Fugue # 59

There’s a hopeful, early-Donner-Party sense to a line like this (from Gene’s baby book):

"Don and I have been married for one year, and I’m expecting."

Paul reads on, aloud.

"The baby is coming next month. I’m excited but nervous! Don has been great. He rubs my sore back and my swollen feet. He even gets me ice cream and pickles when I get cravings! The nursery is set up. We painted it white with yellow trim, so it will look nice for either a boy or a girl."

- Too good to be true, Mom.
- What?
- You were like, right out of a movie from the ‘50s.
- Try ‘60s. I’m not that old, Paul.

She looks down to wipe her hands on her apron, and looks back up at him, wistful.

- What can I say? That’s how I felt. Like the whole world was an open book in front of me. I was in love with your father, and every day I loved the baby more than I thought I ever even could. I’d get butterflies just thinking about the day I’d get to meet him. Still do, when I think about it.
- Was it...
- No. It was terrible. Hard and long. And Gene was so sick for weeks. But then he was fine. And we started building our family.