Daisy helped Della plan the two upcoming birthday parties. Perry had gotten his father-in-law a job at the building that housed his office. He was a security guard. His past military training helped him to get that job. Perry was also helping them to look for a place of their own. The Mason house didn't have enough room for everyone and the Streets' didn't want to invade their space. "Nana," Maureen said as she walked up to Daisy, "is my burfday," she held up two fingers, "I's two."
Daisy picked up the little girl, "two already? Wow, you're a big girl now."
"I know," Maureen said.
Della walked into the kitchen, "happy birthday, little girl."
"Not little girl. I big girl."
"You'll always be 'little girl' to your daddy and me."
"Pwesents now?"
Della laughed, "you have to wait until everyone's here." Maureen signaled that she wanted down so Daisy put her down. The little girl started to walk away. "Where are you going?"
"Twy daddy," Maureen said and left.
Della started laughing, "he'll give them to her too."
Everyone had a great time at the party. Especially, little Maureen. She said she'd share her toys from last year with Vivi, but that Vivi wasn't old enough for this year's toys.
When Vivian's first birthday arrived, Della had just entered her third trimester. Two days before Vivi's birthday, Della was in the kitchen when she felt a pain in her stomach. When Daisy walked in, she found her daughter bent over with one hand on the counter and the other holding her side. "Della, what's wrong?"
Della straightened up and placed a hand on her back, "I don't know. I just got a shooting pain."
"Have you had any other pain today or yesterday?"
"No," Della said.
"Why don't you sit down for a bit? If the pain comes back, let me know. You're probably doing too much."
"I have no doubt," Della said as she walked to the kitchen table.
Perry walked in, "what are you two up to?"
"I'm going to start dinner and your wife is going to rest," Daisy said.
Perry looked at his wife, "are you okay?"
"I think so," Della said. "I felt a pain, but it didn't feel like a contraction."
"Was it a muscle?"
"Now that I think about it, it was on that side." Della looked at her mom, "I pulled the same muscle several times when I was expecting Vivian."
"She kept bending at the side to pick up what she dropped when seated," Perry added.
"So, you never learn?" Daisy asked.
"No, but Perry doesn't either."
"When it comes to the children, we're hoping two negatives make a positive." Perry smiled as the two women laughed.
Vivian's first birthday rolled around and it was just as much fun as Maureen's. Just like Maureen's first birthday, Vivian took her first steps. The little girl walked over to her nana and papa. Perry got the entire thing on film. Della held her daughter's hands until the girl let go. Perry noticed the look of sadness on his wife's face, "you okay?" he asked.
"You're right," Della said, "I didn't like how it felt when she let go."
Perry pulled his wife into a hug and kissed her temple.
Perry had helped Daisy and Dan get an apartment nearby. They moved in just before Della's due date. Which happened to be their anniversary. Both told the couple to call them if they ever need anything. The Streets' did keep their granddaughters overnight the night before Della's due date. The girls could have stayed with Nicky, but he was in his last weeks of school. The Streets' kept the girls the next night too. Well, Della's due date came and went. She was not happy about being overdue. Maureen was a few days early and Vivian was on time. Her due date was three days ago. "This is ridiculous," Della sighed. She looked at Perry with irritation, "you have nothing to say?"
"Nothing that will make you happy," he said without looking up.
Paul walked into the house, "hey, Perry. Hello, beautiful."
"Oh, shut up," Della said.
Paul looked at Perry, "guess I shouldn't have said anything."
"I told you not to."
"What can I say? I'm a man and I don't listen. Gertie tells me all the time." Paul handed Perry a file, "these are all of my notes on your various cases. I paper-clipped them to separate them."
"Great, thanks," Perry said.
"Say, where are the kids?" Paul asked.
"They're in their rooms," Perry said. "It's a little treacherous out here."
Both men saw Della glaring at them, "Perry, you've dragged me into dangerous situations before," Paul said, "but I've never been more scared than I am right now."
"How do you think I feel? I sleep with SWAT gear on."
"I'd yell at you both," Della said, "except my water just broke."
"Thank God!" both men said.
"Paul, can you stay with the kids until Jenny gets here?" Perry asked.
"Sure," Paul said.
Perry went to call Jenny and Della's doctor. He then helped his wife out to the car. Twenty-five hours later, a cry filled the room. "Congratulations on your third baby girl," the doctor said.
Once the baby was in Della's arms, she was finally able to relax. "Well, it's about time, Margaret Penelope Mason. You're going to give us trouble, aren't you?"
"Well, like father, like daughter," Perry joked.
"Oh, boy, am I in for it," Della joked right back.
Della and Perry did things exactly the same as the other times. Vivian had stopped nursing before Maggie was born, so Maggie was the only one taken to the office. Perry, Jenny, and Nicky noticed Della struggling more this time around. At home, she was constantly exhausted running after Maureen and Vivian while caring for Maggie. Perry would try to help, but she'd just get mad at him. Luckily, his mother was still not speaking to them, so she couldn't make things worse. Della was even snapping at Nicky. When Della returned to work, Perry thought that would help. Unfortunately, it didn't. He had warned the others ahead of time. Everyone noticed that something was off with Della. The woman did her best to be happy on her son's sixteenth birthday. The boy had taken a job helping them out at the office and as a result, they gifted him a used car. The boy was thrilled. He'd had a wonderful birthday. Both Nicky and Perry thought things were turning around, but it was that day only.
