into someone.
"Jeez, watch it." She hissed.
"Faith?" She looked at the person she ran in to and frowned deeply.
"Fred." Her voice was cold. Fred looked at her, looked at her stomach.
"I heard on the rumour mill that you were pregnant." Fred said. Faith wrapped her arm defensively around her stomach.
"And I heard on the rumour mill that picked up heavy drinking again." Faith pushed the cart past Fred.
"Faith, we need to talk." Fred said. Faith shook her head grabbing some cool whip from the case.
"No we don't. It's in the custody agreement that we don't need to even see each other." Faith said.
"And it's also in the custody agreement that I get the kids every other holiday." Fred said. Faith turned around with a confused look on her face.
"Didn't your lawyer contact you?" She asked. Fred shook his head.
"No. Why?" He asked.
"You missed all your schedule appointments with the counselor." Faith said, "And you know that was part of this whole deal. They found out about your drinking and you knew that you couldn't drink if you wanted to have our kids."
"I don't understand." Fred said.
"You lost them. You lost the kids." Faith said, "Just ask your lawyer." She pushed her cart to the end of the aisle and grabbed a bag of Popsicle's.
"How are they?" He asked, "How are you?" Fred smiled softly.
"You always were when you were pregnant." He said, "When are you due?" Faith sighed.
"September 28th." She said, "Bosco and I are having a boy."
"A boy." Fred nodded, "Well, congratulations." Faith's face softened slightly.
"Thanks." She said. She bit her lip, "How are you?"
"Besides the obvious?" He asked. "Okay, I guess."
"Good." She said. "I um…I'm happy now, Fred. Bosco and I are married; we have the perfect house, perfect dog, and three kids. I'm happy." Fred sighed tucking his hands into his pockets.
"Well, I'm glad Bosco isn't gay and can give you everything you didn't get with me." He said. Faith couldn't help but to smile.
"Oh he gives me plenty." She pushed the cart to a cash register. Faith grabbed the new TV guide and threw it in the cart. Fred pushed the cart up behind her. She tried to ignore her ex. This was more than awkward.
"Faith…" Fred said, "When can I see the kids?"
"When you get your life back together." Faith said waiting for the cashier to give her her total. Fred groaned loudly.
"Come off of this holier than thou trip." He said. Faith held back her comments. It wasn't good for her to get extremely upset. It wasn't good for the baby.
"Fifty even." The cashier said. Faith exhaled and handed her some money. The sooner she could get out of her the better. "Have a nice day."
"Thanks." Faith said as she quickly pushed the cart away. She could hear Fred calling after her. She couldn't talk to him again. It was harder than she thought it'd be.
* * *
Bosco rushed out to the car as he saw Faith get out.
"You better not have loaded the car yourself." He said popping the trunk. Faith shook her head.
"No. Someone helped me." She said.
"Good." Bosco said grabbing a few bags.
"I ah, I ran into someone." She said.
"Oh yeah?" Bosco asked, "Who?"
"Fred." She said walking up the front steps. Bosco frowned slightly.
"What did he say to you?" Faith shrugged as she walked into the kitchen.
"Nothing. Just the usual shit." She said, "I'm just glad I'm home."
"Me too." He said, "Why don't you go lay down and I will put these groceries away?" Faith smiled softly.
"Thanks," She said, "When you're done, come up and you can massage my back." Bosco chuckled as she left the room.
"I'll do that and a whole lot more."
