"Andrew?"
"Um hmm."
Amanda sighed and got up to turn off the TV. "Andrew?"
"What?" he asked impatiently, but this time he gave her his full attention.
"I was wondering," Amanda said slowly as she sat next to him on the couch. "What do you think about having a baby?"
"What?" Andrew exclaimed as the color seemed to drain out of his face. "Do you mean you're . . .we're . . ." he stuttered.
"No," Amanda quickly corrected him. She didn't want him to pass out. "I'm not expecting, but I was thinking maybe we should think about trying to have a baby."
Andrew breathed a sigh of relief. "I don't think that's a good idea, Amanda, not yet anyway. I mean, we're both working."
"I'll quit," Amanda spoke up. "and stay home with the baby."
"Then how are we going to get out of this little apartment and to a real home of our own? There's not enough room here to raise a family. We can't afford to have a baby right now."
"Maybe you'll get promoted," Amanda said hopefully.
Andrew winced and stood up from his place on the couch, "Let's not talk about that again . . .I'm going out for a walk."
As Andrew opened the door to go out he ran into Alma, who was in the hallway about to knock. He muttered a brief hello and continued on his way.
"What's his problem?" Alma asked as she walked into the apartment.
"I don't know," Amanda shrugged. "I just suggested possibly starting a family and he nearly had a fit. He's taking a walk before dinner to cool off." She stood up from her seat on the couch. "I need to check on dinner. Do you want to give me a hand?"
As Alma followed her sister into the kitchen, she glanced around the sparse apartment. "Do you think there's room to raise a child in this tiny apartment?"
"There's plenty of room," Amanda said defensively. "You're just like Andrew. I don't know why the two of you didn't get married instead."
Alma frowned and held her tongue.
Amanda turned to check on the roast in the oven and said quietly, "He says we can't afford a baby, but I think maybe, he just doesn't want to have one." Amanda sighed as she shut the oven door. "I can't believe you don't want to have kids, Alma."
"I didn't say I never wanted kids," Alma objected. "I just don't want any right now or any time soon."
"So what have you been doing with yourself lately?" Amanda asked, trying to change the subject.
"I have some time off from work, so I've been thinking about taking a vacation."
"By yourself?" Amanda exclaimed.
The look of pity on her sister's face, infuriated Alma, she snapped back a reply. "Yes."
"Well," Amanda said thoughtfully. "Maybe you can go on one of those singles cruises. I've heard they're really popular. And who knows, maybe you'll meet your Mr. Right."
Alma rolled her eyes. She couldn't take anymore small talk with her sister, so she made an excuse to leave the room. She was starting to wish she had joined Andrew on his walk.
At the Stuart's house, Lucy and Eileen were looking through bridal magazines.
"Have you decided on colors yet?" Eileen asked.
"No, but I was thinking muted colors might be nice like sage or periwinkle."
"Sounds pretty," Eileen remarked as she flipped the page of the magazine she was reading.
Lucy put down her magazine and turned to face Eileen, "I want to ask you something, Eileen. If you decide to say no, I will completely understand."
Eileen closed her magazine and asked, "What is it?"
"Would you be a bridesmaid in my wedding?" Lucy asked. "If you don't want to, it's ok. But I really want you to be a part of it and if I didn't at least ask you I know I'd regret it."
"Of course I will. I would love to be a bridesmaid."
"Oh thank you," Lucy hugged Eileen. "And if you want to bring Hector to the wedding you can. I'd rather you didn't, but if you want him to come with you . . ."
Eileen shook her head, "Don't worry about it. I won't invite him to come with me. I'll just come with Dad and Veronica."
"Are you sure?" Lucy asked.
"I'm sure," Eileen nodded and turned back to her magazine. "So what do you need help planning? I've been gathering plenty of information."
"Well I've already called the caterer, the florist, the printer, and the dressmaker and they said they'd be able to fit me in, if I get the details to them soon. Of course, we'll have the reception at the country club, so that won't be a problem. Craig's taking care of the music."
"It sounds like you've got it all covered," Eileen remarked. "If you need me to help you with anything just ask me. I'll do whatever I can."
"Thanks, but what about your wedding? Shouldn't you be busy making your own plans?"
"Don't worry about me," Eileen said in a low voice. "You need the help more than I do. We can postpone my wedding, but yours can't wait very long," Eileen teased, her tone suddenly cheerful again. "Unless you want to waddle down the aisle."
"You're right," Lucy groaned. "That's the last thing I want."
"It could be worse. You could be carrying a baby down the aisle instead of a bouquet."
"Stop it," Lucy laughed as she swatted Eileen with a magazine. "You're not funny."
Eileen continued to laugh, but Lucy suddenly got serious and leaned back into the couch. "I can't believe I'm having a baby and I'm getting married. This is all happening so fast." She turned to look at Eileen who had stopped smiling. "I don't know how to be a wife or a mother. How am I going to take care of this baby? What if I can't handle it?"
Eileen reached over to pat Lucy's hand sympathetically. "Of course you can handle it. You're going to be a good wife and an even better mother. Lucy, you've been through so much, you can handle anything."
Lucy smiled weakly, "I hope you're right."
"Veronica? This is Ed Wilton. I've got the test results for Cassandra Barrett."
"How are they?"
"Fine. I can't find anything physically wrong with her."
"I guess it's up to me then," Veronica replied. She looked up as her husband entered the room. "Thanks for calling. I'll keep you updated."
"Who was that?" Arthur asked as she hung up the phone.
Veronica knew she should tell Arthur about her meeting with Edward, but somehow she couldn't bring herself to do it. "It was the hospital. The test results are in for one of my patients."
"Not bad news I hope," Arthur remarked.
"No."
Their conversation was interrupted when the front door opened and Eileen walked in. "Hi," she greeted them with a smile.
"You seem in a good mood," Veronica replied, happily. Eileen had seemed so down lately, that she was starting to get worried.
"I just came from Lucy's. We were making wedding plans."
"That's nice," Arthur remarked. "I'm glad the two of you made up."
"Me too."
"By the way, Hector's been asking about you," Arthur said. "I think he'd really like you to give him a call."
Eileen grimaced, "I'll do it later. I have a lot of studying I need to get started on."
As soon as Eileen disappeared up the stairs, Veronica turned to her husband. "Did you see that? She's been acting like that whenever Hector's name is mentioned. I'm very concerned with the way she's been avoiding him. Something's clearly not right."
"Don't worry so much about it, dear. I'm sure it's just cold feet, pre-wedding jitters."
Veronica frowned. "No, I think there's more to it than that. I've asked her about it, but she doesn't want to talk about it. I don't want to pressure her."
"I'm sure she'll talk when she's ready," Arthur replied confidently. "In the meantime she knows we're both here for her if she needs us."
In her room Eileen flipped through the pages of her text book. She was reading the words but not really paying attention to their meaning. Finally she lowered the book with a sigh and stared out the window next to her.
"I can't keep avoiding Hector," she thought to herself. "I've got to do something." She frowned. She knew what she needed to do, but she wasn't looking forward to doing it.
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