Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Ladder 49; lyrics are Illume by Stevie Nicks.
Chapter 5"Hello sweetie. How was school?" said a preoccupied Linda. She was busy making their dinner of spaghetti and her mind was just a whir. She had decided to tell Nicky and Katie about her pregnancy after dinner, and she was going to sound excited as she could without sounding fake, no matter how uncertain she was.
"Good. I made a painting today. Want to see it?" replied a content Katie.
"Sure baby."
"It's a picture of us and daddy."
Linda froze. Katie had always drawn pictures for Jack, even put one in his casket. But now that she had drawn one of their family, Linda felt weird. She had drawn someone who wasn't here anymore, and hadn't drawn someone who would be here in a little while. Not that Katie could have possibly know, or was to be criticized for putting her father, who was still very much a part of the family, in a picture. Then she thought that, though they were both a part of the family, they would never all be in a family photo.
"It's gorgeous, hunny. You want to put it on the fridge?"
"Yeah! Can I use the Mickey Mouse magnet?"
"Of course," said Linda, looking at the picture. "You know what, there's someone missing in this painting."
"Who?" questioned Katie.
"Who?" demanded Nicky.
"Your new brother or sister," answered Linda, smiling. It wasn't the original timing, but it had felt right.
"What do you mean?" asked Nicky slowly, wondering if he was guessing the right thing.
"I'm going to have a baby. I'm pregnant."
"Yay! Mommy, can I have a little sister?"
"Well, sweetie, we don't get to decide if it's a boy or a girl. It just happens. Maybe though. Or a little brother, wouldn't that be nice too?"
"You don't want a little sister, Katie. Trust me, they're a pest," teased Nicky.
"Hey! Mommy did you hear that?"
"Yes, don't worry. Nicky, I know it was a joke, but please apologize to your sister."
"Sor-ry," he said as he rolled his eyes.
"When do I get my new sister, mommy?"
"Well, baby, like I said, it might not be a sister you get. And it will be in about 5 months, right before your birthday."
"But I know that it's going to be a girl, mommy," said Katie.
"Do you?"
"I know I'm going to get a sister, and we're going to play dolls together, and we're going to have tea parties, and-" Katie's voice drifted as she climbed the stairs to go to her room. Linda watched her go and smiled.
Nicky eyed his mother carefully. "How-" he started and then stopped. He looked really confused. He was just beginning to learn about the circle of life, the birds and the bees. But he hadn't been supplied all of the facts yet, and wasn't exactly sure how everything worked, and his father's absence did little to help his confusion.
"How am I doing?" supplied Linda, saving Nicky from his embarrassment by changing the subject. "I'm just fine. The doctor said I'm going to need someone to help me and make sure I'm taking care of myself, and that I'm taking my vitamins. Seeing as Katie's a little young, think you could do that?" asked Linda, hoping to make Nicky feel needed, and to involve him in the experience.
"Well, I guess," he answered with a smile. Linda pulled him in for a hug.
"Everything is going to be wonderful, just you wait and see. Maybe Grandma will stay with us for a while, and it'll be great. Okay, go wash your hands and get Katie. Supper's ready."
As Nicky ran up the stairs, Linda smiled. Somehow, telling them about this news made her feel a lot more comfortable with having this child, one more piece of Jack for her.