"Alright, so tell me about this one," Sam said a couple of weeks later as Heather sat with her on her bed, showing her the new doll Freddie had gotten for her. "What's her name?"
"I dunno," Heather shrugged.
"You didn't name her?" Sam chuckled.
"Uh-uh. It hard."
"Well, guess I don't have too much room to talk," Sam said, looking at the blank pad of paper next to her that her and Freddie were supposed to be listing possibly baby names on. "You know we still don't have a name picked out for your baby brother or sister?"
"Why not?" Heather asked.
"Like you said," Sam grinned, picking up Heather's doll. "It's hard."
"She play soccer," Heather informed her mother, holding up the small soccer ball that came with the doll. "See?"
"I do," Sam nodded just as Freddie came into the room.
"Alright, Heather, you ready to go?" Freddie asked.
"So what happened to not buying her anymore toys until her birthday?" Sam smirked as Freddie scooped Heather up in his arms.
"She wore me down," Freddie defended. "Besides, she wasn't supposed to show you."
"Sorry, daddy," Heather smiled sweetly, kissing his cheek.
"She gets that from you," Freddie told Sam as he set the child down. "Alright, Heather. Go get your shoes on so we can get going."
"Okay!" Heather said excitedly, hurrying out of the room.
"Where are you going?" Sam asked.
"I decided to take your advice and take the girls out to do something fun," Freddie said. "So Lauren, Heather and I are gonna go bowling."
"Bowling?" Sam repeated. "That's fun?"
"Well Lauren agreed to it when I suggested it," Freddie shrugged. "And Heather seemed to like the idea."
"As long as you guys have a good time," Sam said.
"We'd have a better time if you were coming with us," Freddie said, giving her a quick kiss.
"I wish I could," Sam said, giving him a small smile. "But I'm stuck in this bed for another seven weeks. Don't worry about me, though. I found this new series online that I'm gonna watch while you're gone. It's a reality show about a bunch of ex-fighters all living on a yacht for six months."
"Fascinating," Freddie said, rolling his eyes. He picked up Sam's brush from the table by her bedside.
"Hey, who said you could use that?" Sam asked playfully.
"Well I can't find my own comb in the bathroom upstairs," Freddie said. "And I have to look presentable when I try to bowl a perfect game."
"Yeah, like that's gonna happen," Sam scoffed. "I've been bowling with you before. The only way you have a shot at that is if you put up those bumper things. And even then you'll probably still manage to get a few gutter balls."
"You're lucky you're pregnant," Freddie said.
"Or else what?" Sam grinned.
Freddie shook his head and leaned down to give her another kiss. "Remember, call me if you need anything. I'll pick up something for dinner on the way home. Love you."
"Love you too," Sam replied.
…..
"Remember," Freddie said, returning to the small table where him, Lauren and Heather were sitting after he had just got yet another gutter ball. "If Sam asks, I was on fire here, okay?"
"You bad, daddy," Heather observed.
"Thank you, sweetie," Freddie sighed.
"My turn?"
"Yes it is," Freddie nodded, handing Heather her small, child-sized bowling ball. "Go ahead."
He watched as Heather ran over to the bowling lane.
"She's not bad," he commented as he watched his youngest child carefully put the ball down on the floor and roll it forward.
"Yeah, she's pretty good for a kid," Lauren said simply.
Freddie frowned. For the past few days, Lauren had been acting completely out of the usual. He wondered if it had anything to do with her break-up with Scott, even though that had been over three weeks ago.
"Hey, you feeling okay?" Freddie asked.
"Yeah," Lauren answered softly, looking off into the distance. "I'm okay."
"Are you sure?" Freddie asked, concerned. "You've been acting a little strange lately."
Lauren shrugged. "Just a lot going on at school. I have a bunch of tests coming up, cheer practice, all my teachers are starting to pressure us about college applications…But I'm fine. I promise."
Freddie studied his daughter. He knew something was definitely bothering her, but he wasn't entirely sure it was that.
"Well…just don't let it weigh you down," he told her. "Sure, you might be under some stress, but I know you, honey, you'll get through it. You're the top of your class; if anybody can handle all of that, it's you."
Lauren gave him a small, half-hearted smile. "Thanks."
"And remember, I know I keep you telling you this, but you can always come to me for help if you need it," Freddie said. "I'm your dad; it's in my job description."
Lauren didn't reply.
"I hit six pins!" Heather announced, rushing back over to the two of them. "I winning?"
Freddie looked back at Lauren, who was absentmindedly playing with the straw of her soda, staring off into the distance.
She's a teen, Freddie told himself. Everybody said this part would be all mood swings and wanting to be left alone. I guess they were right.
So not wanting to risk upsetting Lauren any further, Freddie turned back to Heather.
"I think you are," he smiled at her, holding out his hand for her to high five. "Way to go, sweetie."