Roz smiled to herself as she hung up the phone. She had a pretty good idea why Daphne wanted her and Alice to come over for dinner. She was glad for her friend. Though she loved her life with Alice, she often wished she could give her daughter a sibling somehow. But Roz hadn't found anyone who was willing to make a family with her. Most of Roz's relatives were in Wisconsin, so she was grateful the Cranes had "adopted" Alice, making sure that she was surrounded by family even here.
Daphne kissed her husband. "Roz said she'd love to come. I think she suspects."
"Well, even if she does, I don't see how she can be even half as happy as I am right now." He reached under the covers to gently place his hand on her abdomen.
Daphne smiled. "I bet Alice will be thrilled. You know she'd love to have another little girl to play with."
Niles nodded. "I'm sure she will." He looked at her in silence for a moment. "I hope she has your eyes."
Daphne's heart melted. He already considered this baby to be his daughter, even though there was no way of knowing for sure until Daphne went to the doctor. That had to mean he was convinced that her vision was going to come true. She kissed her husband deeply. "I love you."
"Oh, my love. I never tire of hearing those words from you."
For a moment, Daphne was speechless, realizing for perhaps the millionth time how very lucky she was. But then she remembered she couldn't spend all day here in bed. "What are we going to serve your father and Ronee and our other guests? I haven't even thought about that!"
Niles thought of what was to come. He remembered all too well the toll the last pregnancy had taken on his wife. This time, he was determined to do all he could to ease her load. "Why don't you leave it to me? I'll make a call to one of the chefs at Chez Henri, and the meal will be all taken care of."
"That's awfully sweet, darling, but it's not necessary. I like cooking for me family. It's really just another way for me to let them know how much they all mean to me."
"I'm sure that our extended family already knows how you feel about them, and they undoubtedly love you just as much. I just hate the thought of you working so hard in your condition. But if cooking this meal will make you happy, I'm more than willing to support it. And I'll do anything I can to help prepare it, too. You know how much I enjoy chopping vegetables!"
Daphne grinned. She loved that he was forever letting her know how much he treasured the lifetime of memories they shared. He often told her how beautiful she'd looked the very first time he saw her. It never failed to make her blush. She had felt so awkward, barely in America for six months, and meeting a handsome psychiatrist! Who would have thought back then that she'd be here, married to him, and expecting their second child?
It proved what she'd believed from the time she was a little girl in Manchester: that dreams really do come true.