Chapter 47

Both full and looking forward to a good night rest, they headed back to the hotel. Once there, AJ and Sarah stepped into the elevator, only to find themselves alone with Webb. "I enjoyed myself today, parasailing. Thanks, you two," he smiled.

"Then you'll really love whatever we come up with tomorrow. We plan from day to day. And we know how much you love a good surprise, right, Webb?" smirked AJ, placing his arm around Sarah as though staking his claim.

Just as the doors were starting to open Sarah reached into her bag. She pulled out a purple T-shirt and tossed it to Webb. "Here, Clay, I got us all a little something from the restaurant. Hope you like yours," grinned Sarah, as she and AJ stepped off and the doors closed.

Webb held the purple T-shirt up. There was the logo of the seagull along with the name of the odd little restaurant, 'Fuddruckers'. He shook his head, "Mother will be so thrilled."

That afternoon, Sarah wanted to go back to Ms. Bea's shop and pick up a few more things from the quaint little woman. AJ begged to be allowed to stay at the hotel. Sarah let him, but spent the rest of the evening teasing him about being afraid of the 'killer cat'! They had dinner at the hotel and spent the rest of the evening dancing. Well…in between the teasing.

Once again, meeting Webb in the elevator as they headed for their room that night, they were informed that he had managed to set up the meeting with Lore for lunch the next day.

Tuesday, April 13, 2004

1230 EST

Ritz Carlton Hotel

Pensacola, Florida

Lore joined them at their table with a slightly annoyed look on his face. AJ stood to greet him, "Thank you for meeting with us, Mr. Lore."

"I'm afraid I don't know why you wanted this meeting, Mr. Bayer. As I told you before we would notify you when your child was about to be born."

"Yes, but you said it would be soon and it has been almost two weeks!" Mac exaggerated a bit, sounding like an anxious mother to be.

"It has only been a week since our last meeting and I told you then that babies come in their own time. Most couples wait months for a baby to be born, you…"

AJ interrupted him. "We have been waiting for a child for years, Mr. Lore! My wife wants a baby, and I am not able to give her one naturally. Regular channel adoptions take more years of waiting. You are our only hope." He took Sarah's hand and looked deeply into her eyes, playing the part of the devoted husband. She looked back with emotional tears in her eyes. 'She is wonderful at this!' AJ thought, not knowing that she was not acting. Her tears were caused by real emotions.

Mac was wishing that AJ really wanted to give her a child, and her tears were because she knew it would never happen. No matter what Ms. Bea had told them last week!

"All I can tell you is that it should be soon, most likely before the week is out. The girl has already been having false labor, and that is a good sign. We will call you, just keep the phone nearby." Ernie got up to leave.

Sensing that Sarah was feeling sad about something she did not want to talk about, AJ decided to do something special to cheer her up that evening. When she took her shower that afternoon, he called down to the hotel kitchen and asked for a picnic basket to be prepared. He told them he wanted a variety of finger foods included and two bottles of sparkling cider. Towels and a blanket were also requested, since he was planning this picnic to be on the beach. The moon would be full that night, and he thought it would make a beautiful setting for an evening picnic.

To be continued….