If these walls could talk

Plans

Laura and her mother finished clearing out the room later that day. When James came home he helped finish moving all the boxes into the pod and called the truck to come pick it up.

"Why don't you call Paul and we can all eat dinner here Jeanne?"

"Oh that sounds wonderful dear, but I think Paul was going to take me out for dinner" Laura's mother said

"Well with Laura's cooking whats the difference" James said, smiling at his wife.

"Fair point, alright, I'll call and ask"

"Good" James and Laura said in almost perfect union.

Jeanne stepped outside to call Paul.

As soon as she stepped out the door James turned to Laura and gave her a big hug.

"So I'm guessing your mom isn't just here to help clear out the room, cause you were adamant you could do it yourself"

"I was looking through the family photo album and saw a picture of Sophie"

"Oh, baby girl, I'm sorry, are you doing okay?"

"Yeah, momma and I talked about it for a bit, I'm feeling better now." 

As she said that she hugged James and started crying into his chest. He gently wrapped his arms around her and held her close, kissing her on the head.

"Its okay baby, its okay" he said, starting to rock back and forth and rub her back.

"I miss her James, I miss her so much"

"I know you do babe, I know"

"Why did she have to go? Why wasn't I enough for her to stay? Why isn't she here, right now, with us, celebrating? Why does something so happy have to be laced with so much pain?"

"I know baby girl, I know it hurts, but you cannot let yourself take the blame, okay, your sister loved you, and I know she would have been so happy for you, for us, right now, but she wasn't strong enough to take it anymore, so instead she did a very selfish thing and gave it to you and your parents, and I won't forgive her for hurting my wife."

"But sh-" Laura trailed off in sobs.

"Sh, sh, sh, its okay babe" he said, holding her tight to his chest. "Now how 'bout you go get yourself straightened up and I'll start getting stuff ready for tacos, okay? I know you don't want your momma seeing you like this again."

"Thank you" she said, her voice muffled from her face still being buried in James' chest.

While Laura went into the bathroom to straighten herself out, James went into the kitchen and started chopping onions and mincing garlic. Laura and her mother soon joined him in the kitchen and Laura started ordering them both around telling them to grab this or that for her as she started the stove and began cooking. Sometimes James swore that lady grew 3 extra arms when she cooked cause of how easily she managed the 4 pots on the stove and heating the tortillas up in the oven.

Soon there was a knock on the door and Jeanne went to go let Paul in. Paul, James, and Jeanne sat in the living room chatting while Laura finished up dinner.

"James, dear!" she called from the kitchen.

"Coming" he said, excusing himself from the conversation Laura's parents and him were having about the current sales for James' store.

"Could you grab those plates and take them out to the coffee table?" she said, motioning with her elbow to a stack of plates on the counter.

"Sure thing babe" he said, grabbing them.

When they were all seated on the couch, eating the wonderful tacos, Jeanne asked a question.

"So, when do you find out whether its a girl or a boy?"

"Well, my first appointment is in a few weeks, but according to my research you can't tell till about 5 moths in" Laura answered.

"So what are you going to do as far as preparations until you find out?" 

"Well I'm planning on picking up a crib and a bassinet a the week of Laura's first appointment" James answered this time "and I was thinking of painting the walls yellow as its not a very gender specific color"

"I was thinking green, but now I have an idea, we'll talk about it later" Laura cut in.

"Well I would love to come help paint!" Jeanne said enthusiastically "and I'm sure Paul would love to help put together the crib!" 

"Huh? Oh, yeah, sure I would" Paul said, snapping awake at the mention of his name, he had fallen asleep a few minutes before.

"Oh no worrys momma, I can handle the painting and helping James put together the crib" Laura said, eyeing James with an expression that clearly said "back me upon this."

"Yeah, Laura loves painting and I think the two of us can handle putting together a crib"

"Oh nonsense, the two of you are gonna need all the help you can get, I'll call Randy and David tomorrow and see if they'll be able to come over and help too" Jeanne said waving her hands around as she talked.

"I thought David was in L.A.?" Laura asked

"I'm sure he can fly in for a few weeks to help out!" Jeanne said, waving away the question.

"Momma, I haven't told them yet, at least wait to call until I tell them, please?" Laura asked.

"Fine, fine, but tell them soon, they should have as much notice as possible so they can get time off to help out"

"Okay, thank you" 

"Of course dear. Now what shade of green were you thinking? I think an olive green would be good. Or maybe do a teal and orange theme? Or white, white is always a safe choice, if a little bland."

"For goodness sake Jeanne, let the girl make her own decisions for her kid" Laura's dad cut in.

Laura shot him a thankful look and he winked and nodded in return.

"Alright, but whatever you decide, let me know and I'll get supplies and help with the painting"

"Okay momma" Laura said, a shadow of reluctance in her tone.

The rest of the dinner was in silence, everyone deep in thought, James and Laura presumably how to get away with not letting Jeanne know when they were painting or had told Laura's brothers, Jeanne most likely planning out her grandchild's bedroom to a T, and Paul probably wondering how the Bears are doing in their game right now. When dinner was over, there was hugs all around and Laura's parents left. As soon as they were out the door Laura flopped onto the couch with a sigh. James chuckled and plopped down next to her. 

She leaned her head on his shoulder saying "do you think we can get out of it?" 

"Well since Jeanne is Jeanne, I don't think so" James said, making them both laugh a bit. "What were your plans for the paint job?" he asked.

"An olive green for 3 of the walls and the back wall where the crib would go striped with a slightly lighter green, dark mocha brown, and pale yellow" Laura said decidedly "and thats whats gonna happen no matter what my momma says"

"Yes it is, because I think thats perfect."

"I'm exhausted, I'm gonna go to bed, are you coming or are you going to read?"

"I'll read for a bit and be in soon."

"Okay love." Laura said, kissing James' cheek and heading heading down the hall toward the bedroom.

When James was sure she was in the bedroom he pulled out his phone and dialed a number.

"Hey David, I want to surprise Laura, is there any way you can get some time off to fly in and help me with something?"

"Thanks man!" James said, smiling, and then hung up. "She's gonna love this" he said grinning.