A month later…
"Happy Birthday Gabe," Craig said, shaking Gabriel awake. He had come over early enough to wake him up.
"Craig!" Gabriel exclaimed.
Craig smiled at him.
Gabriel sat up and Craig pulled him out of the crib.
Sammy stood at the door. "Hey," she said.
"Mommy, my birthday!" Gabriel exclaimed.
"How old are you?" Sammy asked.
Gabriel looked at his fingers and then at Craig for help. Craig held up one finger and Gabriel mimicked it. "This many!" he said. "One!"
"Yeah," Sammy said.
Gabriel's birthday had fallen on a Saturday so they didn't have school that day and they could spend the day getting ready for his party.
Craig sat Gabriel on the changing table and Sammy handed him an outfit. Craig changed Gabriel's diaper and then dressed him.
Joey walked in as Craig stood Gabriel up and fastened his bibbed overalls. Craig looked over at him. "Hey, Joey," Craig said, smiling.
"Joey," Gabriel copied.
"Hi Gabe," Joey said. Joey was getting use to the idea of being a "step grandfather" soon. Joey took Gabriel from Craig. "Let's go downstairs and see Angela."
"Angela!" Gabriel exclaimed.
Craig looked at Sammy. "How did I do?" he asked.
"Not bad," she replied. "I think you were born to be a dad."
He smiled. "Thanks," he said. "Mom use to let me help her with Angela." Lately, everything reminded him of his mother. Craig's eyes looked sad.
"What's wrong, Craig?" she asked.
"I was just thinking about how Mom might feel," he said. "I mean, we're going to have a baby, that would make the baby her grandchild. And the baby isn't even going to know her."
"Craig, sweetie," Sammy said, stepping closer to him and putting her arms around him. "The baby will know her, I mean, we can tell it about her."
"Yeah, but it just won't be the same."
"I know. But we will, right?"
He looked at her and smiled. "Right," he replied. He leaned down and pecked a kiss on her lips.
Craig wrapped his arm around her and walked downstairs.