"Oh wow, Amanda. You look great. I think Andrew is going to love your new look!"
"Do you think so?"
"Definitely. How do you like it?"
"I like it a lot . . . more than I thought I would," Amanda admitted as she checked herself out in the mirror. "And you're right, I actually do feel a little better."
"I'm glad." Vanessa smiled before checking her watch. "It looks like we still have some time before our massages. Why don't we stop by the snack bar and get something to drink?"
"So how have things been going for you, Amanda?" Vanessa asked as they settled into one of the tables next to the juice bar.
Amanda shrugged. "The same as always. Work is the same. Andrew is the same. Andrew never changes," she said with an exasperated sigh. "I'm still not pregnant yet, but I'm trying to stay positive. I really am."
"Have you thought about looking into other options for having a baby, like adoption or seeing a fertility specialist?"
"I don't want to adopt. I want to have my own child . . ." Amanda answered with a sigh. "I haven't seen anyone yet, but we probably should . . . I'm kind of afraid they're just going to tell me there's something wrong with me, that I'll never be able to have a baby."
"Don't think that way. Maybe that isn't it at all. You have to find out what's wrong, if there's anything wrong, before you can find a solution. Maybe they'll be able to help. If they can't, well, then at least you'll know what you're dealing with."
Amanda frowned thoughtfully. "This was supposed to be the easy part. People have been having babies since the beginning of time without needing to see specialists, some do it without even trying. Just look at Alma . . ."
"I don't think her pregnancy was exactly unplanned or unwanted, hun."
"I didn't mean it that way," Amanda said quickly. "I shouldn't have brought Alma into it. I'm happy for her. I really am."
"I'm glad you did bring up Alma. I've been thinking about something I wanted to talk to you about."
"What is it?" Amanda asked, when Vanessa seemed to hesitate.
"I think we should do something to celebrate the new addition to the family. Alma got married so quickly, we didn't have time to put together a shower or a reception for her wedding. I think we should throw a baby shower. This is going to be the first baby neice or nephew for both of us. We should celebrate that and show Alma she has our support."
"I think that's a nice idea," Amanda said carefully and without Vanessa's enthusiasm. She knew it was the right thing to do, even though she didn't feel like celebrating.
"Good," Vanessa replied with a smile. "We'll have plenty of time to talk about the details, but I already have so many ideas. I'm so excited to be an auntie. In a way, I think it's going to be even better than being a mother. We get to play with the little one, spoil it rotten with presents and let the parents handle the difficult stuff," she said with a wink.
"I'd still rather have my own child," Amanda said sadly.
"I hope you do someday, hun. I really do."
"Reese, could you give me a hand?" Blaine called from the doorway.
Reese turned to him warily.
"Could you go outside and watch the girls for a few minutes, while I take care of this little guy?"
"I-I really don't know anything about watching kids. I wouldn't know what to do."
"You don't have to do anything. All you have to do is keep an eye on them while they're playing and make sure they don't do anything that would get themselves hurt." When Reese hesitated, he promised, "It will only take a minute."
She didn't like it and didn't feel completely comfortable with it, but she agreed.
When she stepped outside onto the porch, Reese saw the two little girls out in the yard catching butterflies. For a moment, she thought this might be easier than she thought. Before she had a chance to relax, the girls were arguing over the jar.
Reese was wondering if she should step in and say something or wait and let them work it out for themselves. She wasn't sure either of them would listen to her even if she did try to do something.
By the time Blaine came back outside, the girls were yelling and teasing each other and Reese was getting very nervous.
"Hey, girls," Blaine called out, handing the toddler to Reese before walking out across the yard to talk to the little girls. Reese was amazed that after just a few simple words from him, they were playing nicely again.
"It wasn't so bad, was it?" Blaine said, as he walked back up to the porch.
Reese frowned and said nothing. She passed the toddler she had been holding awkwardly to Blaine and started towards the house.
"Why don't you stay out here and play with us? It's a nice day out."
"No, thanks."
Sensing something was wrong, his first instinct was to go inside and ask her what was bothering her, but the girls were already starting to tease each other again and were demanding his attention. He took one last concerned look in Reese's direction before heading into the yard.
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