“She was my back up-back up plan”

“It looks like your plan is backing up like truck stop restroom”

“Helena, thanks for being here”

“Anything for a friend.  What are you doing here Shane?”

“Coaching Dana, I needed a second opinion for the article”

“Looks like we’re about to start guys”

     The 3 couples looked on as the instructor went through formalities and a brief explanation of what they would be doing for the next 2 hours.  She then went on to explain what each parent should expect during the birth of their child.  Using a very realistic looking female pelvis prop the instructor pointed to where the baby would be exiting from, while doing so a dummy baby was shoved though the props vaginal opening from the other side.  It was at that moment a loud unison “Fuck” was heard from the back of the room.  The instructor looked up from her prop to the source of the sound.  Bette and Tina sat with matching horrified expressions looking at the dummy-baby’s head sticking out of the dummy-vagina.  Next to them, a nauseated hunched over Helena gripping Alice’s shoulder who was holding her digital recorder to her agape, but for once silent, mouth.  At the end Shane struggling to keep a passed out Dana up right with her throw pillow peaking out from under her sweater.

     Tina opened the door to her apartment and flicked on the lights as Bette followed her carrying 2 bags of groceries.

“Do you think Dana will be okay?”

“Traumatized but she’ll recover, but I don’t think she’ll be volunteering to be a birthing mother”

“Okay wait right here I have something for you”

“Okay”

     Five minutes later Tina came out of her room with a gift wrapped object. 

“What’s this?”

“Open it and find out”

“When did you do this?”

“That day after the sonogram, Dr. Wilson made a print for me.  I had the picture frame personalized to send a message in big pink letters”

“Momma B?”

“Yes that would be you”

“Thank you …..  Thank you so much”

“Bette this is our dream and there is no one else on the face of this planet that I want to co-parent this child with.  You’ve been so amazing.”

“You, you are the one who is amazing”

“Then we’re both pretty amazing people, and our daughter is going to be an amazing kid.  Come here and give me a hug”