Ellie knocked on Liz's bedroom door that night, and proceeded to just walk right in.
"What's up, El?"
"Did we get named?"
"What?"
"Before we were born. Had Mom and Dad already given us names too?"
Liz paused for a moment, trying to figure out the significance of her sister's question.
"No."
"No?" Ellie repeated.
"We weren't named."
"Not even Zoey?"
"No."
"Liz…"
"I know what you're thinking."
"Do you think they named this one yet?" Ellie asked, nervously.
"I don't know. Come on."
"Liz, I'm scared," Ellie admitted, as they speed-walked through the halls.
"Shh!"
They ran downstairs into the living room, where Jed, Abbey, and Zoey were sitting.
"Uh, guys?" Liz said, announcing their presence in the room.
They turned around.
"Yep?"
"Question."
"Shoot," Jed said.
"Have you given this baby…a name yet?" Elizabeth asked, almost trembling.
Jed and Abbey smiled proudly at each other.
"Chelsea. Why?"
Liz and Ellie started back upstairs hurriedly.
"You're not superstitious, are you?" Ellie asked, worriedly.
"No. Of course not," she lied.
Ellie could see right through it.
"I am too," Ellie said.
"Oh God."
"What now?"
"Two words."
"What?"
"Father Moriarty."
After all the kids had gone to bed, Jed and Abbey sat on the floor of the nearly empty guest room.
"Pink paint?" Jed asked.
"Check," Abbey replied with a quick nod.
"Purple paint?"
"Check."
"Paintbrushes?"
"Uhh…check."
"Furniture?"
"In the basement but…check."
"Stencils?"
"Check."
"Hammer?"
"Check."
"Nails?"
"Damnit."
"You forgot the nails, Abbey! What the hell is the hammer good for then?"
"You forgot the nails too!"
"Okay, I'll pick those up after work tomorrow. Shelves?"
"Check."
"Drill?"
"Check."
"What else is there?" He asked.
"I don't know, I'm just the checker!"
"And an adorable checker at that."
"How kind of you to say," she replied, coyly.
"When should we start?"
"Hmm…how about the day before my due date?"
"Not gonna work, Abbey. We'll start tomorrow."
"Tomorrow!"
"Tomorrow."
"But I have the night shift tomorrow…" She protested.
"No, you don't, I checked your schedule already."
"Then I'm gonna switch to the night shift."
"We start tomorrow night, Abbey."
"Fine."
"I thought you would be happier about this!" Jed said.
"I am! I just…well, you know I'm not very…good with my hands."
"You're a doctor. A surgeon, even."
"Well, this is a different kind of work altogether. I'm not handy at all. You know that."
"That's why I'll be here too."
"Jed. Please. You're not much better than I am."
"Untrue! I built that treehouse in the backyard."
"Yeah, and that's why it's on the grass now and not up in the tree"
"You're mean, Abbey."
"Deal with it, gumdrop."
"We start tomorrow," Jed said.
"Tomorrow it is."
TBC.