[Thanksgiving 1991] As close family and friends gather at Sheila's home Abby and Rudy are preparing a toast for their announcement. Everyone has sat at the table for dinner and quiets down to the sound of a knife tapping on a glass. Rudy stands "I would like to raise a toast and start off by saying Happy Thanksgiving everyone, we are so pleased that all of you were able to come out for the family dinner. As you all know, Abby and I have had our troubles expanding the family, but tonight we want to share with you our exciting news. After years of trying, we are finally pregnant with a baby girl!" Everyone at the table shows their excitement by cheering, shaking Rudy's hand and hugging Abby, the new mother to be. Sheila raises her glass. "To the mother and the father. This has been a long time coming and nobody deserves this more then the both of you. Congratulations!" Everyone at the table raises their glasses and repeats "Congratulations." "Now that that is all out in the open, everyone dig in and Happy Thanksgiving." Abby says with great joy while smiling at her family around the table as the hand of her husband, the man she loves more then anything in this world rests his hand on top of her belly with a slight hint of a tear in his eye.
[December 1991 Christmas Eve] Sheila has a plan for her daughter and future grand-daughter. This year we will do Christmas a little different. We will still have the dinner, the tree, and the gifts she thinks to herself but we will also make it a surprise baby shower. Rudy is off on yet another job so Abby has been staying with me for a few days. As Sheila sits in the chair at her vanity, brushing her hair "I don't feel comfortable leaving her alone." As Sheila gets up from the chair she can't help but worry about the feeling of uncertainty that she's had since the night before. Sheila heads out of the bedroom to the kitchen to make the mother to be a nice breakfast. Abby wakes up to the smell of bacon. It's a struggle at this point to sit up in bed. After a couple attempts Abby is panting from being out of breath and finally sitting up with her back against the headboard. She places her hand on her massive belly and feels a strong kick. "Now now, there's no need to beat me up so early in the morning. Just give me a couple minutes and I will get you some breakfast." The baby kicks once more softer this time. She seems to be pleased with what her mother had said. Abby slides out of bed and puts her slippers on. She waddles out to the kitchen where she sees a plate of bacon sitting on the counter. Abby reaches for the plate only to have her hand smacked lightly by her mother. "Don't you ruin your appetite by stealing some bacon. You can wait a couple minutes for the rest of the breakfast to be finished. I'm making your favorite... French toast with strawberries." Abby rolls her eyes and laughs. Sheila turns back around to flip the french toast and Abby reaches out for the bacon once again and shoves a couple pieces in her mouth before Sheila turns around again. Sheila laughs to herself. "I saw that." Abby rolls her eyes at her mother. With a mouth full she manages to say "No you didn't." and they both laugh.
After breakfast Abby and Sheila go out to the living room. There stood a 6 foot fresh fur tree with no ornaments. Since Abby was little her and her mother always would have a real tree. They would have breakfast and then spend the day making their special ornaments and decorating the tree. Of course there would be snacks and a lot of laughter as they ran around the house getting everything ready. By dinner time the tree would be decorated and the rest of the house as well. They would be cleaning up the mess they made from the DIY ornaments and munching on pizza cuddled on the couch watching Christmas movies. Sheila looks over at her sleepy daughter. "Abby. Wake up, it's getting late. You and that baby need to be rested and ready for Christmas morning. Time for you to get up and head to bed." Abby rubs the sleep from her eyes and smiles. "Okay mom, you don't have to tell me twice." Abby gets up from the couch, stretches and kisses Sheila on the cheek. "Good night mom." "Good night baby." Sheila kisses her back. As Sheila sits and watches her daughter waddle back to her room, she lights a candle on the coffee table and speaks to the ancestors. "I can't help this feeling that I have." she whispers. "I'm worried about Abby and her unborn child. Please I call upon your healing and protection ability to see this baby born. With only a couple months left, please help Abby. I don't think she could survive another loss." Sheila says a small prayer and blows out the candle before she herself heads off to bed.
[Christmas morning] Abby wakes up feeling well rested and excited. "It's Christmas." she whispers to her baby still in her belly. As Abby gets out of bed she feels a little pain in her side. "Ouch." She takes a deep breath and thinks nothing of it. She gets dressed in a sweater dress and heads out to the kitchen in hopes to see Sheila and more bacon. When she gets there, Abby notices the house is quiet. "Mom?" Abby says out loud. "You here?" She waits a couple minutes and hears no response. Abby walks to the fridge to get some orange juice and sees the note.
{ Morning baby. I needed to run to the store for a few things. I will make you breakfast when I get home. Just sit and relax. While you wait, you can make a list of baby names. I'd love to hear what you've come up with. See ya my love. -Mom}
Abby smiles to herself, gets a notebook and pencil from the drawer and goes to the living room to get comfy and to start working on names. As she sips her juice Abby taps the pencil against the page. "Why haven't I thought of names before this point?" Abby sighs.
1. Agatha 5. Bridget 9. Ember 13. Miriam
2. Ayana 6. Celeste 10. Emily 14. Nevaeh
3. Beatrice 7. Constance 11. Grace 15. Rose
4. Briar 8. Elidi 12. Lorelei 16. Willow
There, I have 16 names. This should be okay, right? I mean, at least I have something. Abby thought to herself. Before she knew it, Sheila was back from the store with a bundle of bags in tow. "Mom?" Abby yells from the couch. "Need any help?" "No, no. I'm alright. How about you go take a shower and have a nap. I'll wake you in about an hour or so. This will give me time to put all the stuff away and make your breakfast." "Okay mom." Abby says trying to get up off the couch. "Ouch." Abby winces in pain. Sheila drops the bags in her hand and runs to her daughter. "Is everything alright?" "Yes mother." Abby says with a faint grin. "Just a little sore from being as big as a whale." Sheila helps Abby off the couch and takes her to the bathroom where she runs her a warm bath. "Just take a bath baby, and then a nap. Don't worry about a thing. I will be putting stuff up if you need me. Just yell." Sheila hugs and kisses Abby on the cheek as she turns to walk out of the bathroom and closes the door behind her.
