"Well, Mrs. O'Malley," said the doctor an older gentleman by the name of Stanley Thorndyke. "I'm told by Nurse Devin that you've been having early morning retching spells."
"Yes," Shari answered, "for at least a week."
"Uhm . . . . any other symptoms?" asked Thorndyke.
"No, just the retching. Later in the morning I always feel fine," Shari replied.
"Uhm, how long have you and Marcus been married?" asked Thorndyke.
Shari looked confused for a moment. Why did it matter how long they'd been married? Then a notion began to dawn on her why Doctor Thorndyke was asking. Why hadn't she realized that she might be pregnant? "A little less than a year," she answered finally.
As Thorndyke nodded absently Shari's thoughts spiraled in a totally different direction. "I'll run a few more tests to be sure, but I'm almost positive you are pregnant—probably about two or three months. I'm sure Marcus will be pleased."
"Ecstatic," Shari agreed in a slightly dazed tone.
~~~Beyond the Future~~~
A few minutes later, Shari exited to the waiting room to find Marcus waiting. He looked tense, Shari noted, and worried, but also in her opinion extremely handsome. Just looking at his handsome face made her want to kiss his worried frown away
"Well?" asked Marcus as he strode towards her.
"I'll tell you on the way home," Shari promised, taking his arm in her own. Marcus allowed himself to be led from the doctor's office.
~~~Beyond the Future~~~
"You can stop worrying," Shari told him as they reached his car. "I don't have the flu nor a terminal illness, which I know you were worried about because of Jennifer."
"Shari…" Marcus warned his voice half-teasing. "You're killing me here."
"Don't worry so much, I'm just pregnant." She said it so matter-of-factly that it took Marcus a few moments to absorb her words.
"Pregnant? Really?" When Shari nodded his worried look melted into one of pure happiness. "That's great…terrific," said Marcus picking her up and swinging her around in a hug.
"Okay, okay put me down you big lug," said Shari swatting his arm affectionately.
Marcus put her down, but didn't let her go for a long moment. "Let's go home and celebrate." Shari nodded and added as she leaned against his chest. "We need to inform the family—get the family grapevine working."
"That to," Marcus agreed with a chuckle stroking her hair.
For years he had been trying to avoid information about him getting on the family grapevine like if he was dating someone or not. Now he didn't mind so much. Jennifer had been the one to originally start that. How he missed her sometimes, but with or without her the grapevine still existed seeming to have taken on a life all its own.
Shari sighed not particularly wanting to move from her comfortable position against Marcus's chest, but finally, she stepped back and got into the passenger side while Marcus got behind the wheel and started the engine as soon as he put on his seatbelt. As Marcus drove out onto the street Shari leaned her head against his shoulder and sighed in contentment.
Marcus stroked her cheek tenderly making sure to keep his eyes on the road.
"Doctor Thorndyke wants me to come in every couple of weeks to make sure everything in proceeding normally and he also wants me to get some scans done."
"And I'll make sure you get there and if not me one of the family," Marcus promised. Shari didn't argue she was just glad Marcus was there for her.
"I love you minx with all my heart," said Marcus stroking her soft hair.
"I know," said Shari sleepily sounding like a cat who had just gotten a bowl of cream. "I love you to."
~~~Beyond the Future~~~
Marcus had left for work, but not before asking her to call Stephen to ask him to do baby furniture or least the crib, chest of draws, rocking chair, toy chest and high chair, everything else would have to be bought.
The phone rang on the other end and it was picked up on the third ring. "Hello O'Malley's residence. Stephen O'Malley speaking."
"Stephen this is Shari."
"How are you doing Shari?" asked Stephen.
"Just fine and you?" asked Shari.
"Fine. Everything okay?" asked Stephen.
"Sure, I just need you to do me a favor," said Shari.
"What's that?" asked Stephen.
"Start making a crib," Shari told him.
"Shari you're pregnant?" Stephen asked excitedly,
"Yep and Marcus and I immediately thought of you to do the crib, a chest of draws, rocking chair, toy chest and high chair. We'll pay you of course," Shari told him
"You don't have to do that you're family," Stephen protested.
"Stephen…" Shari warned. "Marcus warned me that you would probably do it for free, but that is not fair to you. You have to support yourself and offering to do stuff for free when you could make 1500 or 2500 dollars…. We'll let's just say you would eventually go broke."
"All right, all right," said Stephen laughing. "You can stop lecturing I'll accept payment and I promise to get started right away."
"Thanks Stephen," said Shari.
"You're welcome. Tell Marcus I said hello and offer him my congratulations on your upcoming little one," Stephen requested
"Will do," Shari promised.
"Bye, then," said Stephen.
"Bye," said Shari hanging up with a smile.
~~~Beyond the Future~~~
Shari called her mom the minute she got off the phone with Stephen to inform her about the pregnancy.
"Hello?" came, Beth's voice on the other end of the line.
"Hi mom," said Shari.
"Hi Shari; honey how are you and Marcus doing okay?"
"We're fine. Marcus had to go to work, but I do have a surprise for you," Shari told her.
"What?" asked; Beth.
"You're going to be a grandmother," said Shari.
"A grandmother…You're pregnant?"
"Yep, Marcus took me to the doctor just this morning, because I was throwing up. He thought it might be something serious," Shari explained. "I couldn't blame him for being worried after what happened to Jennifer so I didn't argue when he insisted I go to the doctor just in case it was something serious."
"That's great. We'll have to go shopping for a crib and other things," Beth said very excited.
"Actually, I asked Stephen to make the crib, a highchair, a rocking chair and a few other things as well."
"Why not just buy it?" asked Beth.
"Because Stephen is family, but he's also good at building things and a perfectionist to boot and at least I'll know its quality workmanship at probably half the price. After all, you're not paying for the brand name just the quality," Shari replied.
"All right, All right I get the picture," said Beth with a laugh. "You'll need other things though. Like a stroller and diapers and toys among other things."
"True," said Shari.
"So why don't we go shopping?"
"We can sometime in the next couple of months."
"And you'll want a baby shower as well. "You'll also want to get the nursery started."
"Yes, we'll want to paint the room a bright cheerful color. Buy a mobile for the crib, a changing table, clothes…"
"It's going to be wonderful to have a grandchild and maybe later more. My only regret is that Bill can't be here to see his first grandchild…"
"I know mom, I miss dad to, but we'll see him again someday," Shari reassured her.
"I know, I try not to think about him too much, but at times such as this it is hard," Beth said.
"I know mom, we'll go shopping sometime okay?" Shari replied feeling her emotions well within her heart. She really wished her father could be here to see his grandchild when they arrived, but she also wished that Jennifer, Marcus's sister could be here, but that just wasn't possible. Her mother was right that it times like this it was hard as you thought more about your missing members and how they would have loved your children.
"Okay, you call me when you want to go shopping and I'll be there," Beth promised.
"I will mom," Shari also promised. "Bye."
"Bye honey," said Beth hanging up the phone.
~~~Beyond the Future~~~
Meghan came down the aisle with Blackie her seeing-eye dog leading the way. Meghan's father was escorting his daughter down the aisle. It was three weeks to the day that Tom and Quinn had talked to the young minister Edwin Griswald into performing a wedding ceremony.
The young pastor was a likable fellow and really believed in God. He wasn't like some ministers that Marcus had come across who used big words and always talked about God, but who really didn't believe, not deep down. Meghan and her father reached the front and transferred her to her soon to be husband arm. All of Meghan's and Stephen's friends and family were there. People they had known for years sometimes and other people they had only just met. The wedding march stopped and the minister started the ceremony without preamble.
"Dearly beloved we are gathered here today to join these two couples in holy matrimony. Marriage is a sacred institution that is not to be undertaken lightly..."
~~~Beyond the Future~~~
Three months later, Marcus was talking on the phone with his brother-in-law Adam Black. The two of them not all that surprisingly had became pretty good friends. "Yeah, we'll be down in the area for a book convention in a few days. Sara has been asked by her publisher to speak as H. Q Victor and for the first time in her life she was able to accept."
"Why don't you stay with us?" Marcus offered. "We have plenty of room."
"That's nice of you Marcus, but we have reservations at the Roosevelt," Adam said.
"You see the reason I asked is, I have to be gone for a few days and I want someone here with Shari just in case of an emergency and to take her to doctor's appointments. I was just going to call one of the family and see if one of them could do it when you called."
"You're on a case?" asked Adam, suddenly turning serious.
"Yes, and if I had a choice I wouldn't leave Shari," said Marcus. "But this guy we just got a lead on is dangerous. He's already killed five different people at the least the ones we know about anyway. The problem is that there doesn't seem to be a connection between the five people, at least not an obvious one."
"Uhm," said Adam. "I see your problem. One point is that you and Shari haven't been separated for any length of time since your marriage and now that you have to be away you're worried something may happen and she won't be able to get to a phone. The second point is you really want to catch this guy to prevent him from harming any more innocents."
"That's about the size of it. I have a job to do, but I hate leaving," Marcus said.
"I'll talk to Sara, but I'm sure she won't mind keeping an eye on Shari for you. The two of them have become good friends, even if all they do is talk over the phone once in awhile," Adam said.
"Thanks Adam," said Marcus sincerely. "If she wasn't five months pregnant I wouldn't worry so much. Shari is usually perfectly capable of taking care of herself, but right now,her condition is more delicate then I like."
"You know what she'd say if she heard you call her delicate don't you?" asked Adam with a laugh.
"I know and I wouldn't dare say it if she was home," said Marcus. "I'd get fussed at no doubt about it. She doesn't like me to think of her as some delicate wallflower. And normally, I wouldn't if she wasn't pregnant."
"I understand that. It's your protective streak coming out. Not that I blame you. I'm the same way with Sara pregnant or not," Adam said.
"I can understand why you're protective through. Sara went through a lot with that madman after her all those years. As for Shari, well, let's just say I would feel better having someone here while I'm gone. I'll talk to you in a few days," Marcus said
"Okay we'll have to have lunch while we're in town. Bye," Adam said.
"Bye," said Marcus hanging up the phone feeling slightly better about leaving.
~~~Beyond the Future~~~
A few days later
"You be good while I'm gone minx," Marcus told her, kissing her goodbye. "Sara and Adam will by to take you to the doctor and I want you to call me the minute they finish the scans." It was early morning and Marcus was leaving for a few days.
"Okay," Shari agreed giving him a hug and another kiss. "You just concentrate on catching this guy and don't worry so much. I'll be fine, even if I will miss you while you're gone." Marcus nodded and kissed her again then was gone. Shari moped around for the next few hours missing Marcus terribly. This was the first time she and Marcus had been separated for any length of time, since their marriage a little over a year ago. It would be good to see Sara and Adam again though. She hadn't seen either of them in quite awhile. She didn't even mind that they were both famous in their own ways to her they were simply family. To her that was far more important.
The doorbell rang suddenly and Shari went to answer it. She opened the door after peering through the peephole. "Sara, Adam; do come in," said Shari opening the door wide.
Adam and Sara Black entered the house Marcus and Shari had bought when they had been married.
"It's good to see you again Shari," said Sara giving her friend a careful hug trying to avoid putting undue pressure on her slightly bulging tummy the only sign that she was five months pregnant.
"And you," said Shari. "I heard a rumor that you were asked by your publisher to speak at the book convention as H. Q. Victor," Shari teased.
"And you know perfectly well that it's not a rumor," Sara teased right back with a grin.
"Nervous?"
"Maybe just a tad."
"More than a bit," said Adam with a grin as Sara glared at him. "She was so nervous she threw up her dinner of last night this morning."
"I'm more afraid of the questions they'll ask the lecture itself," said Sara.
"Then why did you accept?" Shari asked curiously.
"Because I decided it's time I stop hiding. For years, I wasn't free to do a lot of things I wanted to. Now, I am and this is something not so much as want to do as feel I have to at least once," Sara explained.
Shari nodded to show she understood. "Who knows you may want to speak at other conventions after this," Shari teased.
"Probably not," said Sara somewhat pensively.
"What about some lunch?" Adam suggested. "Before your doctor's appointment; our treat."
"Okay that sounds good," Shari agreed touched at the offer. "I'm getting scanned today. Marcus and I finally decided we wanted to know if it was a boy or a girl. It too bad Marcus had to be away on a case," said Shari somewhat sadly.
"Don't fret," said Adam putting a hand on her arm. "Marcus told me himself that he wanted to be here and that he hated to leave, but that he had no choice."
"I know, but that doesn't mean I don't worry about his safety or wish that he was here. And I'm supposed to tell him the minute I'm through with the scans."
"Are you nervous?" asked Adam.
"Maybe a little," Shari admitted. "If only because I hate going to the doctor."
"What time is the appointment?" asked Sara.
"About 2:00," said Shari.
"Let's see it's just about noon," said Adam looking at his watch. "So why don't we go to lunch?"
"For some reason today I'm starved," said Sara.
"You're always hungry lately," Adam teased.
"So sue me," Sara teased right back. "You'll just have to feed me unless you want me to turn into a hungry monster."
"Oh no not that," said Adam holding out his hands in mock horror and pretending to back away.
Shari watched the byplay and inwardly grinned. Sara and Adam reminded her so much of her and Marcus it was almost uncanny.
"Come here you," said Sara moving a finger beckoningly. Adam came forward slowly as if he was afraid and when he was close enough Sara grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled until he leaned down. Then she kissed him long and thoroughly. "That's how much I love you Adam Black."
"That was some way to show I love you," said Adam a bit dazedly, looking as if he had just been hit by a train.
Shari softly chuckled at Adam's expression. "Let's go to lunch," she suggested.
~~~Beyond the Future~~~
