Julia was sitting at her desk, trying to concentrate on writing out and completing orders, but her baby was not having it as she sat back in her chair and held her stomach.

"Well, aren't you impatient today baby girl." Julia said as Mary Jo looked at her.

"She's probably like "Mommy it's time to stop working and time to play." Mary Jo said.

"Well, we have to get these two orders done before Friday because remember Saturday, we're gonna get ready to design and decorate baby girl's room." Julia said as Anthony walked in through the the back door with his clipboard and papers for Julia to sign and Charlene to file.

"Anthony, what's this right here?" Julia asked pointing to what looked like an envelope sticking out of his jacket pocket.

"This is for you darling." Anthony said as he handed her the envelope.

"For me? Ooh... I wonder what it could be?" Julia flirtatiously flashed him her bright smile as she went to sit on the sofa.

Julia opened the envelope to reveal two tickets as she smiled really bright.

"The new art gallery?"

"You said you really wanted to go there and our first wedding anniversary is next month, I got them for the twenty-fifth of next month." Anthony said as Julia hugged him.

''Thank you darling, I can't wait to go.'' Julia said

''You're welcome baby.'' Anthony said as he kissed her.

"Isn't your anniversary next month?" Bernice asked

"Yes and the tickets are for next month."

"What is next month?" Bernice asked.

"September."

"Oh, I'll be glad when Fall comes." Bernice said as they all smiled.

"I think her arterial flow is acting up again." Suzanne said.

"Suzanne, be nice and she's not the only one who will be glad when Fall comes to Atlanta. It's hot as a dickens during summer and even though it's air conditioned here, I still sweat all my deodorant and perfume off." Mary Jo said.

"I have to agree with Mary Jo, being pregnant in the summer is no fun either. I still feel like I did when I started menopause."

"Except you're not crying every ten seconds." Bernice said as Julia smiled.

"I still don't understand how you got pregnant after menopause, it's still very confusing."

"Well, like the good saying goes: "God works miracles in mysterious times." Julia said as Mary Jo remembered the time she wanted to have another baby and she was artificially inseminated, but it turned out to be a false positive.

"Or that you still got what it takes to rock his world." Bernice said as the ladies laughed as Julia's face turned a blushful shade of pink.

"Bernice, we're so glad we have you because we would have received a scolding if we said that to her."

"Well, I work here too and Julia is just like a daughter to me, you all are."

"We love you too Bernice." Julia said as she could not wait till her wedding anniversary next month.

...

Later on that day, the ladies and Anthony were at a clients house, looking at each design she had picked out when Julia caught her flirting with Anthony as he was trying to work.

"Julia?" Mary Jo asked as she heard enough of the woman's flirtatious banter.

"I'm about to put an end to it."

"Thank you."

"Anthony, could I see you for a moment darling?" Julia asked as he walked over to her.

"I've asked her to stop baby, I promise."

"Well, I'm about to put a stop to it." I'm about to upfront and personal, because no one flirts with my husband on my watch." Julia said as she walked over to where the woman was standing as she tapped her on the shoulder.

"Yes?"

"I hate to bother you, but I couldn't help but overhear you flirting with my husband." Julia said as the woman looked at her.

"Your husband?"

"Yes."

"Why would he go and marry an old woman?"

"Maybe because the little tramps like you here in Atlanta were enough to make him give up on ever finding a woman so asymmetrical as yourself. I hate when women like you think you can get by with flaunting herself over a married man and honestly, I would love to give you more than a little piece of my mind, but I'm pregnant and I just don't feel up to it right now." Julia said as she felt her baby girl move around as she put her hand where she knew she was more relaxed.

"Wasn't he married to some woman who looked like a Tina Turner imposter?"

"He was yes." Mary Jo and Charlene were standing together as they looked at each other.

"Did she just ignore what Julia said?"

"Twits like her do that and for one, I'd let Julia sock it to her just this once."

"Well, she's not gonna do it this time ladies." Anthony said.

"And then to a woman named Etienne?"

"Yes he was. What does that have to do with anything?"

"He should have stayed married to her and left you alone and miserable." The woman said as the ladies and Anthony had heard enough.

"Hey! That's my wife you're talking to and what's your deal?" Anthony asked.

"You think sleeping with your boss makes you more special than all these ladies, she's just like a male version of a boss."

"First of all, I asked her to sleep with me and second, she's the best damn boss I ever had."

"She's over thirty five and pregnant too."

"I'm aware of how old I am." Julia said.

"Women have healthy babies all the time after thirty five with the right precautions." Charlene said.

"And what me and my wife do is none of anyone's business."

"You tell her Anthony!" Mary Jo said.

''Calm down Mary Jo." Anthony said as she did.

"If you want us to continue designing your home you will respect us and quit flirting with my husband, is that understood?"

"Yes."

"Okay, then let's get back to work."

...

After they finished the project, they decided to go get something for dinner as Julia's stomach stretched out.

"Y'all should see what Presley is doing right now."

"What is she doing?" Charlene asked.

"She's stretching out like her Aunt Suzanne." Julia said

"Another thing Julia, are you really going to let Suzanne enter her in a pageant?"

"Well, maybe one."

"I remember when Claudia was in her first pageant because Charlene sponsored her."

"I do too and I can't believe how long ago that was and now my baby girl is in college." Mary Jo said as she tried not to get emotional.

"It's okay Mary Jo, we'll just put Presley in a couple pageants to make you feel better."

"No we won't, she's Julia's baby and y'all know how much Julia can't stand pageants."

"Actually, ever since Charlene sponsored Claudia in Miss Preteen Atlanta, I always wondered what it would be like to enter my daughter in a pageant."

"You and I disagreed together that it was senseless, but if it made Claudia happy back then, what makes you think Presley would want to enter it in the future."

"I always told Suzanne that if I had a daughter, I'd let her enter in one."

"Really?" Mary Jo asked as Anthony eased up in the driveway and parked.

"Yes really." Julia said as they all exited the van.

Anthony opened the door for her and the ladies as they entered the house to find Suzanne and Bernice talking about something to do with fashion.

"Suzanne, on a scale to one to ten. How bad do you want to enter your niece in a pageant?"

"A ten." Suzanne said

"See Mary Jo, I know I said they were degrading back then, but seeing Claudia so happy back then when she entered Miss Preteen Atlanta made me really think hard of what my daughter would want in the future. I have changed a lot since that time and if my babies are happy, then I am too."

"You are the same woman who got up on stage and sang 'Sweet Georgia Brown' to all of Payne's friends and colleagues at his wedding, then woke up in his roommates bed with his shirt on."

"Mary Jo, like I said, I was going through a really big adjustment at that time and I know what I did, now I need to go find a fabric sample for the nursery."

...

Julia was browsing the store room for a swatch of fabric when Anthony came in and put his arms around her.

"You ladies make a man feel really special sometimes." Anthony said as Julia smiled.

"Sorry darling, but I did promise Suzanne that I would let her enter our daughter in a pageant."

"I don't mind as long as you don't become one of those pageant moms who judge everyone from the sidelines."

"I won't. Suzanne will do that for me."

"Ya know, I was thinking after everyone leaves, we could go somewhere and grab a bite to eat."

"Where?"

"How about The Southern Plate?"

"Sounds wonderful darling." Julia said as she kissed Anthony.

...

The ladies left that evening as Anthony took Julia out for dinner as they arrived, but he had more than just eating on his mind as he kissed her.

"Are you ready to go in?"

"Actually, I need to tell you something." Anthony said as Julia got a little nervous, those words never sounded good.

"What is it?"

"You know why I asked you here?"

"To relax, so we did not have to cook?"

"No, I wanted to know if what that lady said to you earlier had you thinking about me and the baby."

"Anthony, she did not change my mind about anything. No one can change my mind anymore about you, our baby or anything that we do. We both deserve to be happy for everything we have been through, we deserve to be happy just like everyone else." Julia said as Anthony scooted her closer to him.

"Do you remember when Mary Jo went to get pregnant at that fertility clinic?"

"Yes."

"Well, I know this sounds silly to say out loud, but when she told me about wanting to have another baby, I could not stop thinking about you."

"Well darling, we weren't exactly using protection on our honeymoon and even after, I know how you feel about having a child."

"So before we married, you wanted another child?"

"Yes and I believe we went over that already."

"I know, but I want to hear you say it again."

"Anthony, when Hayden died, before his heart attack, we talked about having another baby and wanted to, but after it happened and I lost him, I could not fathom the idea of raising another child without a father and Payne misses him dearly." Julia said as Anthony wiped the few tears that rolled down her cheeks.

"I know I'll never be Hayden or what you felt for him will never go away, but I promise to love you and our baby now than I ever did before and I could not imagine a better woman to have and raise my baby with than you Julia." Anthony said as Julia smiled.

"Sweetheart, that's the sweetest thing I've heard in a long time."

"Well, besides when we're in bed." Anthony said as Julia swatted his chest.

"Anthony!" Julia said.

"But what I said is true, I love you now more than ever and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you."

"And I can't wait to spend the rest of life with you too, now let's go get something to eat because me and baby girl are starving." Julia said as he came over to her side and opened the door for her.

"Mrs. Bouvier has arrived and she is accompanied by her husband and father of their unborn daughter."

"Nice work darling."

"Well, if my occupation as a lawyer doesn't work out then, I'll just become a court reporter."

"I could see that and I'll be cheering for you from the sidelines."

"You always do baby."

"And I always will darling." Julia said as Anthony kissed her again before heading into the restaurant.

...

They got home as Julia put on her new white lace maternity negligee as Anthony adjusted himself on the bed in just his briefs.

"Oh Mr. Bouvier." Julia said as she drawled out the 'r'.

"Yes Mrs. Bouvier?"

"You remember that dream you told me about when you became my partner here at the firm?"

"Yes, how can I forget?"

"Well, I thought now since you were my partner for life and we own the business together that we'd make that dream come true."

Anthony swallowed as he knew how Julia made him feel all tingly inside as he felt like he was dreaming right now.

"Except one thing baby." Anthony said as Julia was primping in front of their mirror in the bathroom.

"Yes?"

"You won't imagine a picture of Gary Coleman."

"Oh darling, trust me on this one thing, no one and I mean anyone, would ever imagine Gary Coleman over you. Don't worry baby, just relax and imagine me right now."

"I'd rather not imagine you, I did that for five years and now, I really just wanna come in there, pick you up and let me show you how I can make you forget your own name." Anthony said.

"Well, how about this for your imagination to run wild?" Julia questioned as she stepped out the bathroom and leaned up against the door way as the florescent glow of the candle lights made her glow as Anthony picked her up as he kissed her.

Her negligee hugged her like a second skin as it fit all the right places especially with her growing baby bump, he noticed that she was barely fitting her blouses she was trying on this morning as she decided to wear one of his with a pair of denim jeans that had elastic sown into the waist band instead of a zipper and button.

"You didn't have to wear this baby, you look just as sexy in my shirt."

"Well, I thought I'd wear this before Presley gets bigger and my stomach gets to wear I can't wear my clothes anymore."

"As much as I love watching you in those suits and outfits of yours, I do believe it'd do you some good to not wear heels and be comfortable.

"So, jeans with elastic sown into the waist of my pants and me wearing your dress shirts won't be a problem from now on.''

"No, I actually love the idea of seeing that, something about the image of you wearing one of my white button down shirts and a pair of jeans just excites me."

"Well, you'll be begging me to wear one of my skirts soon." Julia teased him.

"Charlene and Mary Jo said they would take you to go shopping."

"I know, but imagine me wearing a dress Charlene picks out for me."

"She had some really nice maternity outfits when she was pregnant with Olivia."

"She wanted to give me her old maternity clothes, but I'd weird about wearing them."

"Well baby, next weekend, we'll go shopping and buy all kinds of clothes for you and Presley."

"Sounds wonderful."

"Speaking of wonderful, I believe those pretty long legs of yours would feel great around my waist."

"You're right, so come here darling." Julia said as she laid down on her back with her legs wrapped around Anthony's waist.