The Right Life

Three weeks
passed. Amy was at home with Ted,
almost completely forgetting the “conversation” she’d had while in the
hospital. Only small fragments remained
in her memory and they really didn’t make any sense.

Alex was no
longer fighting the orders to stay in bed.
Some days she found it hard to move at all. This was a real pregnancy – not like the last.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> She was properly nourished this time around
and was not having any battles with depression. Her stomach was larger than it was with Julia, which seemed to
make everything more difficult, but despite it, she was constantly radiating
that “mother-to-be” glow. Mort made
sure that his wife had everything she needed and his writing was flourishing.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> His new book was to hit the shelves the
following week and he had already started a new one.

Then there
was Julia. Every day she would climb
into her parents’ bed and put her head on her mother’s stomach.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> She would try to talk to her unborn baby
sister, though Mort and Alex couldn’t understand most of it.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> And every day, she’d ask either – or both –
of them, when her sister could come out and play. The answer never changed: “Soon, sweetie.”

With Alex’s
due date only days away, Mort was becoming noticeably giddy.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> When his literary agent called him to arrange
a book signing, he could have cared less about discussing the schedule.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> He went on and on about everything that he
was doing in order to get ready for his new daughter.

“Mort, I
understand your excitement, but…”

“No,
Trevor, you don’t…you can’t!” Mort said cheerfully. “I converted onethe the spare bedrooms into Julia’s new ‘big
girl’ room so the baby won’t have to be in a room that smells like new
paint. I’ve come a long way from
hanging shower doors and…”

Trevor
laughed. “I think you’re forgetting
that I have three of my own, Mort.
Believe me, I understand the excitement. This signing is important though. Publicity is publicity and…”

Mort
sighed, a smile on his face. “I know
the drill, Trevor, I think you’re forgetting that I’ve done this
before.”

“True, but
your last book was a top seller, Mort.
Your name’s been floating around everywhere about this new one.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> People are really anxious to see you write
more than a suspense or thriller piece.”

“I know,
but right now, sitting in a Barnes and Noble or Borders is the furthest thing
from…”

“Daddy!style="mso-spacerun: yes"> Potty!”
Julia’s voice cut through the conversation.

Mort
covered the phone with one hand. “Be
right there, honey.” Uncovering the
mouthpiece, Mort said, “I have a young lady to attend to, Trevor, I’ll call you
back later.”

“You’d
better, this is really…”

“Important,
I know. I will.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> Bye.”

“Bye,
Mort.”

Mort went
into the powder room and found Julia trying, in vain, to unhook her
overalls. He smiled down at her before
kneeling and taking care of the problem himself. “There you go, sweetheart.”
Mort let his mind drift for a moment as Julia took care of her own
“business.” Everything that I missed
with her, I’ll get to do now.
Everything Alex went through alone the last time, she’ll have help
with. I must have done something right
to have ended up where I am. I only
wish that I could have been here sooner.

“Done!”

“That’s my
girl.” Mort helped her clean up, then
carried her upstairs to his room. Alex
was sitting up watching T.V.
“Everything all right up here?”

Alex
smiled. “Wonderful.”

“I went
potty,” Julia said proudly. Julia had
been potty trained for a while, but was still impressed with herself every time
an accident was avoided.

“Good
girl. Come here, sweetie.”style="mso-spacerun: yes"> Julia made her way to Alex’s side.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> “Daddy and I need to talk about something,
but we need to talk to you about it too, O.K.?”

“K.”

Mort sat on
the bed and picked up the remote for the T.V.
He turned it off, then said, “You and mommy have very pretty
names.” Julia giggled.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> “Your baby sister is going to need a name
too.”

“Your name
pitty too, Daddy,” Julia said matter-of-factly.

Mort
laughed at the comment. “Well, honey,
we’re not going to name her Mort.”

Alex chimed
in, stroking her daughter’s hair.
“Daddy and I picked out two names that we like, but can’t pick which we
like better. We thought you might like
to pick for us.”

Julia’s
eyes lit up. For such a young child,
she was very intelligent and understood most of what her parents said to
her. Everyone that saw the three
interact was usually interested with how they treated Julia like a tiny adult –
it seemed to work in her favor.

“What do
you like better,” Mort said, “Hallie or Christina?”

Julia
didn’t waste a moment on thought.
“Hallie!” she cheered. “Pitty!”

Mort winked
at Alex, both knew the name that Julia was going to pick.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> “Hallie it is then.”

Julia
rested her head on Alex’s stomach.
“Hallie, pay pease.”

“Only a few
more days, sweetie,” Alex said.

That night,
after Julia was in bed, Mort came out of the bathroom, his glasses in his
hand. “I can push the signing back.”

“Are you
nuts?” Alex giggled. “Trevor would give
himself a coronary.”

“What if
you go into labor?”

“That’s why
you carry that magical device called a cell phone, Mort.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> Karen will be here with me and my bag’s
already packed…”

Mort sat
down and took Alex’s hand. “Baby, I
don’t want to miss one second of anything.”

Alex
smiled. “We’ll see what your opinion is
once I’m screaming bloody murder in the delivery room.”

“Are you
going to be like those women on sitcoms that scream at their husbands?”

Alex’s
voice softened. “I…I don’t know
really. Tristan’s mom was in with me
last time and I certainly couldn’t yell at her.”

Mort’s eyes
were sympathetic. “Well, if you feel
like you missed out on something that time around, you can yell and scream at
me all you like.”

“Is this
some form of chivalry, Mr. Rainey?”

“Could be,”
he laughed. He leaned over and placed a
feather light kiss on Alex’s neck.
“However, part of me can’t wait to stop being so gentlemanly.”

Alex
blushed a deep scarlet. She giggled as
she said, in the same voice she used to talk to Julia, “Soon, sweetie.”