Chapter 6

They had decided not to tell Liz until the second trimester, just in case. But somehow, the little girl's intuition knew something had changed. She became clingy and whinny, a big change from the mostly happy and calm child she had been since she was an infant. So as month three came to a close, they decided it was time to let Liz know she was going to be a big sister.

"Liz, honey, come over here and sit on Daddy's lap." Her smiling face brightened his as she walked over to where her Daddy sat.

He reached down and pulled her up. Abbey sat by them, trying to determine what she was going to say. Jed heard the hesitancy in her voice and jumped in.

"Liz, honey. Do you know what a big sister is?"

The little girl nodded her head. "My friend Sarah is a big sister. She has a baby brother."

"Do you know what that means?"

Again, Liz explained to her daddy, "My friend Sarah helps her mommy with the baby."

"Well, honey, you are going to be a big sister after Santa Claus comes. Mommy and Daddy are going to have another baby."

Liz's eyes grew bigger as she looked first at her daddy and then at her mommy. "Am I going to have a baby to play with?"

Jed and Abbey both laughed. Abbey took Liz's hands and placed them on her stomach. "Mommy has a baby growing in her tummy and after Christmas, Mommy and Daddy will be bringing a baby home. You can help with the baby, but you can't play with it."

"But Sarah plays with her new baby." Liz's five-year old mind couldn't comprehend what the difference was.

"Yes, Liz. But Sarah helps with the baby, she doesn't play with the baby. That's what Daddy and I hope that you will do as well. I'm going to need your help. Can you be a big girl and help Mommy?"

Liz's small hands rubbed Abbey's stomach as she looked into her mother's eyes. "Is the baby inside now? How did the baby get into your tummy?"

Abbey quickly glanced at Jed and smiled. "You want to do this?"

"Oh, no! Be my guest." After placing Liz on the sofa next to his wife, he hurriedly stood up, finding an urgent task to do in the kitchen.

Abbey sighed. "Okay, Jed. This time. But the next one will be all yours."

Turning back to Liz, she said, "Let me explain, pumpkin."

A few minutes later, Liz hugged her mother and left the warmth of her mother's lap. The explanation had satisfied her.

For the time being at least.