They spent almost two months away on their honeymoon and when they got back they found the campus project complete, their house ready for them to furnish, and enough possible contracts to last them for fifteen years. They stayed busy but made sure to find time to spend together, and as their anniversary rolled around they were both ready to see about starting that family.
“Mel, you look very happy tonight,” Dwight stated. “It wouldn’t happen to have anything to do with the fact that your design landed one of the biggest awards out there, would it?”
“Maybe,” she replied and Jordan kissed her temple. “Or it could be because of having the most amazing husband ever and that it’s our anniversary.”
“I still can’t believe it’s been seven years Mel,” Alana stated, “and we’re getting ready to celebrateourseventh.”
“Seven amazing years,” Jordan said.
“Well here’s to seventy more,” Ford replied.
“Just seventy?” Mel joked.
“Well that would put Jordan at a hundred and two,” Tate said.
“Mhmm and our son or daughter at sixty-nine,” she stated.
“Sixty-nine? Oh my god!” Alana cried.
“You’re pregnant?” Nicole asked. “For real?”
“Very much for real,” Jordan answered.
“When?” Gabrielle said beaming with happiness at them.
“Our due date is,” Mel said pausing for effect, “November sixth.”
“But I say it’ll be the seventh,” Jordan added.
“So were you all trying?” Nicole asked.
“We’d decided to let nature take its course,” she admitted. “We were a bit surprised at how quickly it did.”
“Okay TMI,” Tate said covering his ears.
“Why didn’t you say anything before now?” Lori asked. “I knew you weren’t feeling well when we stopped by a few weeks ago.”
“We wanted to save it for tonight when we knew everyone would already be in the room together and no one would already be expecting it,” she stated. “If we’d asked everyone over for dinner or had Mom schedule something, you’d all know why, this way it was a surprise.”
“And it is a very welcome one,” Ford said.
“I agree,” Dwight stated. “Might not want to admit that I’m going to be a grandpa already, but I couldn’t be happier for you honey.”
“And I’ll be the first one to show him or her how to play pool,” Arthur said before laughing.
“What’s so funny Dad?” Tate asked.
“Well if Mel’s at three months now, that’ll make her about six for the tournament. Looks like I might win the title back finally.”
Mel couldn’t stop the laughter that flowed through her and when the tournament rolled around Arthur conceded with a smile as she once again won despite her burgeoning bump.
Her birthday was great, and she smiled brightly when the pizza arrived while the waitress looked on with surprise at their order.
“Nothing wacky this year, Mel?” Joan asked.
“No, we’re going to play it safe,” she said patting her stomach for effect. “We can’t have this one making too early of an appearance because the pizza scared it.”
“It?” Tate said once she’d left. “You’re seriously not telling me, your best friend, the person you tell everything to, whether you’re having a boy or girl? How am I supposed to buy the best present ever if I don’t know?”