"Mommy! Daddy! Up!" It was no later than seven-thirty in the morning when Julia crawled up onto her parents' bed.
A large yawn emitted from Alex. "Honey, aren't you sleepy anymore?"
"No," Julia said, a large grin on her face. "Up?"
Alex gently rubbed Julia's back. "I think the birthday girl is ready for her day to start."
"Come here, you," Mort said, pulling his daughter into his arms. She giggled in response. "Happy birthday, Julia," he said as he grabbed the remote control. He turned on the T.V. that was mounted in the corner of the room. His voice was enthusiastic as he said, "Look, cartoons!" Julia smiled. "How about you stay here and watch, hm?" There were no arguments. Mort and Alex slept another half hour or so before Julia got antsy.
"Daddy?" she said, tapping Mort's nose.
"It was a valiant effort, sweetie," Alex said, trying to get out of bed. "I will not miss this stomach in the least," she groaned. Mort got up and helped his wife out of bed.
"Couple more weeks, baby," he said sweetly.
Alex smiled and kissed his cheek. "Then you'll have me back." She winked and disappeared into the bathroom.
"Cheer-os?" Julia asked.
"Cheerios it is, sweetheart." Mort scooped Julia up and took her downstairs. He had just taken the bright yellow cereal box out of the cupboard when the phone rang. He picked up the handset and the caller I.D. read "Unavailable." "Nothing like solicitation on a Sunday morning," he mumbled. "Hello?"
Breathing.
"Hello?" he said again, growing impatient. He then recalled the readout on the caller I.D. a few hours earlier – it was the same, though that did not necessarily mean anything. Payphones could come up that way, some cell phones…still, the thought struck him and he went with it. "Is this the same fu…" He remembered that Julia was in the room. "…idiot that called in the middle of the night?"
A muffled sob?
"Hello?" Mort's voice was more concerned now. Karen? Sarah? Was something wrong with someone he knew? No, why would either of them… "Are you all right?" What else could he say? He thought the person was upset or in trouble.
The voice was nearly inaudible. "I'm sorry." The phone disconnected.
A prank, maybe?
Julia's tiny voice cut into his thoughts. "Daddy, cheer-os?"
Mort turned. "Yes, Julia. Sorry." He poured the cereal into her favorite pink, plastic bowl, then poured a small amount of milk into it as well. Julia was content. He decided to try and push the phone call from his mind.
Alex came into the kitchen a while later, her hair wet. She kissed the top of Julia's head. "Look at my big girl," she said sweetly. She caressed her stomach. "Ooo…Mort, how do you feel about soccer?"
"She's awake, huh?" Mort asked, putting his hands on her stomach. Feeling his unborn daughter kick strongly, he said, "I think someone's tired of her studio apartment."
Alex rolled her eyes playfully and laughed. "Have you always been so strangely cute?"
He smiled. "Maybe. Are you hungry?"
"I have to get started with…"
"You'll get started with nothing," Mort interrupted.
"But I…"
"I told you that I'd take care of everything today. Karen said she'd be here at ten and …"
"Mort, I…"
"Alex, I was with you when the doctor told you to take it easy, remember? You almost got put on bed rest, or did that slip your mind?"
She pretended to pout. "No fair."
Mort laughed. "You're right, baby. Having a husband who is willing to wait on you hand and foot and run a toddler's birthday party is torture, isn't it?"
Alex pulled Mort's face to hers. "I love you."
"Enough to stay put and listen to me?"
"Hmm…I suppose," she teased.
"O.K. then, Rainey Eggs."
"Rainey Eggs?" Alex laughed.
Mort smiled broadly, seeming very proud of what he was about to say. "I thought I'd try naming my creations. Once the baby's born, I'll make you a Mort Mamossa."
Alex put her face in her hands and laughed at the pure bliss that Mort's sense of humor and wording made her feel. He had moments where he had to have been channeling creativity from his inner child…and Alex adored those times. "What's special about Rainey Eggs?"
Mort draped a kitchen towel over his arm like a waiter and said, "Ah, as much as the cook adores his beautiful patron, the secrets of his…" Alex burst out into full fledge laughter, interrupting him. Mort forced his best "wounded puppy" look and said, "I put cheese and milk in the scrambled eggs. See, milk can be like the rain, and our last name being Rainey…it was cuter before you laughed at me."
"Aw, honey, it's still cute. Can I have some?"
He looked at Julia for a moment and began to laugh. She had finished her cereal and found that her bowl could make a rather bold fashion statement. She giggled as the small amount of milk that was left trickled down her face.
"That will be about a twenty minute wait, madam, I have another patron to attend to at the moment." Mort laughed as he carried Julia upstairs to bathe her.
***
Author's Note: Yes, it was a rather "cutesy" chapter, but let's face it, Mort would be an adorable husband/father. More interesting things are to happen, I swear! I just had to get that out of my system. Let me know what you think! (Remember, flaming is bad, mmmkay?)