The Mason parents had a wonderful time in New Orleans but much to their chagrin, work had been piled up and put off until they got back.
Della and Perry jumped right on the pile of work - and worked hard.
Around a month after Mardi Gras,
Della had noticed that something was off with her, but she couldn't seem to identify what it was. She was tiring easily, eating much more than she normally did - along with eating between meals, which wasn't something she typically did, and she was dealing with feeling her emotions on a stronger level, more so the sadness - crying at the drop of a hat. She had also missed her cycle for the previous month.
"Della? Are you alright?" Mae asked gently - feeling brave one particular day after Della finished a rather nasty crying session as Della looked up as she tried to furiously wipe away her tears,
"Yes, Aunt Mae." Mae sighed,
"What's going on?" Della nodded and explained how she'd been feeling over the past few weeks as Mae listened gently and spoke cautiously once Della finished,
"Have you considered that you might be pregnant again? You were this way when you and Perry found out about Andrew." Della sighed as she shook her head,
"We've always been careful, you know how it went with Andrew. It was rough and I'm worried that if I am pregnant… it'll be the same." Mae sighed,
"That was almost seven years ago, Della. Your body has changed and who knows this time around, if you are pregnant, will be easier than it was with Andrew and perhaps even easier than Hannah. Besides, Perry loves you so much that he'll be overjoyed if you are pregnant." Della nodded,
"You're right, and besides, I think Andrew is ready for a little brother or sister and I do miss seeing Perry with Hannah and Andrew when they were babies…" Della said as she began to daydream over those memories as Mae hugged her gently,
"I can go with you to the doctor to find out if you're pregnant or not." Della nodded,
"Thanks, Aunt Mae." Both women smiled.
Once Della's appointment was confirmed and when the day came…
"Don't be nervous Della. Things will be fine." Mae said in a comforting tone as Della nodded,
"Thank you."
As Della got situated,
"What brings you in, Della?" Her doctor asked cordially as Della nodded and explained thoroughly what had been going on over the past few weeks as the doctor listened and said gently,
"We'll do a blood test and see what's going on, it won't take but a few minutes." Della nodded and once it was over and she was sitting with Mae,
"What if I'm sick or I need to…" Della began as Mae cut her off,
"You're as healthy as can be, my darling niece. If you were sick, the symptoms would be more severe." Della nodded as the doctor knocked on her door and sat down with a beaming smile before he spoke,
"Congrats Della, you and Perry are going to welcome a new baby to the family soon. You're pregnant!" Della and Mae looked at each other and laughed,
"When am I due?" Della asked with a smile as the doctor nodded,
"From the dates you've given me, it looks like you're about 5 weeks along and you're due around Thanksgiving - so the 22nd of November." Both women nodded as Mae noticed Della's faraway look but decided not to ask her until they were out and about.
"What's on your mind, Della?" Mae asked once they sat at a picnic table at a park that was close to the Mason home as Della nodded,
"Oh, just remembering how Perry was when Hannah and Andrew were born. He was so gentle with them… especially Andrew." Mae smiled softly,
"I remember…" Della smiled,
It was early in the morning around a week after Hannah was born and Perry had decided that he would feed Hannah to let Della sleep. While she was doing wonderfully as a first - time Momma, she did need her sleep.
"You're just like your Momma, Hannah. Always wanting Daddy's attention. It's no big deal, sweetheart. You're too cute for Daddy to mind." Perry cooed as Hannah grunted softly as she ate.
Perry began to hum softly as he rocked Hannah, after she finished eating and was burped, as Della turned around to feel an empty spot next to her as she smiled hearing Perry's soft humming with Hannah's gentle happy coos mixing in as she walked to the nursery and pressed against the doorframe watching the scene with a gentle smile.
"I wasn't about to disturb them… It was far too precious of a moment to ruin." Mae smiled,
"I remember how Perry's face lit up when the doctor came to the waiting room after you went into for the C-Section with Andrew hearing the news that his son was born on his Momma's birthday." Della smiled,
"I can still remember waking up from a nap and seeing him holding Andrew close - he'd been crying. I could tell." Della said as her smile fell, Perry had almost lost her and Andrew when she had to have that C-Section.
Della Street Mason had been taking a nap, as she was physically and mentally exhausted after her traumatic labor with her son Andrew Mason that resulted in a C-Section.
Perry Mason was holding his son close, Della's perfect birthday present, as silent tears rolled down his face.
"Oh, my strong boy. You certainly gave your Momma and me quite the scare but now you're here and safe with a big sister who's beyond ready to meet you. Happy birthday, Andrew. Daddy loves you." Perry whispered as Della opened her eyes and saw his red puffy eyes and tear-stained cheeks as sleep overtook her again as her eyes closed again.
"Perry's certainly going to love this baby just as much… and I know Hannah and Andrew are going to be so happy to hear that a little sibling is on the way." Della nodded,
"It's the 11th - we can tell them on Andrew and I's birthday. But I need to tell Perry first." Mae nodded,
"Today." Della nodded as they got ready to head home but not before Della went to buy a simple pair of yellow booties.
Once she got home and placed them in a box with a nod and called Perry to let him know that Mae was picking the kids up from school that day and she needed him home early.
Once Perry got home,
"Della are you alright? What did the doctor say?" He asked as Della handed him the box and the note,
"Did one of the kids buy me something recently?" He asked as Della shook her head,
"No, open the box darling." Perry nodded and opened the box with a gasp seeing the booties,
"We've been careful recently…" He started as Della nodded,
"But New Orleans and Mardi Gras happened…" Perry smiled in remembrance as he asked gently,
"Are you sure you're ready for another one?" Della nodded,
"You're not mad?" Perry smiled and kissed her tenderly,
"Of course not. I know how things were with Andrew but that was seven years ago. You will sail through this pregnancy. I've got a good feeling in my bones about this." Della smiled,
"We'll have a lot to be thankful for this year, the baby's due around Thanksgiving." Perry smiled and hugged Della gently,
"When are we going to tell the kids?" He asked as Della nodded,
"I was thinking about Andrew and I's birthday. We can tell our parents for your and Hannah's birthday." Perry nodded as they giggled - clearly happy for the new baby.
Both parents were walking on air the days leading up to the dual birthdays, having to keep the other from slipping up and letting the cat out of the bag.
When the day finally came,
"Morning Momma!" Andrew said as he snuggled against Della to wake her up as Della woke up with a smile and a kiss on her son's forehead,
"Happy Birthday, Andrew." Andrew giggled,
"Happy Birthday, Momma. I love you."
It was a very simple birthday celebration for the family, as Della wanted to wait until before they sent the kids to bed to tell them.
"Momma, are you OK?" Hannah asked noticing Della's rather pale complexion as Perry looked at Della as she nodded,
"Yes, Hannah. Momma's just fine, in fact, Momma and Daddy have some good news. Andrew, I know you're used to being the baby of the family - well, Andrew, you're not going to be the baby for much longer. Momma's going to have another baby around Thanksgiving!" Della said with a smile as Hannah lit up and hugged her,
"That's wonderful, Momma!" Perry smiled as Hannah bounded upstairs to get ready for bed as Andrew sat on the couch with a look of confusion as Della sat with him,
"Oh, Andrew. Just because there's going to be a new baby doesn't mean we're going to love you less… it means we get to love you more. I know things are going to be difficult once the baby is born but we'll need you to help us. Can we count on you?" Della asked as Andrew nodded snuggling with her as Perry smiled and sent up a silent prayer,
Dear Lord, help Della through this pregnancy and do not allow any harm to come to her or the baby. Thank you for blessing us constantly. Amen.