Chapter 10

I made it back to my lonely little house very late on Sunday evening and once I’d stored all the food Gladys sent with me, I fell into bed, exhausted, pausing only to set the alarm.

It felt like I’d only been asleep for 10 minutes when the alarm clock rudely woke me and forced my work week to begin. While in the shower, it occurred to me that I hadn’t woken to an alarm since meeting Gladys. In my head, that was yet another reason to love her.

With no time to waste, I finished age-old ritual of “the 3 S’s” (shit, shower & shave), got dressed, ate a quick bite and headed out the door.

It seemed there were a great deal more cars and trucks in the parking lot than normal. Curious, I found a spot and made my way into the building, only to be accosted immediately after entering by my manager, Gary.

“Where have you been all weekend, Jim? I’ve been calling and calling. Hell, I even drove over to your house yesterday, looking for you. Where the hell have you been?”

I answered as vaguely as possible, “I went out of town for a couple days. But I’m here now – what was so important that it couldn’t wait until Monday?”

“The ol’ man is dead”, he said voice, almost broken up. “His maid called 911 on Friday and they got him to the hospital, but he passed away late Saturday.” Answering my question preemptively, he continued, “Natural causes.”

I didn’t know how to respond. I had met the man a few times, but we never spent any amount of time around each other. Why would we? He ran the company, and I was just another rep in the field. “I’m sorry to hear that”, was all I could muster.

“Suuuuure you are buddy!” Gary winked at me and poked me in the ribs with a long, bony finger.

“Jeez, Gary! Have a heart! I didn’t really know the guy, but I’m not gonna celebrate his death!” I took a step away from Gary.

“Jesus Tap-Dancin’ Christ!” he exclaimed. “You really don’t know, do you?”

“Know what?”

“He left the whole company to you, man!” Gary blurted out. “You’re my new boss! Actually, I guess you’re everybody’s boss now...”

I looked at him calmly, but exasperated, “Gary, this isn’t funny, man. I don’t even understand the joke.”

He motioned for me to follow him, and I did so warily, through the building and up the elevator, drawing me along until we reached the executive conference room. At the table, four men in expensive suits were seated, drinking coffee and talking with one another.

Gary continued, “These men are our corporate lawyers. They were called in Saturday afternoon, when Mr. Denison was officially pronounced dead. They’ll explain it all to you.”

I stood in shock, completely baffled. To the others in the room, I might have appeared I was trying to rest my bottom jaw on the floor while standing.

“I’m gonna get back to the team, Jim. Let me know if I can do anything to help, okay?” Gary patted me on the back and walked out of the room, closing the doors behind him.

One of the lawyers took the lead, “Mr. Summers, my name is Ken Stockton, I’m the senior member of this legal team. As your friend mentioned, we manage this company’s legal matters. Please have a seat.”

I took a couple of stumbling steps and plopped onto the nearest open chair.

He continued, “The passing of George Denison, while tragic, was not unexpected. As you may know, he was in his mid-90’s and had been ill for some time. So, you might say his passing was a blessing, of sorts, he had been a great deal of pain and now he’s at rest.”

Still consciencely working to hold my jaw closed, I nodded, “I’m sorry to hear that he had a tough time at the end. That must have been hard on his family.”

Mr. Stockton nodded and continued speaking, “That’s where you come in, Mr. Summers. You are Mr. Denison’s only surviving relative.”

It took a moment for that to sink in, but when it did, my eyes shot to him with disbelief. “What! How is that possible? I barely knew the man.”

Ken forged on, “Apparently, that was by design. I hate to broach this subject in this manner, but you do know that Mark Summers is not your birth father, right?”

“Yes, I’m aware of that. My mother married him when I was still a toddler and when I turned 12, Mark officially adopted me. I remember the whole paperwork thing and having to go to family court and all that.”

“Correct”, said Ken. “What you clearly did not know is that George Denison was your birth father. After he and your mother parted ways, he promised your mother to never interfere in your life, except to provide child support money to her, until or unless she got married. Once she married, he began putting that money aside for you anyway. We’ll get to that in a moment.”

“Wait”, my brain still felt like it was full of old socks, “Ol’ Man Denison was my father?!”

“Yes sir. Your mother gave you her maiden name until your step-father chose to adopt you. Do you remember telling the judge you wanted to change your name?”

“I do. I guess it makes sense now ... I never knew where ‘Collins’ came from. I just assumed it was my ‘real’ dad’s name and that’s why my mom and I used it. But she was using her own name the whole time – well, until she married Mark.”

“That’s right”, Ken said, while all the attorneys nodded.

I shook my head to try to clear the fog of confusion. “So ... what do I need to do? You said I’m the last surviving family member and that must mean there are things that need to be taken care of ... I assume?”

“Actually, Mr. Summers”, Ken interrupted, “your part should be relatively painless. Mr. Denison had a complete and detailed will as well as instructions for his remains and assets. Would you like to hear the details of that now?”

Feeling overwhelmed, I responded, “I’m not sure what else to do right now, so I guess that’s fine.”

“Good. Understanding these things should help you get a better picture of how you fit in, Mr. Summers.”

With that, he began reading a very long list of assets and how they should be used, in the event of Denison’s demise. “I’ll provide you copies of all this material, if you like, Mr. Summers.”

“The estate, including the manor, the grounds, all vehicles and equipment to maintain these items is to be sold at market value, the proceeds benefiting the Arts & Sciences Foundation.”

I nodded my understanding, eyeing the large stack of documents with dread. How long was this detailed list?

“Mr. Summers”, Ken said. “If you’d prefer to skip the excess legal mumbo-jumbo, I’ll be happy to focus on the parts that DO concern you. Is that acceptable?”

“Su ... sure. That’s ... fine with me Mr. Stockton.” I replied with a thankful exhale.

“Right. Okay – Mr. Denison was the sole owner of the company and left the entirety of its assets in your hands. Obviously, you have the option to continue running it as is, reorganize it, sell it – whatever you choose. You should remember that this company employs almost 600 people and has operated with growing profits for more than 30 years! I would recommend not making changes until you’ve considered it very carefully.”

I understood and agreed with his assessment, “Yep. Makes sense to me.”

He offered a friendly smile, then continued, “Now – as to the funds Mr. Denison put aside, he originally planned to give those to you when you graduated college. But since you chose not to attend university...”

“So he was keeping tabs on me?” I interrupted.

“Well, in a manner of speaking. Mr. Summers, how do you think you got this job without a degree in earth sciences? Regardless, he continued to add to that allotment and, of course, interest compounded until just this morning. Mr. Denison declared in his will that those funds should be delivered to you, upon his passing. And since we’ve reached that point, I can present the check to you now.”

He placed a certified check on the table face down and pushed it toward me. I grabbed it and looked at the amount and ... the room ... got ... wobbly for a moment. Maybe more than a moment.

“This is ... holey moley! I can’t believe this is happening...” I muttered before staring at the check again, my eyes boggling and unsteady. $12.8 Million Dollars!

Ken brought me a glass of water and gave me a minute to collect myself. “Obviously, this amount of money can offer great opportunities – or challenges, depending on the man”, he said. “Again, I would recommend thinking through your actions carefully before making any big changes in your life.”

I was still dumbstruck, so I repeated my earlier idiotic nod to him. Every possible scenario I could imagine rushed through my head like competitors at a stock car race, accelerating while banging into one another. I folded the check carefully and put it in my shirt pocket.

“So, in short, Mr. Summers – at the moment, you don’t need to worry about anything. I would recommend finding a trustworthy financial advisor and your own attorney. They can help you properly deposit or invest that money as you see fit. As far as the company is concerned, you would be wise to let it continue to operate as it has. The executive management team have been briefed and they are aware of the current situation. It would be a good idea to sit with them briefly and let them know your immediate plans and...”

“How soon can I do that?” I asked, accidentally interrupting him.

“As soon as you like. We can have them meet you in this room within the hour.”

“I’d like to meet them all at the same time, if possible”, I said. “If the employees know Mr. Denison’s dead, they’ll be worried about job security – and that’s when rumors have a tendency to spread the fastest. If I tell the execs that I’m not gonna change anything, and they all tell their teams the same, that might help slow down the rumor mill, don’t you think?”

They all nodded their agreement and Ken looked toward a woman seated in the corner of the room, taking notes. “Diane, can you put out the announcement and make sure they all get here?”

“Yes sir, no problem”, she replied. She rose to begin the task and left the room quietly.

“Diane was George’s executive assistant for almost 25 years. She knows this place better than anyone”, said Ken. “She’s now your assistant, if you choose to keep her on.”

I didn’t even know exactly what an executive assistant was, much less how to find another one, so I replied, “She’s obviously very good at her job, so I see no reason to make a change right away.”

“Very good, sir. Well, if there’s nothing else right now, we’ll leave you to it.” Ken announced. They all rose and came to me to shake my hand, offering congratulations, each leaving the room in order. Finally, Ken shook my hand as well and said, “I’ll be back for your meeting. But while you’re getting adjusted to this new role, please remember that I’ll help you in any way I can – all you have to do is ask.”

“Now that you mention it, Ken”, I responded, “I could use the name of a good financial advisor ... oh yeah - and a lawyer.”

He chuckled, “I’ll come up with a couple good names for you and let you know after your meeting.” and he made his way out, leaving the door open.

It occurred to me that I should get to know this ‘Diane’ person. But mostly, I needed to apologize for not noticing her before. So, I headed out of the conference room and looked around until I saw her at her desk, busily working the phone. When I approached her, she still had the receiver up to her ear and held up one finger to indicate I should wait. While she finished her call, I took stock of her appearance. An older woman, probably mid-60’s. Graying hair, but well-styled. Tastefully applied make-up. Her figure was matronly. Her hazel eyes peered over her glasses and seemed to exude compassion. When her call had ended, she looked at me fully.

“Yes sir, Mr. Summers – what can I do for you?”

“I’m sorry to interrupt you, I just wanted to apologize for my behavior earlier”, I said.

“Whatever for?” she asked, seemingly confused.

“I was so shocked by everything happening that I didn’t notice you in the room earlier until Ken spoke to you. It was rude and I apologize”, I offered, truthfully.

“Honey, when I’m in the conference room, no one’s supposed to notice me. I’m just a fly on the wall. A fly who happens to be a great stenographer!” she laughed at herself. “So, I take it as a compliment”, she reassured me.

“Well, that’s not the way my mother raised me, so I’m sorry anyway.”

“Mr. Summers, you’re sweet to say so, but please don’t think any more about it.”

“Say, how soon do you think the execs will get here for the meeting? Do I have time to go downstairs and get some coffee?”

“Yes, but you don’t need to go downstairs. We have fresh coffee in your office, Mr. Summers. You can go in and get comfortable ... I’ll let you know when they’re ready for you. While you’re in there, make a list of any decor you want changed and I’ll get a contractor to come by later this week.”

“Wonderful”, I said, “I can already tell that you’re a life-saver.”

I stepped around Diane’s desk into what was Mr. Denison’s office – now mine. A couple things were immediately clear about the man who once occupied this space. One: He clearly wanted to impress his importance on visitors; Dark wood everywhere. Bookshelves lining 3 of the 4 walls. Floor-to-ceiling windows on the fourth wall, a huge mahogany desk ... and so on. To me, it was too ornate. Too dark and menacing.

The second immediate notion about the man was that he must have loved to smoke cigars. A lot of them and often, apparently. The stale smell permeated everything.

I found the coffee machine easily enough and settled onto the large leather sofa to sip while contemplating the last hour’s revelations. Regularly shaking my head and pinching myself to make sure it wasn’t a weird dream – all while wishing my mother and Mark were still alive to share this.

Sooner than I expected, Diane knocked quietly and stuck her head in the door to let me know the execs were waiting for me in the conference room.

I walked in to find 10 people seated at the large table, their eyes turning toward me. Mustering my courage, I began. “Let me start by saying this: To all of you who were close with Mr. Denison, I’m truly sorry for your loss. He was obviously a very smart man and surrounded himself with talented people and you’re all evidence of that.”

“Right. I’ll make this as short and sweet as I can ... Now, let me answer some of your questions before you have to ask them: First: No, I did not know George Denison very well. By now, I’m sure you’ve all heard that he was my birth father, though I only learned that myself earlier today.”

“Second: In the short term, I do not plan on making any changes in the company’s mission or staff. It’s no secret that we’re among the best in the business already and I see no reason to monkey with that formula right now.”

“Finally ... where’s Mr. Jenkins? Ah, there you are. I know you’ve acted as Mr. Denison’s VP for many years and I would like everyone in this room to know that I’m promoting Mr. Jenkins to President, effective immediately. That is, if you’re interested...”

He said, “Yes sir, I am” plainly and without conceit.

I continued, “That’s what I was hoping you’d say. I will stay on as Chairman, in case anyone’s interested - and I will continue to offer the company any expertise I can with the help of all in this room.” They all nodded, as if expecting it. “I assume there will be some paperwork that needs to be completed for this to be official, after which, I will be taking a sabbatical, considering my options and how to best exercise my rights within the company without impacting profits.”

“Now that I’ve got that out of my system, are there any questions? I’ll do my best to answer them, I promise.”

Everyone shook their heads and looked around the table at each other, seemingly satisfied with what they’d heard.

“That’s fine. Then ... I guess ... meeting adjourned?” I said without much conviction. They all rose and congratulated Jenkins, then made their way to me and offered the same. Afterward, they filed out of the room to leave Jenkins, Stockton and I to the detail-hammering.

I stepped out and asked Diane to come in. When she did, I informed her of the changes I’d made, letting her know Jenkins would use the big office and take over the Presidential role and its perks. She congratulated both of us, reminded him where to find her and left the room.

Over the next couple hours, Stockton guided us through the mass of paperwork that had to be completed for Jenkins’ promotion, as well as my role changes (from field rep to chairman/president to chairman). After which, I signed everywhere I’d been instructed to and I asked them, “So we’re all clear – I no longer take a regular paycheck from the company. I’m not going to be on the road anymore. I’ll get a quarterly earnings check and – this is important – I’ll contact you when I’m ready. Is that understood? If anything happens where you have to call an emergency board meeting for a vote or whatever, you can do it without me, if necessary. Long-term, I’ll work out some way to contact me, but that may take a while. Are we all okay with that?”

Jenkins and Stockton both assured me that the understood my short-term plan and actually thought it was well-conceived, for as quickly as everything had happened. Stockton provided me with the name of a private practice lawyer he trusted as well as the financial advisor he used himself.

I shook their hands and stepped out, handing the keys to my company truck to Diane. “Do you need a ride somewhere, Mr. Summers?”

“No thanks, I’m gonna catch a cab”, I said.

“Oh. Well then, let me get one on the way for you.” she offered, sweetly and picked up her phone to make the arrangements.

I spent the rest of the afternoon meeting with the lawyer and financial advisor who helped me spread the deposits of a percentage of the money (almost $3M) into different checking accounts and investing the remainder. From the lawyer’s office, I called the local truck dealer and set an appointment for the following morning, letting him know what I’d like to test drive.

With all that settled, I caught another cab to my house, stopping for a 12-pack of beer on the way. Once there, I stripped off my work clothes and tossed on some shorts and a tee shirt, heading to the back yard to enjoy some cold beers on the grass. Watching the constellations perform their crawling circle dance overhead, I marveled at how my life had changed so much in such a short time frame.

Now, how was I going to break the news to Gladys?

The next morning, I woke to the sun beating on my face through a gap in the curtains. It was still pretty early, but I had slept for more hours than normal. A lot more.

A slight headache was the only hangover evidence plaguing me. Not surprising to feel less than 100% though, since I’d finished the 12-pack and part of a bottle of Jack Daniels. Still, my happiness about the events of the previous day negated some of the post-drinking effects. Plus, I knew that I’d be seeing Gladys later that day, if my plans worked out. So, I had a goofy half-smile on my face as I rose and headed for a shower.

After a brief breakfast, I got a taxi to the truck dealer’s lot and after a short conversation with the sales rep, I tested the pickup truck I was hoping he’d find. It met all my requirements handily, so I had a cashier’s check delivered from the bank less than an hour later – and I was on my way to my little house in my new truck, simple as that.

I gathered about a week’s worth of casual clothes and my toiletries, packed them in the truck and hit the road toward Gladys, a song in my heart.

I pulled into the dirt driveway of Gladys’ cabin in the early evening to find a couple lights on inside. By the time I stopped the truck, I could see Gladys was already on the porch, her house dress backlit from inside while she pointed a shotgun in my direction. “I don’t know who the HELL yew thank yew are, pullin’ up t’ somebody’s house in th’ dark! Yew better git on out o’ here, ‘fore I shoot ya!” and she ratcheted the pump action one time.

“Hold on there, cowgirl!” I stepped out of the truck and put both my hands up, “I come in peace.”

“Jim? ‘Zat yew?” she continued yelling, presumably because she thought it made her look more dangerous.

“Yes, it’s me. I thought I’d surprise you ... looks like it worked”, I replied with a laugh.

She leaned the shotgun against the outer door jamb, stock down, and came down the stairs to meet me, pulling me into a bear hug immediately. “Oh honey, I didn’ ‘spect t’ see yew ‘til Friday night. Is ever-thang alright? Yer okay, ain’t ya?”

“I’m fine honey.” I assured her with a kiss. “But I do have some news that you’ll want to hear. Let me get my stuff and we’ll go inside, okay? We’ve got a reason to celebrate!”

Gladys nodded, “I got some news fer yew too, handsome”, she added, cryptically.

Once inside, we spent a few minutes smooching and hugging, then Gladys insisted that we sit on the sofa to talk. “Good”, I said “I’m anxious to hear what news you have for me.” But no matter how much I pressed her, she wouldn’t say.

“I want yew t’ go firs’, sugar bear. I’m jus’ about t’ bust wonderin’ what kinda big news yew got”, she said with a wide grin, her cheeks flushed with excitement.

So, I spent the next half hour or so telling her what had happened at the company. That the chairman was my birth father and had died, leaving it to me How I’d immediately decided to promote someone else to do the job and I was on a sabbatical ... and so on. I also mentioned that Mr. Denison had left me an inheritance, which was how I bought the new pickup truck. I didn’t want to talk about the monstrous amount I’d received, it just seemed like I’d be bragging about it, so I chose not to dig too deep into that part. Thankfully, she didn’t press for details.

“So are yew gonna stay here a while? Wi’ me?” she asked, hopefully.

“If you’ll have me.” I replied before kissing her cheek.

“Yew don’ know how happy yew made me right now!” she blurted out, a few tears forming in her eyes.

I held her closely for a few moments, then pulled back to see her face. “Now, what did you want to tell me, sweetie?” I asked.

“Well ... ya see ... it’s ... it’s a big deal, honey. Maybe even bigger’n yer news...” she began, nervously.

“Gladys, honey, you can tell me anything.” I pulled her toward me again, but she kept a bit of distance.

“Don’ git t’ huggin’ on me right now. I need t’ see yer face when I tell yew wha’s on my mind.” she said, making my nerves begin to jangle.

“I ain’t had my monthlies yet...”

I looked at her, patiently waiting for her to continue.

She could see that I was either acting dense or truly not following her, so she added, “I ain’t had my period, Jim. I’m late. It shoulda started las’ week, but never did. So I finally went t’ see Doc yesterdee an’ he tol’ me fer shore.”

My eyes lit up, as I was beginning to comprehend the situation. But before I could interrupt her, she offered, “I’m pregnant, Jim. Sugar bear, yew put a baby in me jus’ like I wanted fer so long.”

My smile seemed to be permanently etched on my skull and I couldn’t force myself to react in any other way, except to grab her shoulders and pull her toward me for a kiss, deep, passionate and long-lasting.

“So whadda yew thank ‘bout it?” she nervously asked when I allowed her to pull back from me.

“I think you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen - and I think our baby is going to be amazing – and I know I love you deeply.”

She let her tears flow down her cheeks, sobbing with joy.

After holding her close for a while, letting her cry out her happiness, I looked at her and said “Looks like we’ve got a REAL reason to celebrate now! Guess I’ll have to drink alone though.”

She laughed and poked me in the ribs. Over the next few hours, we alternated between long kissing sessions and discussing the possibilities of our future together. Sometime after 10pm, she decided we should retire to her bed. An idea I fully endorsed. “I wanna jus’ make love t’ yew tonight, Jim. We can take our sweet time an’ love on each other.

We did just that. Unhurried and unashamed of ourselves, we pleasured ourselves with each other. At one point, the clock caught my eye and I noticed we’d been at it almost 2 hours.

“Oh Jim, honey”, she said at one point, “I dunno how yer stayin’ hard ‘is long, baby. Yew done made me cum 4 times! I’m ready fer yew t’ cum inside me again, sugar bear. Give our little girl a dose o’ yer cream. ‘Sides, she’ll hafta t’ git used to the taste o’ her Daddy’s cum soon enough - might as well git started right away.” she grinned impishly.

That was all it took to put me over the edge, and I began firing everything my balls could muster into her greedy snatch.

Lying with each other after, she looked up to me and said, “Yew know what ‘is means, don’cha?”

I shook my head, “I’m gonna have to start building a nursery?”

“Well, ‘at too, I s’pose. But soon as Shawna finds out, she’s gonna want yew t’ put a baby in her too. I been tellin’ her an’ Sherry ‘at yew ain’t allowed t’ squirt inside ‘em ‘til I get a bun in my oven. Well, now I got one and them ladies is likely t’ git aggressive ‘bout it.”

Though I was too sore to get fully hard, my cock did begin twitching. Gladys noticed with a smile and looked directly at my dick, saying, “Not tonight though, tiger.”

She kissed me lovingly and asked me to lay behind her. I happily played the big spoon, pressed firmly against her tight rump and back, one arm around her so I could continue fondling her heavy tits. We drifted off the dreamland soon after.

Gladys was awake before me. Again. She’d already bathed in the creek, made coffee and was stirring up a fresh batch of oatmeal when I met her in the kitchen for a good morning kiss.

“Mmm ... good mornin’, handsome”, she said. “Yew oughta clean up real quick so’s we can eat an’ git over t’ Sherry’s place. I got a feelin’ yer gonna be one popl’r fella t’day”, she chuckled, “so don’ take too long.”

My mind was racing and loins were already stirring with the possibilities to come, so I wasted no time in my preparations - not that I was planning to lounge around in the frigid water of the stream anyway.

After a simple, filling meal, Gladys and I dressed and climbed into the new truck to head to Sherry’s.

We arrived to find Sherry on the front porch, clad in a simple house dress, smoking a cigarette and enjoying her coffee. She eyed the truck suspiciously until she saw Gladys and I clearly, then she welcomed us with a wave and wide smile.

“Well ain’t yew fancy? Drivin’ up t’ my house in a new truck...” she said as we got out and ascended the porch steps to join her.

The sisters hugged each other hello before Gladys asked, “Sherry, where’r the girls right now?”

“Shawna had t’ go down an’ register fer the school year an’ git ‘er books. Angel’s over t’ Jenny’s place agin. They’ll be back ‘fore too long, I reckon. Why? D’yew need sump’n wi’ ‘em?”

“Naw, ‘at’s alright. We need t’ talk wi’ yew anyways. It’s lucky th’ girls ain’t here right now”, Gladys said.

“Well, if this is gonna be a long discussion, we oughta go in th’ house so’s I can git s’more coffee. Yew want some, Jim? Gladys ain’t never liked it much, but I know yew do.”

“Yes, please”, I answered as we followed her into the house. Sherry refilled her coffee, poured a cup for me and a glass of sun tea for Gladys and we all settled at the kitchen table.

Gladys then told me to go ahead and tell Sherry my news first. I did so as briefly as possible, leaving out a lot of stuff, focusing primarily on the stuff that explained why I wasn’t going back to work right away and how I could afford a new truck. She was very happy for me, congratulating me several times. While she understood that I wasn’t raised by my birth father, she didn’t seem to grasp the fact that I didn’t really know George – that part was alien to her.

Sherry eventually began moving her eyes between Gladys and I, saying “So yew made it sound like yew got more news. What is it?”

Gladys shared her joyous news with Sherry, which prompted a chorus of high-pitched squeals and laughter and, predictably, more tears. After their tears had been dried, Sherry hugged me and said “I’m s’ happy fer my sister ‘at she found yew, Jim. She’s been wantin’ a young-un since she was a teenager. I know yer a good man an’ yer gonna take good care o’ her an’ my niece.”

Why did everyone just assume it was going to be a girl? There was no way to tell at that stage ... right?

“Looks like Jim’s gonna git ‘is wish”, Sherry laughed, “yer titties is gonna git even bigger, sis” she teased. “Yew been thankin’ ‘bout ‘at ... ain’t ya’, Jim? My sister’s big ol’ titties all swole up wi’ milk?”

I did my best but was unable to stifle a moan. Both women just laughed as Gladys came over and kissed me. I stepped out to the front porch to enjoy the remainder of my coffee and have a smoke while the ladies remained inside, making baby plans and giggling like schoolgirls.