Different Is Good

Chapter fifteen

The moment Stevie arrived at her house, she smiled even more than when her parents had picked her up. School had been a hard adjustment for her. She had been gone for two months and she couldn't wait to be in the comfort of her own room, around people she knew and loved her. Her father opened the car door for her and helped her out. She pulled her new jacket around herself, having to buy a new one as she had grown in the past few weeks.
"Tee, you look so beautiful!" Barbara gushed, pulling her daughter into a hug for the hundredth time. "Ruth is coming over to see you, Lindsey and Morris are coming when they get off of work."
"When THEY get off work?" Stevie asked.

"Yes, Lindsey has gotten a job and he's doing really well from what I've heard."

"I hadn't heard." Stevie smiled sadly. She felt like she was missing out on so much.
"Let's get you inside!" Barbara shuffled her towards the door, "I'm so glad to have you home!"

Stevie sighed in relief once she entered the house, smelling her mother's cooking, "Can I have a little snack now?"
"Of course you can!" Barbara smiled, patting her daughter's belly. Now with her jacket off, she could seen just how big she was getting. Stevie smiled, her eyes lighting up when her mother presented her with a small sliver of pie on a saucer.
"Mama, I missed this," she grew emotional, "I miss you..."

"I miss you too, sweet girl. I might not let you go back!"
"I want to stay here. I miss everyone so much...I have a friend there but it's so hard being away."

There was a knock at the door and Barbara stroked her daughter's face. "I'm going to go get that. Eat up."

Soon, Ruth entered the kitchen with a small gift bag. "I know it's not Christmas, but I wanted to get you something."
Stevie hopped up, wrapping her arms around Ruth, "Hi! I missed you!" Stevie said happily

"I missed you too! Why don't you open your gift?"
"Okay!" Stevie sat at the table and opened the bag, pulling out a soft pink blanket with 'Sara' embroidered on the corner
"Oh my goodness!" Stevie wept, tears flowing freely down her face. "Her name...."

"Lindsey told me how much you both loved the name and had a feeling there's a little girl in there."

"Thank you!" Stevie threw her arms around the older woman and Ruth's arms wrapped around Stevie.

"I'm so happy you like it."

"It's perfect" Stevie said, pulling back.
"Lindsey should be here soon. He's gotten himself a job," Ruth smiled, "cleans tables at a diner."
"I was just telling mama that I'm so proud of him. How is his schooling going?"

"We work at home with books borrowed from the school, and turn his work in to the school board. He's doing very well." Ruth told Stevie.
"I'm so glad!" Stevie said excitedly

"He will be so happy to see how much the baby has grown!"
"I hope so" Stevie stroked her growing belly.

"May I?" Ruth asked, extending a hand.

"Of course. This is your grandbaby."

Ruth's features lifted in a smile that reached her eyes and Stevie guided her hand to meet her stomach. "Oh! She's moving!"
"She moves all the time now...it scared me the first time that I felt it."

"I felt the same way with Greg..."
"Can I ask you something kind of...personal?" Stevie asked.

"Sure, honey. I'm an open book."

"Is birth really as scary as people say? A girl at my school was kicking and screaming. It made me really nervous. I even have dreams about it."

"Birth is hard, it's intense...I couldn't even describe it to you but I promise it's worth it because of the amazing you gift you receive at the end." Ruth said. "I'm confident in your ability to birth this baby and you have all of our support."
"I'm excited to meet them. I'm scared of the pain..."