Chapter TWENTY-ONE

There was an unusual silence lingering in the kitchen. Rising before Bobby did, Kimberley threw herself into making a breakfast of pancakes, bacon, and eggs and had succeeded in finishing before the rest of the house came downstairs. Sofi and Angel said nothing but the looks of concern was written clearly on their faces as they sat down at the table. Even Marley seemed to be aware of what had happened the previous night and Kimberly accounted that to the fact that Bobby had spent the morning with her after she had woken up.

Bobby ate his food with gusto, quickly scrapping his eggs with his fork until Kimberly was forced to scold him to slow down. He flashed her a look of innocence but did as she requested. "Sorry Princess." He smiled. "I don't want to be late for our appointment."

"It's ten o'clock Bobby."

"Yeah? So?"

"Our appointment is at two thirty." She sipped at her juice. "I think we're doing just fine on time."

"Hey, can't a man be excited to go to the doctor?"

"No."

"Well, this one is."

Sofi and Angel laughed softly and Kimberly looked over at Marley. "What's wrong baby? Is your food okay?"

"Yes Mommy."

"Do you want to get down and go watch some cartoons?"

"I want to play dolls with Shelly."

Bobby wiped his mouth with his napkin. "Baby, we talked about Shelly this morning."

"But I want to play dolls with Shelly."

"Marley..." He was cut off as the phone rang and rose to his feet. "I'll get it."

Kimberly watched him go but she shifted to stroke Marley's hair. "Shelly's with some adults right now baby but as soon as she can she'll come back to play dolls with you."

"Kimmy." Bobby called out. "It's for you."

Quickly she rose to her feet and entered the kitchen to take the phone from him. She pressed the phone against her ear. "Yes?"

"Kim, it's me."

"Darius, what's going on?"

"I've got good news. Thanks for your tape and the attorney's office down here, social services has agreed to release Shelly to her grandparents. They're on their way down from Ohio right now to get her."

She clung to the phone. "What about Dwayne and Lilah?"

"Dwayne and his friends were fined and released on bail last night but Lilah's going to be with us for a while. Prosecution is using not only your tape but we came back to her house last night and confiscated two pounds of marijuana and several bags of cocaine."

"Does she know about Shelly?"

Darius cleared his throat. "After I read the charges to her, she signed over her rights on the condition that Shelly goes to her parents."

Kimberly tightened her grip on the phone. "She did that to spite me."

"I'm sorry Kim, I know Shelly meant a lot to you but this is for the best. Her grandparents will take care of her."

"Can we at least say goodbye to her?"

"Tell you what, when Mr. and Mrs. Grover get here I'll escort them with Shelly over to your house."

She forced herself to relax and leaned against the sink counter. "Thank you Darius."

"You're welcome Kim. I'll call you when they arrive."

After saying goodbye, she hung up, her eyes finding Bobby's where he was waiting in the doorway. "Shelly's grandparents are on their way to get her. Lilah signed over her rights today." She let out a long sigh as he pulled her into his arms. "Darius is going to bring her by with them later so we can say goodbye."

"This is for the best baby."

"That's what I keep telling myself." She wrapped her arms around his waist. "So why does it hurt so bad?"

"Shelly's a great kid."

"I barely knew her and I'm going to miss her."

"Mommy?"

Kimberly pulled away to see Marley. "What is it baby?"

"Shelly not coming back?"

"Baby..."

"You promised!" Marley yelled. "You promised me!"

She stepped forward but Marley ran from the room. "Marley!"

"I'll go get her." Bobby squeezed her shoulder. "She's just upset."

She nodded and remained in the kitchen for minutes after Bobby disappeared. She closed her eyes, fingers rubbing her temples, and sighed.

"Are you okay?"

She opened her eyes again to see Sofi and managed a small smile. "I'll be fine."

"It certainly has been a hard couple of days but things will settle. I take it Shelly's grandparents are coming to get her."

"They'll be here this afternoon."

"I've met them before. I think Lilah's adopted, they're entirely too nice to be related to her."

Kimberly chuckled. "As long as they're good to her, that's all that matters. I just hope that Marley will be okay. She absolutely adores Shelly."

"She'll be fine, you know how children are, and I'm sure her grandparents will update us as time goes by if you'd ask them."

"You think so?"

Sofi nodded. "As I said, they're nice. Besides," She smiled, "who in their right mind can say no to a pregnant rich lady?"

"Kimmy?"

They both turned to see Bobby in the doorway, Marley in his arms. She had obviously been crying and the sight of the little girl's wet cheeks had Kimberly's heart stopping. "I'm sorry Mommy."

"Aw, baby. Don't apologize; it's okay." She came forward to kiss Marley's forehead. "Mommy is the one that's sorry."

"Both of my girls don't need to be sorry. Shelly's going to be happy because she deserves it, doesn't she baby?"

Marley nodded. "We love Shelly."

"Yes, we do."

Bobby smiled at that. "Now let's go finish breakfast. Uncle Angel promised to take you to the park today Marley while Mommy and I go to the doctor. Isn't that great?"

"I wanna go!"

Kimberly looked over at Bobby. "Can't she come with us?"

"Of course. I just thought..."

"I'd love for her to come with us." She reached out to take Marley into her arms. "Mommy's going to find out today whether or not you're going to have a sister or a brother. Isn't that exciting?"

Marley nodded. "Big sister."

"That's right baby. You're going to be a big sister." Kimberly kissed Marley again. "Mommy loves you."

"Love you too Mommy."

"Hey, what about Daddy?"

Marley giggled as he reached out to tickle her. "Just Mommy!"

Bobby gasped dramatically and pressed his hand against his chest. "Ouch, that hurts Daddy. That hurts so much!"

"Silly Daddy!" Marley giggled. She threw her hands out. "I love you this much!"

"Better." He grinned and eyed Kimberly. "And what about Mommy?"

"Almost as much."

His grin widened. "I bet."

"Okay, maybe a little more than almost." Kimberly smiled as he leaned in to kiss her, Marley squished between them.

"Ew! Cooties!"

"That's right, cooties." Bobby put kisses all over her face. "Here are some cooties for you."

"No, Daddy! Stop!"

"Never." He lifted his head again to catch Kimberly's gaze with his. "I love you too much."

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Dr. Santos was a lovely petite woman with short brown hair and a bright smile. She was always in a good mood, greeting them both with that smile and a comment that relaxed Kimberly instantly. "Good afternoon." She shut the door behind her, a file in her hand. "Kimberly, you look absolutely radiant today."

Kimberly smiled back. "Thank you Simone. I feel great."

"I'm glad to hear that. How's the morning sickness?"

"Still holding onto me but not as bad as it once was."

"Good." Dr. Santos sat down on the black stool and slid over to the side of the table. She smiled over at Marley. "How are we Ms. Marley?"

"Good, thank you."

The doctor laughed in delight. "That's absolutely wonderful."

"I taught her that."

Kimberly rolled her eyes. "Don't listen to him Simone, I taught her that." She laid back on the table, smiling over at Marley sitting in Bobby's lap. "Isn't that right baby?"

"Mommy taught me!"

"See."

"You taught her to say that, that's what you taught her." Bobby pinched Marley who giggled. "Now let's see this baby! I got five bucks riding on him."

Kimberly smiled and looked at Dr. Santos in amusement. "And this is what I have to deal with day in and day out."

"You love it Princess."

"I do." She slipped her hand into his.

Dr. Santos started the sonogram and grabbed the gel. "This is going to be cold." She spread it onto Kimberly's exposed stomach, everyone going quiet and focusing on the screen. "There's your baby." She pointed at the screen. "And that is..."

Bobby leaned in. "And that is what?"

"That is not a third foot." Giggling, she pointed and looked between them. "Congratulations. You're having a healthy baby boy."

"Yes!" Bobby pumped his fist and leaned over more to kiss Kimberly. "God, I love you so much." He pinched Marley's cheek. "Mommy's having a boy; you're going to have a little brother."

Kimberly smiled at them and focused back on screen. "A boy." She whispered. "I'm having a son."

"We're having a son."

"I hate to get technical on you Bobby but-"

"Oh shut up Woman." He kissed her again and pulled back with a smile. "I love you Kimmy."

"I love you too Bobby; I love you and Marley so very much."

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Kimberly shut the mailbox and began to thumb through the small stack. She paused just at the door at the sight of an envelope with writing on it clearly done by a child. Quickly she opened the envelope and a smile spread across her face at the picture enclosed inside of Shelly. She had attempted a letter of her own, her grandmother Lynn adding in another one to update them on how Shelly was doing.

It was the second letter since Shelly had moved with them to Ohio exactly one month ago. It pleased her to see the girl doing so well and flourishing, finally in a home that loved her unconditionally. It had been hard to let her go the day they had brought her by to say goodbye but in the end it had been the right decision.

She shut the front door behind her and shrugged off her coat, the letter firmly in her hand on top of the other envelopes.

"I thought I told you I was getting the mail."

She hung up the coat before she turned to face Bobby in the doorway of the living room. He was leaning against the frame dressed in a black tee shirt and jeans, his hair still wet from a previous shower. "And I believe after an hour of waiting, you still hadn't gone. It's not a big deal for me to get the mail."

"I beg to differ." He came forward to place his hands on her stomach. "There's ice and slippery spots and…"

"Bobby, I love you but if you don't stop this I'm going to use one of our frying pans for something other than cooking." She patted his cheek with her hand. "I'm five months pregnant, not incapable of simple tasks like maintaining balance."

"I don't want to take the chance that you'll fall."

Rolling her eyes playfully, she handed him the stack of envelopes and ventured into the living room. "The top letter is from Lynn and George. They included some pictures of Shelly this time around."

"That was nice of them." Bobby followed and scanned the letter.

Kimberly eyed the television where Marley was sitting and watching a cartoon. "Marley, do you have to sit so close to the television? You're almost pushing your nose against the glass."

"But it's SpongeBob!"

"And as much as I have affection for the little yellow sponge, there's no need to sit so close." She motioned Marley to the couch. "Double time young lady."

"Yes Mommy." Marley sprang to her feet and flung herself onto the couch. "Mommy, I'm hungry. Can we have spaghetti tonight Mommy?"

"I don't see why not."

"Mommy…"

"Marley." Bobby frowned. "Sweetheart, why do you keep saying Mommy?"

She glanced between the two of them hesitantly. "Mommy is my Mommy right Daddy? Kimmy is my Mommy."

"Of course she is but you don't have to say Mommy all the time. You've been doing that a lot lately."

When Kimberly noticed her gaze momentarily go to her stomach, she cleared her throat. "Bobby, will you go defrost the meat please?" She looked at him when he didn't respond. "Please?"

He looked away from Marley and nodded. "Sure baby."

"Thank you." Kimberly lowered herself down onto the couch, settling a small pillow at her back before she leaned into the soft material. "Come here Marley." She snuggled the child against her. "I love you Marley, you know that right?"

"Yes Mommy."

"There's no reason for you to feel for any reason that I don't love you or that with this new baby that I'll love you any less because that simply cannot happen. You're my little girl and he's going to be my little boy; you're both very special to me."

"Daddy talks about the baby all the time."

"He's just very excited sweetheart." She pressed a kiss against Marley's forehead. "It's the same excitement he felt when he knew he was going to meet you for the very first time, that's all."

Marley leaned into Kimberly, her little hand reaching out to press down on her stomach. "We get to see baby soon?"

"He'll make his debut in about four more months. He'll rest and get strong and then the two of you can play together and have tons of fun."

"Does he have a name?"

Kimberly smiled. "Daddy and I haven't decided on that yet but when we do you'll be the first to know." She looked over to see Bobby reappear. "Problems?"

"We're out of noodles." He shrugged on his jacket. "I'll be right back."

"I wanna go Daddy!"

"Baby, I-"

"That's a fantastic idea." She cocked an eyebrow at Bobby. "Daddy would love for you to go with him to get noodles Marley. Go fetch your shoes and I'll help you put them on please."

Marley literally leaped from the couch and rushed to get her jacket from where it hung by the door. Kimberly watched her go then focused back on Bobby with a soft smile on her face.

"What is it?"

"Are we really out of noodles?"

"Of course we're out of noodles." He straightened his collar. "Why else would I go out into the cold weather?"

She clasped her hands together loosely on her lap. "I was just asking Bobby. I know sometimes you like to go to Johnny's when it's late."

He lowered his hands to his sides. "I'm not messing around on you Kimberly."

"I know that."

"And I'm not going out late to escape you or anything like that."

"I know that too Bobby." Kimberly made the motion to move to her feet and Bobby stepped forward to help her. He pulled her close as she steadied herself and snuggling close, she looped her arms around his waist. "I just want you to know I'm okay with it. You don't have to hide these things from me."

Bobby cupped her face with her hands. "We really are out of noodles." He pressed his lips against hers momentarily. "But thank you for saying that."

"Sometimes I get the need to hang out by yourself or with your brothers. I understand."

"I know you do and I love you for it."

She smiled as he kissed her again, both of them shifting their attention as Marley reappeared with her jacket halfway on, her shoves shoved on but untied.

"Ready Daddy!"

Kimberly and Bobby chuckled, Bobby lowering himself onto his haunches. "Come here lady bug, let me help you with your clothes and your shoes."

"Then we go?"

He nodded. "Then we'll go."