Chapter Text
A/N: Hello readers; here we are with my annual Halloween story. This one is set in the Reflections era; more specifically late October 1979 when Johanna is very pregnant and the stress and nerves of the impending arrival are getting to her and Jim. I hope you'll all enjoy this one!
Chapter 1
Johanna Beckett sighed deeply as she sat on the side of the bed and glared at the clock; how dare it be time to get up already? She had barely slept at all but that wasn't anything new lately she thought bitterly. Insomnia was her companion for the last week; between it and the numerous trips to pee and the inability to get very comfortable, she wasn't getting much rest and she had a feeling that it was starting to show since she had to put her makeup on a little heavier than she liked. A sharp kick brought her hand to her swollen stomach. "What are you complaining about?" she muttered to her baby. "You get to lie around in there all day, sleep when you want to and I've barely slept at all and still have to go to work."
Another kick landed against her palm and she patted the spot. "You know I love you," she told the baby; "But for the love of God will you get out? I know we still have about two weeks before your due date but if you'd want to move out a few days early, I wouldn't be offended or mad…in fact, I'd appreciate it. Don't get me wrong, I love you and carrying you is an honor…but you know…privileges sometimes expire and, sweetheart, I'm ready. Mommy is so ready for you to get out…and I say that with love, I promise. After all, we have a room waiting for you and I assure you it's much more spacious than the womb…and maybe if you were in it, we both could get a little sleep. So think about it, okay?"
A jab that felt like an elbow was her response from her unborn child and she frowned; why did she have a feeling that this baby was going to be late just to spite her? She took a breath; she wasn't ready to get up and face the world. She just wanted to find a comfortable spot to lay in and stay there until she was ready to give birth.
"Jo; are you going to get a move on?" Jim asked from the doorway. "The alarm went off ten minutes ago. You haven't even started getting ready and you haven't eaten yet."
She turned her head to look at him; shooting him a glare as she did so. "Don't rush me."
"I'm not rushing you; just giving you the facts," he said as he moved further into the room. "I know you didn't sleep well…that's why I wish you had gone ahead and taken your leave so you could rest."
"And I told you," she said, an edge in her tone; "That I can't take my leave until this last case wraps up and thanks to it being delayed; that will be around the ninth."
"Maggie's your co-counsel; she can handle it for you," Jim replied as he stood before her.
"I want to see it through."
"You just want to be stubborn as usual," he told her, leaning down to press a kiss against her forehead.
It had nothing to do with stubbornness, she thought to herself as her hand rubbed against her stomach. She just felt better being at the office…because Jim was there…and if she was home, she'd be alone and what if something happened while she was alone? At least at her office he was nearby…and if he happened to be in court, Sharon would be there…and Maggie and Jeff and Zach among others that could help her but she didn't bother to explain that. He had his own anxieties about impending parenthood; she shouldn't heap hers onto it.
"You could just go on to work without me," she replied instead. "I can drive myself now that I have my own car."
"No. Absolutely not," Jim said firmly. "I don't want you driving."
"Then why did you buy me a car? I have a car sitting in the driveway that I've only gotten to drive once."
"You know why I bought you a car; it's so you'll have a car at home while you're on maternity leave and I'm at work. You're nine months pregnant, you're not driving; end of discussion."
"Well someone's cranky this morning," she shot back.
"I'm tired," he stated. "You don't seem to be a ray of sunshine yourself…and you're still sitting there instead of getting ready. I let you hit the snooze button once, Jo. I already got dressed while you had your extra time before the alarm went off again."
She shot him a scathing look as she pushed herself off the bed and got to her feet. "I'll be ready in a few minutes and then we can go. I'm sorry I'm delaying you. I just can't jump out of bed and hit the ground running like I used to at the moment."
Jim sighed; it had been a long night. She hadn't been able to get comfortable and she done her best to keep from waking him but she hadn't been successful. He didn't mind sitting up with her until she fell asleep…but he couldn't deny that it sometimes left him in a less than desirable mood. "You need to eat breakfast."
"I'm not hungry," she said as she made her way to the door.
"You have to eat, Jo."
"I know…but I don't want to," she remarked. It was yet another new symptom of her pregnancy; her appetite had decreased in the last few weeks. The doctor assured her that it was normal; that it came from the baby taking up so much room and from her hormones. For the most part dinner wasn't an issue; she was usually a little hungry in the evening…but breakfast…well, it seemed like she was off of breakfast for the most part and lunch was mainly a salad and nothing more.
"What do you want me to make you?" Jim asked as he followed her into the hallway. "I can get it ready while you're doing what you need to do."
"Just toast," Johanna remarked; rubbing at the ache in her lower back. "Put strawberry jelly on it."
"How about a little cereal to go with it?"
"No."
"Johanna," he said in mild exasperation. "You need more than a piece of toast."
"Then make it two pieces," she snapped. "I'm not hungry…nor do I have room in my body for large meals at the moment. You know, I am carrying around a baby that's taking up a lot of room."
"Yeah, I know. It's not like I'm going to forget and if I did for a nanosecond, you'd be sure to remind me," he said.
The comment stung and she hurried into the bathroom and shut the door before he could see the tears in her eyes. He was as moody as she was the last several days and she had a feeling that they were headed for a fight and she really didn't have the energy to fight. She rubbed her hand against her stomach as the baby kicked; she and Jim had had their ups and downs over the course of her pregnancy but she was hoping they'd finish it off on a high note. Of course it was possible that she was just being overly sensitive and emotional…and they were both tired…and she was starting to feel nervous about the prospect of labor even though she was ready to get this over with. She worried her bottom lip as she stood at the sink…what if something went wrong? What if she wasn't any good at being a mother? What if they couldn't handle this? What if it changed things between her and Jim in a way that wasn't good? She knew he was frustrated with her mood swings and her misery that seemed to be increasing…and she had put an abrupt end to their sex life toward the end of her seventh month because it had become too awkward and uncomfortable for her. He said he understood…and most days she believed that…others she wasn't so sure. These little moments of bickering were cropping up over the last week and she hated it but didn't know how to stop it before it got started. At the moment, everything felt like too much and she wished she could just get back in bed and pull the covers up over her head.
Johanna gave a shake of her head; trying to shake away the melancholy feelings that threatened to consume her. She and Jim had always had their periods of bickering…it would blow over soon…at least she hoped so.
Jim drummed his fingers on the kitchen table; trying not to lose his patience as he ate his breakfast…that he had made for himself…again. He didn't care so much about that although he did miss his wife's cooking. A small sigh slipped across his lips; she had been so slow at getting ready for work for the last week and a half that he had taken on kitchen duty…reminding him of the early stages of her pregnancy when bouts of morning sickness had prolonged the time it took her to get ready. The morning sickness was long past…but somehow she had slipped back into that cycle of taking forever to get ready. He had tried to gently break the cycle; helping her prepare the night before by placing her purse and briefcase on his desk so he could grab them for her when her picked up his own briefcase. She had picked out her clothes the night before; hung them on the closet door; had her shoes sitting out…her makeup laid out on the vanity. So why the hell wasn't she downstairs yet? He huffed out a breath; they had been late three times in the last two weeks and it looked like today would be number four…and while it wasn't a big deal given that it hadn't interfered with court appearances of client meetings, he didn't like it.
Oh he knew it wasn't the first time they had been late…was well aware that a few times in the past had been his fault…but this was different. She took too long because she didn't want to go…and she didn't have to go; she could've started her maternity leave but she wanted to be bullheaded; didn't want to give up her last case and call it a day until after the baby was born. He sighed deeply as he picked up a spoonful of cereal…he had this terrible feeling that she'd end up going into labor at the office; and while it would be closer to the hospital than home was, he still didn't think that would be a great place for it to occur. No; he'd much rather her labor start at home as God intended.
The ticking of the clock on the wall annoyed him as he stared across the table at her plate where her two slices of jelly toast were waiting; cold by now since she was dawdling. He was nearly finished his breakfast and she hadn't even started…he hated when she did this…hated when he was alone at the table; listening to that damn clock tick. Too much time alone gave him too much time to think…and worry…and think some more. He was tired…and frustrated…still not used to this house and the longer commute to work. Apparently Johanna hadn't adjusted to the knowledge or idea either or she wouldn't keep making them late. He blew out another breath; this house was further away from the hospital than their apartment had been. He hadn't thought of that when they had bought the place…but now with October ending in mere days and the baby due in November, it was on his mind at least twice a day. What if they didn't get there on time? Worse yet, what if Johanna took too long getting ready to go and ended up having the baby on the bathroom floor or something? As slow as she was moving these days it seemed like a good possibility.
He definitely wasn't prepared for that situation. No…he definitely had to make sure he got her to the hospital in time. He had to make some time this weekend to map out the fastest route between the house and the hospital…he needed to make a few test runs…but the thought of it made him miss their apartment which would've put him so much closer to the destination.
Maybe they should've waited until after the baby was born to move…but then again, where would they have put the baby in their apartment? Johanna had offered to stay put until the baby was a few months old; saying that it would be in their room anyway for the first several weeks…but he had said no; that the baby needed its own room and wouldn't be staying in their room. They had moved…and she was still saying that the baby would be in their room the first few weeks and he still didn't like the idea of it. It wasn't anything against their child…it was just that…their room was their space…and if the baby was in there for a week, it would then be there for two…and before he knew it; she'd be moving the crib in there and the baby would still be there a year from now and that just couldn't happen. He wanted one room where he could have his wife to himself.
Jim frowned; that sounded selfish…like he didn't want his own baby; but he did want the baby. He was anxious to see it and know what it is…anxious for Johanna to feel better…and yet he was starting to feel nervous about the whole thing. The due date had seemed so far away…and now November was just days away…the baby was due the twelfth…and that was if it came on time; his mother kept reminding him that Johanna could have the baby before the due date…and he just wasn't ready. The ticking of the clock gnawed at him once more as he finished his breakfast; had that clock always ticked so loud or was it because the house wasn't as filled as their apartment had been? Their apartment had been nice and cozy…their house that they had moved into in August still felt too new and strange to him…still a bit empty since their belongings from the apartment didn't fill up the spacious rooms. Johanna had fussed with things when they first moved in; promised to make it more homelike but as her pregnancy advanced and she needed to wrap up her caseload; giving their house that homelike feel had fallen by the wayside. He didn't blame her for that…she had to focus on work and prepare for the baby. She was tired and uncomfortable…irritable…decorating just wasn't a necessity at the moment.
Getting to work on time was though, Jim thought to himself as he shoved his chair back from the table; a flicker of anger stirring within him as he carried his dishes to the sink. He then stalked through the house to the bottom of the stairs. "Johanna!" he yelled.
"I'll be there in a minute," she called back.
"Come on, Jo; this is ridiculous!," he snapped. "You haven't even eaten yet and we should be leaving now. We're going to be late again!"
"I'm doing the best I can," she shot back as she appeared at the top of the stairs.
"Really? Because it doesn't seem like," he retorted. "I know you're tired. I know can't move as fast as you used to…but Christ, could you just try a little? Roche is being understanding about the lateness for the moment but I don't think he's going to do that forever. What the hell have you been doing?"
"Trying to get ready," Johanna said testily. "The dress I had picked out wasn't comfortable so I changed it. I couldn't get my shoes on because my feet are swelling and I had to dig around in the closet to find a pair I could wear. It's not like I planned it!"
"Why did you pick that dress last night if it wasn't comfortable?"
"I haven't worn it in a while. I didn't realize it would feel as tight as it did. Contrary to popular belief, I didn't do it just to inconvenience you. Believe me, I knew you were probably getting pissed off again just like the other day."
"Can you blame me!? I mean I come upstairs and you're just sitting there on the bed instead of getting a move on!"
"It won't happen again," she said tersely. "I'll get up earlier tomorrow."
Jim scoffed. "Right. Go eat so maybe we can get to work before lunch."
"We'll leave now," Johanna shot back as she headed in the direction of their office to get her belongings.
"You can't go to work without eating," he exclaimed.
"Why not? I've done it before," she replied; trying to quicken her pace to keep him from getting ahead of her…but the last few weeks she didn't seem to move as quickly as she used to. God she was ready for this to be over. She just wanted to have her baby and have her body feel normal again. She hadn't entirely minded pregnancy until these last few weeks when her level of discomfort seemed to rise daily.
"You can't go without eating; you're pregnant," Jim told her as he caught up with her at the threshold of the office.
"No, really?" she asked sarcastically. "I had forgotten but then you had to go and remind me."
Jim sighed; knowing she was slapping his words back in his face. "I didn't mean what I said earlier about you not letting me forget the fact."
"Yeah, you did…but it's fine. I'm just as sick of me being pregnant as you are…only probably more so whether you believe it or not."
"I don't know, it might be a closer race than you think; it isn't like I'm having any fun here either," Jim remarked; and then cringed…he hadn't meant to say that aloud. A sheen of tears instantly appeared in her eyes and he hated himself. "I didn't mean it."
"If only I had a dollar for every time you said that," Johanna replied as she moved to the desk and grabbed her purse.
"I didn't mean it."
"Sure you did," she retorted while picking up her briefcase. "I'm not stupid."
"Let me carry that," he said; reaching for the briefcase that was stuffed full of her files.
"I'll carry it myself; I'm not an invalid."
"Jo," he breathed as he picked up his own briefcase before prying hers from her hand. "Let's not do this. Go eat; we'll just be late…again."
"Oh no," she said with a shake of her head. "I don't want to make you late again. I'll eat at my desk and tonight I'll try on my clothes before I pick something and I'll try on my shoes too and then I'll set the alarm an hour and a half earlier and then maybe I won't have to listen to you complain every morning."
"I wouldn't complain if you'd just get up and get moving! Christ, Jo; there's no sense in this! You have one case to wrap up; I have a full schedule. I can't keep being late all the damn time because eventually it's going to make me late for a meeting and I can't afford to piss off clients with a house to pay for and a baby coming! Do you realize how much more money we're going to have going out?"
"Yeah, I do…because you remind me every waking moment of my life that I'm costing you a fortune by having a house and a baby in the same year…why the hell do you think I'm working up until my due date, Jim?" she asked, fire in her eyes and her tone. "I figure we need the damn money because you don't let me forget that for a single moment. I told you we didn't have to move yet if you wanted to wait."
"We didn't have room for the baby in our apartment."
"I said we could get a bigger apartment; there was one available in the building."
"You wanted a house…that's what you've always said."
"Yeah; I did want one…but not if it meant I was going to hear about the cost every day of my life," she remarked. "You make me wish we hadn't bought it; now let's go. I don't want to make the breadwinner any later than he already is…because he acts like his money is the only money that matters here," she said before storming away from him.
He dropped his gaze to the floor for a moment, silently counting to ten so he wouldn't lose what was left of his temper. How had this morning gotten so out of control? He didn't want to fight…and he knew how easily he could set one off with the way her hormones swung from one extreme to the other. Now she was going to work without breakfast…and worse yet; making herself work until her due date because of his obsession over money lately. It seemed like they had somehow gotten into one of those periods of bickering here lately. He didn't know if it was stress…or being tired…or nerves about the due date rapidly approaching…or the fact that life had been nothing but work, preparing for baby and settling into the house for the last several weeks. They hadn't been going out much…; their vacation had been a low key affair…there hadn't been much in the way of romance…they were in a rut and he didn't think it was going to get better any time soon.
That was a depressing thought, Jim mused as he left the office. Life felt like it was changing so quickly; he no sooner got used to one thing and he was thrown into another. He was excited for the baby…but he hated feeling somewhat out of control…hated to feel like things were changing in regard to him and Johanna…hated wondering if he could really get used to sharing his wife with a baby. God he felt stupid for that…but it had been just the two of them in one way or another for a long time…and now it would be different. That didn't mean it wouldn't be good…but it would take some time to get used to. He returned to the kitchen expecting to find his wife but the room was void of her presence and her jacket that he had laid over the back of her chair was gone.
"Jo," he called out as he pulled on his own jacket.
Silence greeted his ears until he heard the beep of a horn in the driveway. That flicker of irritation sparked to life once more. She was in the car…beeping the horn at him as if he was the one that had delayed them. He picked up their briefcases and stormed to the door; pulling it open and slamming it shut behind him, making sure that it locked it before he stalked down the steps of the back porch and to the driveway. Jim jerked open the back door of the car to put their briefcases in the back, noting that his wife was buckled in her seat, not bothering to even look at him.
"You could've told me you were coming out to the car," he said as he slid into the driver's seat and snatched the keys from her hand.
"Well you were in such a big hurry that I figured you'd be on my heels. I didn't know you were going to dawdle," Johanna replied.
"You didn't need to blow the horn."
"I don't know why not…you did it to me yesterday and I had an excuse; I was in the bathroom."
"When are you not lately?" he shot back without much thought.
"Just drive, Jim. Shut up and drive because I don't want to do this anymore this morning. I have a headache; my back hurts, my…"
"I know your list of ailments," he interrupted as he backed out of the driveway. "I hear it every day, several times a day."
Johanna fell quiet, emotion tugging at her and she knew it was irrational…she knew she was annoying…irritable and moody…full of ailments and no fun to be with. Some days she was surprised that he was still there…after all, she knew she wasn't easy to live with lately…and she had accidentally woke him up the night before. She sighed softly…it wasn't that she wanted to be miserable…she just was…and she didn't know how to make it better with the exception of giving birth…even though the idea of it was starting to make her nervous. The baby kicked and she rubbed her hand against her stomach; she was just going to have to try harder…or convince her baby to be born a little sooner…and she didn't think she was capable of either feat. She didn't feel capable of much of anything at the moment.
The car ride to work was silent, making it too easy for Jim to slip into his thoughts. He hadn't meant for the morning to go the way it had; she couldn't help that she was moody and miserable…that at this stage of her pregnancy most of her wardrobe was uncomfortable and sometimes she had to search for something else to wear. She couldn't help that her feet had some slight swelling which had forced her to search for a more comfortable pair of shoes. He glanced down at her feet while they were stopped at a light and he noticed that she had been reduced to wearing a dressy pair of sandals in late October. Her feet would be cold; he didn't want her getting a chill but there was nothing he could do about it at the moment. She hadn't had breakfast either…that would bother him all day especially since he wouldn't be able to take her to lunch due to their conflicting schedules.
He breathed deeply; he shouldn't have rushed her this morning…his first appointment wasn't until nine-thirty and she didn't have to be in court until ten; being a little late wasn't a big deal. Roche, who was a married man and the father of five children, understood and was brushing it off; telling him a little bit of lateness here and there wasn't worth upsetting Johanna over in her condition. He gripped the steering wheel…their boss was being more understanding of his wife than he was. Jim quickly glanced at Johanna; noting that her face was turned toward the window; her hand rubbing against the spot that the baby usually kicked in.
Jim allowed the silence to linger until he had found a place to park and had turned off the engine. "Jo?"
"What?" she asked as she unbuckled her seatbelt.
"I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For this morning…I didn't mean to keep harping on you."
Johanna shrugged; her fingertips curling into the strap of her purse. "It's alright," she murmured. "It's my fault. I was too slow getting ready and I should've known that those shoes would be too tight; my feet were a little puffy last night."
"We figured they'd go down overnight while you were in bed…you can't help that they didn't."
"Maybe they would have if I had been able to sleep more."
"You can't help that either…and I should've just came upstairs and seen what was taking so long. I could've helped you find your shoes."
"It's okay…finding them was easy; it was getting off the floor that was the hard part."
"Which is why I should've been there."
"It's not a big deal," she replied; her tone somewhat flat. "I can take care of myself."
He glanced at her. "What's that all about?"
"What?"
"The tough girl card…the I can take care of myself card."
"It's just the truth."
"Jo," he sighed; his hand reaching out and gently curling around her wrist.
"I'll be ready on time tomorrow…I promise," she replied; her voice tight with emotion. "I don't mean to keep making you late…or keeping you awake…or being annoying."
"You're not annoying."
"Yes, I am…and we both know it," she cried.
Great, now he had made her cry, Jim thought to himself; they were batting a thousand today. "Sweetheart, don't cry," he murmured. "You're not annoying and I don't care that you woke me, I know you didn't mean to…and you know I sometimes get uptight over stupid things like being late. Everything is going to be fine. I was just being a jerk this morning, I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault…it's mine. We took on too much this year and now you worry all the time and it's my fault," Johanna cried. "I should've never said that I wanted a house. It's just too much all at once."
"No, don't think that way."
"How can I not?"
"Because you know I'm an idiot," he exclaimed. "Come on; don't cry…I wanted the house as much as you did and I can't wait to see our baby," he told her, his hand moving to her stomach and being rewarded with a kick. "Please don't cry…I'm sorry."
She swiped at the tears on her cheeks. "I'm just ready for this to be over."
"Work or pregnancy?"
"Both," she admitted.
"Let Maggie handle the case and be done, Jo."
She shook her head. "I want to finish it…besides; what would I do all day?"
"You could rest."
Johanna scoffed. "Yeah right; that's just not in the cards right now. I may as well go sit in a pumpkin patch; I'd blend right in."
"That's not true," he said; his hand still moving against her stomach. "You know my mother doesn't think you've gained enough weight and she's sure the baby isn't going to be very big."
"Yeah, well she should feel it from my side because I feel like I swallowed a watermelon whole."
He smiled a little. "Well I guess next year you can dress the baby up as a watermelon for Halloween."
She gave a small smile. "I'd probably have to make it a pumpkin to stay in season."
"True…but we'll have the cutest pumpkin."
Johanna breathed deeply; her hand rubbing over her stomach. "A little over two weeks to go and it feels like forever."
"Not to me…feels like it's flying by."
"That's because I get to walk around looking like an escapee from the pumpkin patch and you don't."
Jim smiled. "That can be your Halloween costume."
"No, I'm pretty sure it's my every day costume right now," Johanna remarked. "As much as I enjoy our occasional stints as trick or treat babysitters for our nieces and nephews; I'm not going this year…I don't think I'd make it."
"Nobody has asked us yet," he replied. "We could always drive them around."
She shook her head. "I'm not in the Halloween mood this year."
"That's because you don't want to share your candy stash like you usually do."
Johanna shot him a glare. "Don't even act like you haven't ate half the candy in my desk drawer."
"Maybe one or two pieces."
"Maybe six or seven," she told him.
"What did you do, count them when you opened the bag?"
"Maybe I did, maybe I didn't…you'll never know."
He had a feeling that she probably had; she was possessive with her candy stash lately but he wouldn't dare say so. "We can go to the firm's Halloween party."
Her nose wrinkled in distaste. "I'm not in a party mood."
Jim frowned a little; she wasn't in the mood for anything. "Well…I guess we can get some candy to hand out to the kids in our neighborhood…I'm sure there will be some out trick or treating."
She nodded. "Yeah; we can do that…hopefully it won't be cold and we can sit on the porch."
It sounded like a boring evening but he gave a nod; it was only Halloween after all…but then again, it would be the first time they hadn't gone to the law firm party. "I guess we'll have to wait for the Christmas party for work."
"The baby will only be a month old by then, Jim; I don't know if I'm going to want to drag her out in the cold to a babysitter just to go to a party."
"So we're never going to do anything again?" he asked without thought.
"I didn't say that!"
"No…but it felt like it."
Johanna sighed. "Jim…can we worry about Christmas parties when it gets here? I know you like going to the Halloween party but…"
"It's alright," he replied.
"You can go without me; I won't get mad."
"Oh sure, I'm just supposed to go off to some party and leave you home alone."
"You won't be gone all night."
"I'm not going without you."
Johanna felt bad for not wanting to go to the party…for being tired and moody…for apparently sucking the fun out of his life. "We'll go to the Christmas party; I promise."
"We don't need to be thinking that far ahead right now; parties don't matter. I wish you would've had breakfast," he remarked, the knowledge still bothering him and it was an easy way to end the subject of what they apparently weren't going to do anymore.
"I'll be fine. I have crackers in the candy drawer of my desk."
Jim glanced at his watch; it was a little after eight…but his client wasn't due until nine-thirty; she didn't have court until ten. He put the key back in the ignition. "Put your seatbelt back on."
"We're already late, what are you doing?" she asked.
"Put your seatbelt on…we're going to go eat breakfast."
"Jim, I'll be fine; we don't have to do this…we'll be nearly an hour late by the time we get back."
"I don't care; I want you to have breakfast. We'll go to McDonalds and eat…and I can get a cup of coffee to take back with me because it's better than the breakroom coffee."
"Are you sure?"
He smiled; leaning over to steal a quick kiss before he started the car. "I'm sure…I'll even buy you a box of their cookies for you to have after court. I know how much you like them."
A smile tugged at her lips. "That would give me something to look forward to."
"That's what I thought," Jim said as he pulled out of their parking spot. Maybe he could get this day back on track after all.
Awhile later, after their breakfast had been eaten, Jim looked across the table at his wife; feeling like they were both a little more relaxed now than they had been. "How are you feeling?" he asked as she finished her orange juice.
"I'm fine," Johanna answered. "Breakfast was good…I know we're late but I'm glad we came."
He nodded, his hand finding hers. "Me too."
She squeezed his fingers gently; her gaze meeting his. "I didn't mean to be so cranky."
Jim shook his head. "Me neither…we just got started off on the wrong foot this morning."
It seemed like they found the wrong foot more often than not the last week or two but she refrained from saying so. "You know, a breakfast date has been extra nice since we can't have a lunch date today."
"You still need to eat lunch though," he reminded her. "I'm going to tell Maggie to make sure that you do."
"I know when to eat."
"I could mention our morning so far as evidence to the contrary but I don't want to start another fight."
"That wouldn't be very wise," Johanna replied. "But I promise I'll find something to have for lunch."
"I just worry about you since you're not very hungry the last several days," Jim admitted.
"The doctor said it was normal; I asked him."
"I know…I just can't help it."
"It's okay…I know you just worry that the baby isn't being nourished."
Jim breathed deeply. "It's more that I'm worried about you not being nourished enough."
"I'm fine."
"I want to keep it that way," he remarked. "But on the topic of the baby; was he happy with breakfast out this morning?"
She laughed softly; her hand moving to her stomach. "I think she has finally settled down…I think she might have gone to sleep."
"See that's why I'm sure it's a boy…he goes into a food coma after being fed…that's a Beckett man thing. We sleep better on a full stomach."
"Uh huh," she said lightly; "Maybe Beckett girls sleep better on full stomachs too because I'm pretty sure it's a girl."
"I guess we'll find out soon enough."
"Mhmm…and since you brought up costumes earlier I was thinking about what the baby's costume will be next year."
"Don't you think it's kind of early to be deciding on the costume?"
"No; not really…and besides, I'm only narrowing down choices. I do like the idea of the baby in a pumpkin costume…that can work for either gender; but if we want a more gender specific costume…I could have Grandma make her a little Minnie Mouse dress and find her some mouse ears; wouldn't that be cute?"
Jim smiled. "Adorable…but what about for a boy?"
"For a boy I was thinking about a little baby Superman."
"I like that," he laughed. "But I'm sure by this time next year you'll have changed your mind."
"Most likely," she agreed. "But it's fun to think about…and I can already see you carrying him or her through the neighborhood on the quest for free candy."
"Like you're not going to eat half of it," he scoffed; "And of course I'm going to carry him through the neighborhood…why have a costume if he's not going trick or treating?"
"I never said he or she couldn't go trick or treating next year," she laughed. "We'll have a stroller…but I know you'll want to carry the baby to the door and hold out the bucket for him or her…being a helpful Daddy who's anticipating free candy."
He smiled. "And Mommy will be the first one sticking her hand in the bucket when we get home."
Johanna shook her head. "No, you'll be the one sampling as we go along."
"I'd like to deny that but it's probably true," he admitted. "Makes me want to take rugrats trick or treating this year."
"You can go with them if you want; but I'm going to stay home…my back couldn't take all that walking."
"I know, sweetheart…I'm not going either. I'm not going to leave you home alone. But we better get ready to go now that we've ate and Baby Beckett has settled. I'm going to go get another coffee to take with us and get you some cookies for later; do you want anything else?"
"Get me some more juice," she answered. "I'm going to go to the bathroom before we leave."
Jim rose from his chair and moved to her side, helping her up. "Go ahead; I'll get rid of our garbage."
She pressed a soft kiss to his lips and then picked up her purse and headed in the direction of the bathroom. He watched her, making sure she made it to the door without incident and then he set about gathering up their wrappers and cups to throw away.
"Is this going to be your first kid?" the man at the next table asked as Jim emptied the tray into the garbage can.
"Yeah; it's our first," he answered.
The man nodded. "I thought so…when is it due?"
"In November."
The man shook his head. "Then you better enjoy your wife while you can, buddy; because once that kid gets here it's all she's going to think about. You're going to slide down to number two in her world and you won't have breakfast dates anymore…or any other kind of dates either."
"I'm sure it's not going to be that bad," Jim remarked; but a feeling of trepidation filled him.
"Yeah; I thought that too last year when my wife and I had a baby. Don't get me wrong; I love my son…but nothing's been the same. We used to do so many things together and now everything revolves around the baby and she hates to leave him with a sitter so we don't do anything anymore. Once a woman has a baby that's all she thinks about…so you better enjoy your alone time with her now and have as much fun as you can while you still have the chance because I'm telling you; your days are numbered. Once that baby comes; your life isn't yours anymore and neither is your wife. Take my word for it; I know how it is."
"I'm going to hope you're wrong," Jim remarked.
The man laughed. "You can hope all you want but I'm not wrong…you'll see."
He frowned; he didn't like the future sounding so bleak…surely it wouldn't be that bad. He had friends who had kids…no one had mentioned anything so dire sounding…but then again, he hadn't really asked around either. Maybe he needed to do that…he needed to demand answers from men he knew…and if it did indeed sound dire…well then he'd just have to motivate Johanna to be more open to having some fun while they still could.