With April nearing its end now, the Winter weather was properly banished. As the warm Spring now properly arrived. Currently, for Joseph Patten, it was a Friday Lunch break. And he was currently having his lunch alongside Molly Rhoer Wayne, who was now just over four months pregnant. And it was really showing now, as the ‘baby bulge’ pressed out against her dress, stretching the fabric, and clearly wouldn’t fit in another few weeks.
Truth be told, he was glad. After everything that she and George had been through, some of which - he admitted to himself - he’d been responsible for, they deserved some real joy in their lives. And with kids - cubs as they called them - on the way, they would be sure of that. Which brought up a few things…
“Say? Have you thought of their names yet Molly?” He asked her, referring to the cubs she was carrying.
“No, not yet, but with one boy and one girl on they way…” She replied.
“Oh. Well congratulations for the twins then.” He hadn’t known how many she was carrying until just that moment. “But I’ll have to confess, good names for them won’t be my strong suit, but there should be plenty of websites to help if you Google it.” Referring to the fact that the basics could be put into the Google Search Engine and usually found on the first page. A fact which Molly knew quite well herself.
“I know that. But something worries me. About George.”
“Oh? What?” He asked her, concerned.
“Graber and Larceny. If their trial is at the wrong time, he could be forced to testify in Washington State while I’m giving birth.”
“Ah, that would suck.” Being made to miss your own children’s births was something he knew would be very painful for any parent to-be. “That may happen, though I hear sometimes provisions for special circumstances are allowed. Officer Howard would know more though, you’d need to ask him about it. In any case, given the time it can take to get such things to trial, he may not need to go until mid to late July to testify. I’m afraid that’s all the help I can give right now.”
“It’s okay. We’ll work it out when the time comes.” She seemed a little more relieved in any case. “In any case,” She began, to change the subject, “How are Clemens and Jenny?”
“They’re actually doing rather well.” Joseph responded. “They’re engaged now, and have been for a few days. They’re looking at the end of August to tie the knot.”
“Really!?” This definitely had her attention.
“Yes. And they said they’ll try to be here for the end of July to the beginning of August when they visit.” Happier now that the topic had moved on to more pleasant things. “In any case, they’ll let me know more when they got the details figured out.”
“I’ll be looking forward to it. And…hmm?” She leaned forwards slightly, placing a paw-like hand over her swelling belly.
“Something wrong?” His concern was back.
“No, they just kicked, that’s all.” She replied, sitting back again.
“Ah, well they’re clearly getting active then.”
The remainder of the Lunch Break was mainly this, with other talks with the other teachers and staff about a number of items. Still, Patten did think about George, Molly, Clemens and Jenny. After what they’d all been through the last up to two and a half years. They did deserve some real joy. And, they were getting it.