Pregnancy was not easy on Marsha. From day one, she had morning sickness. She didn't mind at all. Nearly two years ago, she found out her daughter was alive. Now, thanks to science, and the love of a mother, her grandchild would live too.
"What do you think it is," Dwight asked Marsha the first night as they were having "dinner". Dinner was a bowl full of pretzels and a plate of fries.
"I don't know," Marsha admitted, "I'm kind of leaning toward, human though."
Dwight laughed.
"Maybe it's a girl," he said thoughtfully, "You had a lot of morning sickness when you were pregnant with Trudy. You also had… interesting cravings."
Marsha nodded.
"The baby isn't ours though honey," she reminded him gently, "It's Trudy's and Adrian's."
"It's our grandchild," Dwight said putting a hand on Marsha's not yet showing belly, "As much as Hope is ours so is this baby."
"Hope is our grandchild," Marsha pointed out, "She's Trudy and Adrian's child."
"Yes," Dwight said, "But it's okay to get attached."
Marsha smiled and laughed a little.
"I know," she said.
"What do you think of the name Faith Mollie for a girl," Adrian asked.
"I think the name Faith is beautiful," Trudy said, "And I love that you want to honor Molly."
"But can we spell it M-o-l-l-i-e so it will be an even number of letters?"
"That's perfect," Trudy said, grinning widely.
Adrian kissed her.
"You're perfect," he said.
"Mommy? Daddy? Can we go to the pwayground today," Hope asked.
Trudy laughed and got Hope ready to go to the playground.
A few days after, Hope found out she was going to be a big sister. She was so excited.
"If it's a boy," she said, "Can we call him Bryan Matthew?"
"What a great name," Adrian replied.
"I love it," Trudy said.
"Are you guys still gonna love me after the baby is born," Hope asked suddenly worried.
"Sweetheart," Trudy said, "This baby is growing under grandma's heart. You grew in our heart. You're the best thing that ever happened to us. Love is like a candle. There's always enough to go around."
"Oh," Hope said, feeling better.
She paused.
"Can I hold the baby after he or she is born," she asked.
"Of course you can," Trudy smiled, "Now, we're gonna have to spend a lot of time with the baby but we'll always have time for you."
"So I guess we can't go to the playground anymore," Hope said.
"We can definitely go to the playground," Adrian said, "Babies love outside."
"I love this baby," Hope said, "When am I going to meet the baby?"
"He or she will be born in about 8 months," Marsha said smiling.
"Why isn't mommy having the baby," Hope asked innocently.
Trudy and Adrian looked at each other.
"A long time ago," Marsha said, "Your mommy got a bad booboo and it made it so that she could get pregnant but she couldn't carry the baby to term. Grandma is able to carry the baby so the doctor put your mommy's baby into grandma's womb."
"Mommy has a booboo?"
"Mommy had a booboo," Trudy said, "Mommy is okay now."
Hope kissed Trudy on the head.
"Now mommy's booboo is all better," she said.
"Oh the innocence of children," Dwight said softly to Marsha
