8

Well, the drive to Seattle was probably worse than flying with a newborn. Every so many miles they were reminded what it was like to take this trip without hearing "when are we going to get there, who is this, who is that, why are we going, why haven't I ever met grandma and grandpa?" All were good questions but there was only a few times that backseat was silent. Finally when they arrived to Seattle it was about noon, and Marley became super nervous. "Could you pull over for a second?" Marley quietly asked.

"Uh, yeah sure whats going on?" Brian confused pulled the car to the side of the road. Just in time for Marley to open the door and nearly miss the car barfing. "I'm smart enough to know that you're too far along for morning sickness, whats wrong?"

"I don't think this was a good idea. We should just turn around and leave. They haven't even seen us since our wedding. It's not ok! Its all going to go to badly." Marley frantically exclaimed. "Brian, they never tried to visit and neither did I."

Brian grabbed Marley's hand, "Its ok, life happens. The point is that we're here now and I'm not about to turn around because I'm too tired to drive anymore and quite frankly I have some questions to ask and Jordan NEEDS to meet his family! So saddle up and lets do this!" Marley smiled, he always has questions, hes a lawyer, and he always has a point. No wonder he is so good at his job.

They turn up a driveway to a gate. "I think we're lost." Brian said looking at his navigation as though it was broken.

"Nope, just reach out and press 44382." Marley instructed. Brian reached out and punched in 44382 and the big white gate began to open. They drove up a small road to see horses on both sides of the road and a big brick house at the end of the driveway. "Welcome to my parent's house."

"Ok, What the heck is this?! You always told me that your family couldn't afford to even fly to our wedding. You had me believe that you grew up in a 'humble home'." Brian exclaimed.

"I did, this isn't the home I grew up in. My father is a very well known doctor. My mother, she works for the government. This is NOT what I grew up in. They decided that after I moved out and across the country to buy this house. I do not know what its like to have both parents home and not always at a hospital or at some meeting or ceremony. I practically raised myself. My parents did end up paying for their own flight out to our wedding, your parents probably never told you, its ok." Marley explained.

They hop out of the car and the front door opens, "There's my grandson!" hollers Dr. Samuel Avery.

"He's gotten so much bigger since the last picture you sent me." Said Sen Hailey Avery.

"Mom, I sent you a picture yesterday of him trying to shove two twix bars up his nose at the same time. There's no way he's gotten any bigger." Marley said condescendingly.

"And there's the happy couple that never even tries to visit." Sam said.

"And there's the grandparents who so willingly visit their grandson so often." Marley mumbled under her breath.
Brian grabbed Marley by the arm, "Don't, that's not a fight you want do you?" Marley shook her head and put on a forced smile. If she was going to spend 3 days she had better make the first one at least pleasant.

Marley grabbed the bags, only to have them taken from her hands by Brian immediately. Marley's parents looked confused then when she walked out from behind the car they noticed her large belly. "Um, what is this?" Hailey asked in wonder

"Well it looks like I'm pregnant again. Surprise!" Hollered Marley I figured I'd just surprise you. Since that's how all my news gets to you." Marley's mom rushed over to give her a hug. "This is definitely not how I expected her to react." she thought.

Brian nudged Marley and smiled. "See, so far so good, if not better than you thought. You chat it up with your parents and I'm gonna take a nap. Shouldn't be too hard to find an empty room in this big ol house."

Marley and her mom sat down in the living room and talked about school, Brian's work, Jordan, and especially about the little girl they were expecting. They just could not stop talking. They had so much to catch up on. It wasn't like they never talked to each other, they talked almost every day. Its just nice to talk face to face sometimes. Sam got called into the hospital for an emergency so he left a few hours after their arrival.

"So, how are YOU doing, you know with a 7 year old, a lawyer husband and school?" Hailey asked.

"School is out for summer, Brian is home every night, and Jordan, oh Lord that kid has me going everywhere and always keeps me on my toes. But I LOVE it/them. They just keep me going."

"Hows the pregnancy going? Any troubles?"

"Its much easier now that I know what to expect and no! Its perfect. Other than I didn't tell Brian for over a month and he flipped out because I knew and I didn't tell him."

"I would have flipped out too! But its okay, you told him and he's happy?"

"Of course he's happy, I was the nervous one. I wasn't sure I was ready for another kid I guess. I wasn't EXPECTING another kid at all. It was 7 years since my last one. Just kinda jumped out and surprised me."

"Have you thought of any names and are we sure its a girl?" Hailey said pulling out a tray of cookies from the oven.

"I want to name her Addison. It just has always been a name I've loved. I wanted to name her after my best friend in college. Not the prettiest but one hell of a friend. And YES its a girl. Its just perfect a boy and a girl!" Marley said then thought twice about licking the spoon covered in cake batter. "You know how hard it is to not eat this. The last thing I need is salmonella."

"That's not even a thing, its just what people say to keep you from being happy." Hailey said as she took the spoon from Marley's hand and licked it.

Brian walked into the kitchen right to Marley and kissed her on the cheek. "Glad to see you awake."

"How can anyone sleep when you can smell chocolate chip cookies being cooked." He replied

The three of them walked into the living room to where Jordan was asleep on the floor with the ESPN-his favorite show- playing. Brian picked up Jordan, "Looks like we aren't going on any sight seeing tonight." He took Jordan to his room and tucked him in goodnight.

Hailey grasped Marley's hands, "I've never really got to tell you how much you hit the jackpot with Brian. He just seems.."

"Perfect," Marley finished.