Cybill was in the midst of another hot flash while she and Maryanne were hanging out in Cybill's kitchen.
"You know on the plus side, at least you don't have to deal with your period," Maryanne told her friend.
"Yeah, oh hey when did you get yours?"
"About that, I didn't get my period that month."
"Are you in pre-menopause too?"
"No, actually I'm just pregnant," Maryanne said as she walked to the living room.
"Wait a minute! You can't just casually tell me you're pregnant and leave."
"Why not?" Maryanne turned towards Cybill.
"Well...because...Oh, I don't know, but you can't. I thought the test was negative?"
"It was, but I haven't been feeling well so I went to the doctor. Turns out it was a false negative."
"Does Richard know?"
Maryanne shook her head, "I'm afraid he'll leave me if I tell him. We haven't been together that long."
"Maryanne if he cares about you he won't leave. If he does leave well it's his loss. I'll always be here for you. You won't have to do this on your own."
"Thank you, Cybill. I think I'm going to head home and take a nap."
"Just take one here," Cybill didn't know why Maryanne felt she had to leave.
"Okay," Maryanne went to take a nap in Cybill's room.
When Maryanne was out of sight, Cybill ran to her phone.
"Richard, hi it's Cybill. Listen could you come over to my house for a moment. I need to talk to you about something. Oh, don't ring the doorbell when you get here. Just come to the back door and tap on the glass. Why? Don't ask just do it," Cybill hung up, "why do men have such difficulty with directions?"
Cybill was waiting at her back door when Richard arrived. She opened the door before he had a chance to tap on the window.
"Hey Cybill, what...whoa!" Cybill pulled Richard into the kitchen and dragged him over to the couch in front of the television.
"Be quiet, do you want Maryanne to hear you?"
"Umm...I don't know. Do I?"
"No, now listen and answer my questions. Do you care about Maryanne?"
"Of course I do."
"Do you love her?"
"More than anything."
"You would do anything for her?"
"Yes, why?"
"Richard?" Maryanne walked in after that answer.
"Hi, sweetheart," Richard got up to kiss his girlfriend. "Were you sleeping?" Richard turned to Cybill, "Is that why you told me not to ring the doorbell and to tap on the window, and to be quiet?"
"When did Cybill tell you that?"
"When she called me to come over."
Maryanne glared at her friend. "You know I'll just give you two a moment alone. I'll be in the living room should anyone need me." Cybill hurried out of the room.
"Maryanne, what's going on? I mean acting weird is pretty normal for you and Cybill, but this is a whole different level of weirdness."
"Richard, can we sit?" Richard followed Maryanne to the couch that he and Cybill previously occupied. "Cybill was just trying to help me tell you something that I am afraid to tell you?"
"Maryanne..."
"Please let me finish before I lose my nerve," Maryanne said gently. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, opened them, and went for it. "Richard, I'm pregnant."
"Really?" Maryanne nodded and Richard began to smile. "Honey that's wonderful! Are you alright? Is the baby alright?"
"Yes the doctor said we're both doing fine, and you really think it's wonderful?"
"Of course I do. Why wouldn't I? The love of my life is pregnant with my child."
"The love of your life?"
"Yes," Richard leaned in and kissed Maryanne.
When they pulled apart Maryanne had one last question for Richard, "you don't think it's too soon?"
"Nothing with you happens too soon. In fact, it usually doesn't happen soon enough."
Maryanne was two months pregnant and sicker than she ever thought she could be. She felt terrible that Richard would wake up several times a night when she would run to puke. He would follow her every time, hold her hair back, and rub her back. Maryanne hadn't told her son or her parents about her pregnancy. She was pretty sure that her son would be alright with it but knew her mother would be furious that she was unmarried and pregnant.
One day Richard surprised Maryanne when she got home from Cybill's with a romantic proposal.
"Richard, are you asking me because I'm pregnant?"
"Of course not. I'm asking you because I am madly and hopelessly in love with you. I even had the ring before you told me. See?" Richard showed Maryanne the bill of sales and sure enough, it was dated a whole week before she told him she was pregnant.
"Then yes, I will marry you."
Justin was coming home to stay for a while, so Maryanne decided to tell him. After hugging her son she took him into the living room and sat them both on the couch.
"Sweetheart I really want to catch up, but I need to tell you something first. I'm pregnant and Richard has asked me to marry him."
"You're pregnant? Is everything..."
"Yes, we're both fine. Well, I throw up most of the day but other than that we're good. Did you hear me say Richard proposed?"
"Yeah, I already knew he was going to."
"You did?"
"Yeah, he asked me if it was okay. I said sure as long as he treats you right. I even knew you were pregnant?"
"How?"
"You're showing," Justin pointed at the tiny bump Maryanne was sporting, "You have been the same size my whole life. That bump is new. Congratulations on both." Justin hugged his mother.
"Richard wants to fly to New York to tell your grandparents."
"Well, good luck with that."
"Thanks, I'm gonna need it."