G IV: Chapter 7

Just a few days later the family hosted Daphne's funeral. Dylan was the first to arrive, before Brian even changed clothes. He came right in and spotted Brian across the room. The look they shared was full of anguish, despair and understanding.

Many guests came and offered their support and condolences.

Rachel brought Jennifer out to meet some people, and mingle. She was just a baby and didn't really understand what was happening but Rachel thought it would be nice for the little one to be around others. Pretty quickly though, she became over stimulated and Brian put her down for a nap.

He hesitated for just a moment when she reached up to him and said "Gamma?"

Brian frowned. He wasn't sure how to tell her. "Not tonight honey, not tonight."

He went back out to the guests, but the service was coming to a close. Everyone wished the family well and left for their own homes. It wasn't too long before Brian and Rachel were in bed for the night.

The very next day Brian took his mother to the family cemetery to lay next to her late husband and only love. He did want her to be beside him, and rest peacefully - but in addition to that, he couldn't bear to see the urn in the house, it hurt too much.

He stood for a moment with Jennifer after he set up Daphne's tombstone. The two of them spent about an hour at the cemetery before they walked home.

Time passed as the family adapted to life without Daphne. One afternoon Rachel was playing chess after a day of work, and watching Jennifer play on the floor with her doll she'd named "Patches". She was hit with a wave of nausea, but it subsided. She thought it odd, but went back to playing chess. She couldn't think for more than four seconds before another wave struck, this one much stronger than the first.

Her feet hit the floor and she took off to the nearest toilet to unload her lunch.

When she came back, she decided to give up on the chess and teach Jennifer to talk. She was really good already, but she had a few more lessons to go. She wanted very much to tell Jennifer of her suspicions of pregnancy but she knew that Jennifer would say something to her daddy. Since Rachel wasn't positive yet she didn't want that to happen.

A few weeks later she had to dress in her sweats again and it was confirmed that she was expecting again. She also couldn't wait to tell Brian. She mulled over how she was going to present this fact while she worked in the garden.

"You know, you look sexy picking fruits." Brian said from behind Rachel.

Rachel jumped up. Then she smiled and blushed. "Do I?"

Brian walked up to her. For some reason she looked different to him, then he pinpointed it. "Why are you wearing those clothes?"

"Well honey, I couldn't fit into my normal ones. I've been growing you see. We're pregnant again." She grinned at her husband.

"Wow, honey, great! When did.... Oh wait never mind I remember the unplanned fun."

Rachel giggled and blushed again. "Yes, normally we protected ourselves, but you surprised me that day. Anyway, I'm in my second trimester so we have a little while to go. Go ahead to work honey, and spread the news to your friends if you wish. I'm going to make some calls. Jennifer's birthday is coming up and I'm planning a party."

Brian did as he was told, his day considerably brighter.

Rachel stepped inside to find Jennifer sitting by the chessboard playing with Patches again. She smiled at her little girl and picked up her cell phone. This wasn't going to be a big party, just Johanna and Dylan were going to be invited. Jennifer was still young, she didn't know anyone but her family yet.

Dylan and Johanna both accepted the invitation to the birthday as long as it was a pool party. Rachel laughed and agreed that it could be.