"Okay." Maryl's eyes began to glitter with excitement. "I have this idea. You know that Janelle wants me to make her and Jerry a complete set of dinnerware for their wedding."

The pottery cla.s.s had been a lot of fun, but it was Maryl who had turned out to have a knack for it. Actually, it was far more than a knack. She had a real gift and had been taking more cla.s.ses and working with professional potters ever since. Robin's favorite piece was the large bowl on the coffee table that held all of the river stones Maryl had left for her almost a year before. "I remember."

"Well, Maureen and s.h.i.+ne called me the other day and they want a set, too."

Robin grinned for her lover. "That's great, honey."

"They want to pay me."

"That's a good thing, right?"

"Yeah." Maryl became serious. "My idea is that I'm thinking about doing it full-time. I think I can make a living at it. Maybe."

Robin thought it over quickly. They didn't really need Maryl's income. Between the two of them, they were saving almost as much as Maryl made towards the buying of a house. If Maryl quit working, their savings wouldn't grow as fast unless Maryl did well with the pottery. Considering how good she was, it seemed like a good bet. Even if she didn't, they could live well enough without the second income. It might take a little longer to save up the house money, but Robin wasn't in a real hurry for it anyway. "Where will you sell it?"

"There are a lot of craft stores around here. I could start there. I could even do some of the craft fairs and see how that works out. I'd need to get a kiln and a place to work of my own. It means quitting my job though. You'd have to support us until I get on my feet."

Robin nodded sagely. She wasn't really seeing a down side to any of this.

"We might have to use some of the house money to get me started."

"Okay."

Maryl looked surprised. "Okay? Just like that?"

Robin grinned. "Just like that."

"You don't even want to argue about it first?"

"Nope. I know how good a potter you are. In a couple of years I'll be able to retire and lay around eating bon bons and getting fat. Would you still love me if I were fat?"

"Sure. Would you love me if I were fat?"

Robin squeezed the round globes of Maryl's a.s.s with a salacious leer. "Oh, yeah."

"Good. Because I want to have a baby with you."

"You do, huh?"

"Yes," Maryl nodded smugly. "Now."

Robin froze. "Now? But...how? Who?"

"Don't worry," Maryl laughed. "Your mother is handling it."

"My mother?" She heard the screech in her voice and could do nothing to stop it.

Maryl scooted up and placed a kiss on Robin's shocked lips. "Don't worry about a thing, sweetie. Your mother and I have it all worked out."

Robin sputtered for a moment and then took a deep calming breath. She had always wanted children and Maryl would be a great mother. That was not an issue. It was the fact that it was being decided without her input. She looked into Maryl's eyes and saw the hope and fear there. Suddenly she understood. She had a choice. Just not the control. This must be what it had been like for her brothers. Everything going along just fine and then suddenly there was going to be a baby. Whether it was true or not, they must have felt that they didn't have any control either. Especially once their mother got involved. She realized that she didn't have to be in control to be happy about it.

Robin rolled Maryl over and leaned down to lay her head on the flat belly. A sense of wonder began to invade her. "We're going to have a baby. I'm going to be a mommy."

Small hands began combing through Robin's hair and she smiled in perfect contentment. "We're going to be a family."

THE END.

So ends my second story. Hope you enjoyed the ride.