The following morning as Blanche hangs up the baby clothes in the closet of the nursery continues to think about the names written in her date book. For some reason she couldn't seem to place the man whose name was written in the margin of the book. She's suddenly jolted out of deep thought. The baby kicks her hard. She hangs up the last baby outfit and then looks at her stomach.
"Was that really necessary?" she wonders. She shakes her head momentarily and then returns to her room. As she does so the phone rings.
She quickly picks it up.
"Hello?"
"Blanche?" a male voice on the other end questions.
"Yes, speaking."
"Don't tell me that you don't know who this is."
She thinks for a minute but can't place the voice so she replies, "Sorry I really don't."
"It's me Dave."
"Dave?"
"Dave Micheal's."
"Dave? Is that really you? I haven't heard from you in ages. How have you been?" Blanche questions an old friend.
"I assure you it's me. I've been ok. I got divorced."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"I'm not. I've been divorced for three years."
"How long ago were you married?"
"Seventeen years ago, it didn't last very long. But it's ok. I got three great daughters, and a son out of it. Lillian just turned sixteen, Jordan is fourteen, and Kaitlyn is twelve and then my boy Ethan is six. Anyway I was calling to ask if you'd like to go out for lunch? I'm going to be in town on business all week."
"I..."
"You probably have a date though right?"
"No, I actually haven't been dating a lot."
"Oh. So do you want to go out for lunch?"
"I don't know I..."
"Just as friends of course. I mean I haven't talked to you in years. It's been too long."
"It has. Lunch sounds good."
"Ok what day?"
"Any day you'd like."
"Ok what about Thursday?"
"Sure I'll see you then."
"I'll pick you up around seven."
"Ok," Blanche smiles.
"Bye."
"Bye."She hangs up.
She has a good time catching up with Dave, but she doesn't tell him about what's going on. She doesn't say much about anything to anyone. When she gets home it's nearly midnight. She finds Dorothy sitting on the couch.
"What are you still doing up?"
"I couldn't sleep."
Blanche takes a seat next to Dorothy.
"How was your date?"
"It wasn't really a date, just two old friends catching up."
"That's always nice."
"Yes, it is," Blanche agrees.
"Are you ok?"
"Of course why wouldn't I be?"
"Let's see you live with a bunch of old bags, and you're getting ready to have a baby."
"I know. I'm too old for this. All of those late night feedings, and the colic, I don't know if I can handle it."
"We'll help you."
"I know, it's just not the same. I mean with all of my other kids I had a nanny."
"You can get a nanny..."
"No. I don't want a nanny. I want to do this on my own. I made a lot of mistakes with my kids, I don't want to make the same mistakes with her."
"Speaking of her, what are you going to name her?"
"I haven't really given it much thought."
"You know if you pick something stupid that I'll tell you right?"
"That's what I love about you, you just tell it the way it is."
"Someone has to."