This is Part 2 to "Love", so if you thought you knew who the couple in "Love" was, read this one to find out who they really are...
"The central struggle of parenthood is to let our hopes for our children outweigh our fears." – Ellen Goodman
Joy
As often happens in life, love came first and led to marriage, which inevitably sparked a debate as to when or if children should be added to their happy little family. He- ever the romantic- felt that nothing could be better and dreamed about the games they would play, the stories he would pass on, and the songs the would sing horribly off-tune together. She- ever the realist- saw only sleepless nights, increased expenditures, and awkward conversations when the kids got old enough to ask what Mom and Dad did for a living.
In the end it was- he said God, she said Fate- who ended the debate for them and nine months later they had a handsome baby boy to show for it. He cost them a mini fortune in diapers and brought a whole new meaning to the term "insomniac" but neither one of them could imagine life without him.
Years passed and the boy grew and once again they found themselves on the cusp of parenthood. The nine months came and went in a whirlwind of eager anticipation. This time, they were excited to welcome a new life into the family with only the barest hint of trepidation as to what awaited them as parents of two instead of one.
"So," the new mother asked, her face flushed from the labor, "What should we name her?"
Max looked at his wife, then peered into the bundle of pink resting peacefully in his arms and spoke a single word.
"Joy."