J.S.M.
When Daria pulled up in the driveway she wondered whose car was parked behind Stan抯. Looking at the tag, she recognized the vehicle was from the same county where Brad抯 family lived. Fearing something had happened. She rushed into the house. When she got inside she was very surprised to see Quinn and Brad sitting in the living room talking to Stan.
When Quinn saw her mom she stood up and went over to greet her. As they hugged, she said, 揌i Mom.?/p>
Hugging back, Daria was curious about why they were there.
換uinn. Is everything okay??/p>
Separating, the two walked into the living room and sat down. Quinn looked at Daria and smiled.
揈verything抯 fine.?/p>
揟hen please forgive the next question.?Daria said. ?I抦 happy, actually thrilled, to see you but what抯 the reason for this surprise visit??/p>
Quinn adjusted herself in the chair so she was barely sitting on the edge of the cushion. She knew she was going to be standing up pretty quick so she wanted to be prepared.
揙h, nothing major匞randma.?/p>
Daria just looked at her for a second. As the truth sank in, she could barely contain herself. Jumping up, she went over and hugged the now standing Quinn.
揙h Quinn. This is wonderful.?/p>
As they embraced, Quinn whispered in Daria抯 ear, 揑t finally happened Mom.?/p>
Smiling, Daria nodded slightly. She had been concerned. Brad and Quinn had been trying to have a child for over three years with no success. At first, Daria was afraid she had the same condition as her. While she wasn抰 her natural daughter she still had the Morgendorffer genes. When tests showed there was nothing wrong with her or Brad no one could understand why they were childless. Now that worry was a thing of the past.
Sitting back down, Daria looked at Quinn.
揌ow long have you known??/p>
揥e suspected for a few weeks and just found out for sure Tuesday. It was difficult not telling you then but we wanted everyone to know in person. So we waited until this weekend so we could fly in.?/p>
Turning to look at Brad, Daria asked, 揇o your parents know yet??/p>
Brad nodded.
揧es. Because we got a better price on the tickets we flew into the airport there. We told them last night. I hope you aren抰 upset they found out first.?/p>
Shaking her head, Daria said, 揘ot at all. It doesn抰 matter who you told first. What matters is that you two are finally going to have a child. So how did Fred and Diane take the news??/p>
揟hey抮e as excited as you and Stan are.?Brad said. 揑n fact they were so thrilled they had us leave there early to let you know as soon as possible.?/p>
揥ell I抦 glad they did. I抣l have to thank them the next time I see them.?Turning back to Quinn, Daria asked, 揌ave you told Grandma yet??/p>
As she shook her head, Quinn said, 揘o. We only got here a few minutes after Stan showed up. So we haven抰 gone to see her yet.?
揥ell she will definitely be happy to hear this. When are you going to tell her??/p>
揥e thought we would go over there in a little while.?Stopping for a second, she asked, 揝o how抯 she doing? Really.?/p>
Daria took a deep breath and sighed.
揝he抯 doing okay. Since she got a private room, the nursing home has been okay for her. She抯 still as sharp as ever and her strength has remained steady for a long time.?/p>
揝o how are you holding up??/p>
揙kay. It抯 been a real change to my schedule but now going by to see her before I go to work and on the way home is just part of the routine.?Realizing how that sounded, Daria corrected herself, 揑 mean it抯 not so much an obligation as it is a part of my life now.?/p>
Quinn smiled. 揑t抯 okay Mom.?she said. 揑 know what you meant. I hate seeing people abandon their families in a home as much as you. I抦 happy that you and Stan see her that often and I know Grandma appreciates it as well.?/p>
Suddenly Daria realized Stan had been silent this entire time. Turning to look at him ,she said, 揧ou抳e been quiet though all this. Is something wrong??/p>
Stan shook his head.
揘o I was just thinking.?/p>
揂bout what??Daria asked.
A wicked grin moved across Stan抯 face.
揑 was just thinking this will be the best Quinn Martin production since 慣he Fugitive??/p>
Everybody winced at the lame joke. Daria looked him directly in the eyes.
揝tan. I love you but if you EVER say anything like that again, I swear I抣l file for divorce.?/p>
Laughing, Stan said, 揧es maam.?/p>
To get everyone back on his side, Stan suggested they all go out to dinner to celebrate. They could stop by the home and see Helen then go to the restaurant. Everybody agreed this was a good idea and, after a few trips to freshen up, they were all in the car and on the way to see Helen.
Helen was sitting in her chair reading when she looked up and saw Daria standing in the doorway.
揙h hi Sweetie. This is a nice surprise. After you left I didn抰 expect to see you until breakfast.?/p>
Entering the room, Daria said, 揥ell I have a surprise for you that couldn抰 wait until morning.?/p>
Helen抯 eyes lit up.
揥hat is it??/p>
Turning toward the door, Daria said, 揙kay you can come in now.?/p>
When Helen saw Quinn walk in, she couldn抰 believe it. This was definitely something she didn抰 expect.
揝weetheart! This is a surprise. It抯 so wonderful to see you.?/p>
Quinn walked over and gave Helen a kiss. 揑t抯 great to see you too Grandma.?she said. 揃rad抯 here too.?/p>
It was then that Helen saw Stan and Brad standing off to the side. Both knew this was Quinn抯 time so they stayed out of sight to let her and Helen share the moment.
揌ey Ms. Morgendorffer.?Brad said.
揌i Brad.?Turning back to Quinn, Helen looked at her. 揝o what抯 the reason for the surprise visit??/p>
Quinn sat on the bed so she could be eye to eye with her.
揥ell we thought you would like to hear the news in person.?/p>
Helen was confused. 揥hat news??/p>
Smiling, Quinn reached out and took both of Helen抯 hands. As she held them she couldn抰 help noticing how frail they were. Realizing this wasn抰 the time to think about that, she smiled and said, 揟he news that you are about to be a great grandma.?/p>
This time it was her whole face that lit up. 換uinn! That抯 wonderful. I抦 so happy for you.?she said.
揟hanks Grandma.?/p>
Still smiling, Helen looked at Quinn and said, 揝o tell me all the details.?/p>
For the next several minutes Quinn told her everything she knew. Eventually, Helen asked if they had any idea about whether it was a boy or girl and if they had any names picked out yet. Quinn said they would know what it was in few weeks and did have a few ideas of what names they wanted but they weren抰 going to tell anyone. They didn抰 want to spoil the surprise. Helen smiled. She liked the fact they wanted to hold onto the mystery. It was something most people didn抰 do anymore.
Everyone stayed for a while longer but left after noticing that Helen was looking tired. Quinn and Daria kissed Helen and said they would return to see her in the morning. Helen smiled and congratulated Quinn one more time. As they left the nursing home, Daria asked, 揝o Quinn. Have you told everyone now??/p>
Quinn shook her head. 揘o. I need to tell two more.?/p>
Daria knew what she meant. 揥e抣l leave in the morning.?she said 揂fter we see Mom.?
Nodding, Quinn said, 揙kay.?/p>
The next morning Daria and Quinn drove north. About an hour later they reached their destination. Getting out of the car, Quinn got the flowers off the back seat and walked toward the graves. As she did, Daria stayed next to the car. Turning to look at her, Quinn asked, 揂ren抰 you coming??/p>
Shaking her head, Daria said, 揘o. This is for you. I visited them last month when I brought the flowers you sent for Neil抯 birthday. You need to see them alone.?/p>
揙kay Mom.?Quinn turned and continued down the path. Daria stayed there and waited for her to return. A little over fifteen minutes later, Quinn came back. Daria noticed she had been crying. After getting in the car Daria reached into the console and handed Quinn a small package of tissues.
揝o how are you??she asked.
Quinn blew her nose. 揑抣l be fine.?she said. 揑t抯 just so tough each time I come here.?/p>
Daria put her hand on Quinn抯 shoulder and gave it a light squeeze.
揑 know. I miss them every day.?/p>
Driving home, neither said very much. Eventually Quinn spoke.
揗om. Do you think the florist is still open??/p>
揑f they aren抰 we can find flowers somewhere. Why??/p>
揑 want to see Grandpa too.?/p>
揟hat would be nice.?Daria said.
Luckily, they managed to get back just before the shop closed and bought a small assortment. This time they both went to the grave. As they shared the moment they held each other tightly. After a few minutes they went back to the house.
When they got inside they saw Brad and Stan sitting in the living room watching a football game. Both men turned their attention away from the game to look at their wives. Stan was the first to speak.
揝o how did the visit go??
揙kay.?Daria said.
Since they had to fly back the next afternoon, Brad and Quinn left to get back to the Martins early that evening. As they got into the car Quinn hugged her mom one last time. As she did she whispered in Daria抯 ear, 揗om. I want you to come out when it抯 time. Okay??/p>
Daria whispered back.
揑 will.?/p>
As the months passed, Quinn sent pictures of her progress to both Daria and Stan. Each time she did, Daria printed them out to share with Helen. It was difficult to know which one was more excited at the thought of Quinn giving birth. Both Helen and Daria were anxious to know what their first (great) grandchild would be but Quinn kept her promise and said nothing.
Just like Quinn, Daria kept her promise too and three weeks before the due date she flew out to be with her daughter. As they drove back to their apartment, Quinn said, 揗om you really didn抰 need to come out so soon. I抦 not due for almost fourteen days.?/p>
Turning her head to look at Quinn, Daria said, 揥ell it抯 a Morgendorffer trait to deliver early. Your mother and I were both very early and you showed up well ahead of schedule too. I just wanted to be sure I was here when you needed me.?/p>
揥ell I抦 still going to work this week.?Quinn said. 揑 hope you won抰 mind being alone for a few days.?/p>
揑抦 sure I can find something to keep me occupied.?Daria said.
It turned out that Quinn didn抰 follow the Morgendorffer tradition and actually was several days late. The three weeks had passed with no sign of the next generation and it was time for Daria to go home. She wanted to stay but had to return to work in two days. As she packed, she looked at the clock. In a few minutes she was going to have to go to the airport to get Brad抯 mother. She was coming in to take up the watch. The airplane wasn抰 due for another two hours but since Daria wasn抰 too familiar with the city or the airport so she wanted to leave early enough to make sure she got there in time.
As she zipped up her case, Quinn came into the room.
揗om. Are you ready to go??/p>
Putting the case on the floor Daria said, 揑抣l be leaving in a few minutes. I have the gate number where Diane will be coming in.?/p>
揟hat抯 not what I meant.?Quinn said.
Daria turned to look at Quinn. Suddenly realizing what she was referring to, Daria escorted Quinn through the house.
揋et in the car. I抣l drive. We抣l call Brad on the way there.?/p>
When they got to the hospital, Quinn was immediately taken to the delivery room. A few minutes later Brad showed up and joined her. As she sat in the waiting area, Daria suddenly remembered Diane抯 plane would be landing soon Borrowing a phone book, she called a taxi company and arranged for a driver to meet her and bring her straight to the hospital.
After Diane showed up, she went over to Daria.
揝o have you heard anything yet??/p>
Daria shook her head.
揘othing major. Brad came out a few minutes ago to say she was still in labor but that抯 about it.?
Diane smiled and said, 揟hat抯 not uncommon for a first child. When I had Brad抯 sister I was in labor for over eight hours. I guess all we can do is wait.?
揌opefully Quinn won抰 be that long.?Daria said. 揕et抯 go have a seat.?/p>
Both went into the waiting area and sat down. After they were comfortable, Diane looked at Daria.
揑 just want to thank you for sending the taxi. It was nice of you to remember me.?/p>
揘o problem. I knew you would want to get here as quickly as possible.?Daria reached into her bag and offered Diane her phone. 揇o you want to call Fred? I抳e already called Stan and my mom but I thought you would want to let him know yourself.?/p>
揟hank you but I brought my phone. I抣l use it but let me repay you for the taxi.?/p>
Daria shook her head.
揇on抰 worry about the taxi. It抯 my treat. I was supposed to pick you up so since I couldn抰 leave here I抣l pay for the ride.?/p>
揑 appreciate that.?Diane said, then dialed the number and told Fred what was happening.
As it turned out Quinn broke Diane抯 record and didn抰 deliver for close to ten hours. After both Grandmothers got a look their grandchild each called their husbands. When Stan answered, he barely had time to say hello.
揑t抯 a boy.?/p>
揚(yáng)ardon??Stan said.
換uinn had a little boy. Seven pounds, eight ounces and perfect in every way.?/p>
Daria could hear Stan抯 joy over the phone.
揝o what抯 his name??/p>
揟hat抯 the best part.?Daria said. 揧ou and Mom are going to be thrilled.?/p>
That Thanksgiving Quinn and Brad spent the holiday with Daria and Stan. While Daria was in the kitchen preparing dinner she heard the car pull up. Brad excused himself and went outside to help Stan get Helen out of the car and into her chair. After they wheeled her into the living room she looked at them.
揌i Ms. Morgendorffer. It抯 nice to see you again.?/p>
Helen looked at him and smiled. 揑t抯 nice to see you too Brad. I understand we will have another guest for dinner.?/p>
Everybody smiled. They knew who she really wanted to see.
揙ne moment.?Brad said, and disappeared down the hallway. A few seconds later, he and Quinn came out with a small bundle. When Quinn got to Helen she kissed her on the cheek.
揌ey Grandma. I want you to meet your great grandson.?/p>
As Quinn gently placed the bundle in her arms, Helen looked at his face.
揙h he抯 beautiful.?Looking at him, Helen smiled. 揝o you抮e Jacob Stanley Martin. It抯 a pleasure to finally meet you.?/p>
The End
As usual, Daria belongs to MTV. This was written for my own amusement.