Episode four

Four.

Since they were now expecting a baby, the Theodore's decided that they were going to live more in the moment and make the most out of this experience together. They weren't sure if baby number two was ever going to come considering how it took so long for baby number one to do so. Mr. Frank stopped his wife from going to work and he also created more time for her just so he could show her how much he loves her and appreciate her for carrying his child.

They both goes to visit the hospital together for her check up and to see how the baby was progressing. Mr. Frank would constantly surprise his wife with gifts and he made sure of it that she was being fed properly and having enough rest. Some times, he would come home early just so that he would massage her back and her feet and would prepare peanut noodles or soup for her as well.

They went on vacation trips to Dubai and las Vegas on few occasions as well. The Bakers were invited to join them so that it was going to be more fun for everybody and it would not only be about the Theodore's alone. Mrs. Frances Theodore would have Mrs. Patra Baker to talk to, have a girly chit chats with especially on topics concerning the developing pregnancy, few things Mrs. Frances Theodore needs to know about giving birth and motherhood.

While Mr. Frank Theodore would have a man to man discussion with Mr. Pablo Baker when the need arises and they do talk about the company too and various ways at which they could expand the business even more. They do talk about their families too and how they are glad that their wives were getting along and of course, they normally do play chess and hockey together.

"Do you know that you are such a lucky woman?" Mrs. Patra Baker asked her friend as she tuck baby Octavia in bed.

"Why are you suddenly asking me that? And what do you think makes me so lucky?" Mrs. Frances Theodore asked her with a small smile on her face.

"You have such a perfect husband," Mrs. Patra Baker said and just as if in cue, the both woman heard their husbands laughter coming from the bar area down the stairs. The men were busy discussing and sharing a bottle of champagne without their wives, obviously.

Mrs. Frances Theodore waved her hand as if to dismiss what Mrs. Patra Baker had just said, "come on, you and I know too well that no one is perfect in life especially not my husband." She smiled, took her glass of watermelon juice from the table in front of her, took a gulp and dropped it back on the table.

"I mean you two are such the power couples. Even if you both have a lot to do, especially a large company as F.F.T group of companies to run, you are always there for each other. To me, you guys are just perfect," Mrs. Patra Baker sat on the opposite direction of her friend. There was a bowl on the table and its contents were fresh oranges, watermelons, apples and bananas which was meant for the one who was pregnant but Mrs. Patra Baker didn't mind, she took out one of the apples and gave it a bite.

"You have to stop saying stuffs like this, Patra. You do know my husband and I are far from being perfect or all that power couple nonsense. We are just living our lives, we have no time for things like that," Mrs. Frances Theodore told her.

"Come on, do I not have eyes? I see Frances, I do. Your husband takes you to movie nights, he buys you gifts, he takes you on vacations, he follows you to the hospital for check ups, cooks for you, leaves work or sometimes reschedules meetings just so that he would come home to his pregnant wife and give her a massage. What more could you ask for? To me, that is perfection," she took a bite from her apple, "I mean, I wish Pablo would be as playful as Frank is to you to me sometimes and not be all about work, work and work! Can you believe he forgets my birthdays and our anniversary date? Even when I had Octavia he was barely around to show me any love and affection. The only good thing he did was to bring my mother all the way from Ghana to England."

Mrs. Frances Theodore didn't know why but she was laughing maybe because of the way Mrs. Patra Baker had said it.

"Your mother was around to assist you until the day you put to bed. She was there to help you with bathing the baby and all of that stuffs. At least your husband was able to do some thing as thoughtful as that for you so you should be grateful and stop comparing him to my husband especially since they are both different humans and are unique in their own ways," there was a pause and then she continued, "Some ladies would do any thing to have your husband right now because there are lots of women out there with husband's that doesn't come close to how thoughtful and loving yours is. So my dear Patra, be grateful."

Mrs. Patra Baker rolled her eyes and said, "still on a more serious note, I must tell you this. Frances, I am jealous of you."

"Should I say a thank you to that?" Mrs. Frances asked and laughed as she didn't know what exactly her reply should be. But she knew somewhere in her heart that what Mrs. Patra Baker said about her being lucky was the truth because she knew that she couldn't have asked for more. The only part that she wasn't going to agree to was saying that they were perfect. They weren't.

They've definitely had their bad days together especially when things weren't as rosy as it is now and they were living in fire city. It was a tough place meant for only the brave, smart and strong ones but Frances was able to grow up there without her parents. Her parents and two of her younger siblings had burnt to death in a fire accident that occured in their neighborhood while Frances was away doing part time jobs to support her impoverished family. She became an orphan just like that and happened to be the only surviving child of her parents. Then Frank came into the picture. He had only his father by his side as he had also lost his mother in a car accident. His father wasn't doing so well and so he also had to work and that was where he met the love of his life. They worked together in a restaurant and eventually grew feelings for each other. They were able to see themselves through college and since they were both intelligent beings, they came up with amazing ideas on how to start up their own sauce company. They took loans in order to make this happen and with the help of Frank's father and others who shared thesame ideas as them, partnered with them and so they were able to get to where they were today. They didn't stop at only making sauce, they eventually did progressed in having their own beverage company amongst others.

The struggle was real for the Theodore's but one would not know until they are being told. Aside that, they do have days that their conversations would lead to misunderstandings but they never fought because of it or make it obvious to others that they were not in good terms. They were good at settling their differences with a good dish or just talk it over and later come into an understanding. It might sound so easy if Mrs. Frances Theodore should explain these things to Mrs. Patra Baker but it was nothing close to being easy.

The women didn't get to say much to each other because the men joined them after and they all just had fun together.

---

In the master bedroom was Mr. And Mrs. Theodore all cuddled up under the sheets. Mr. Frank Theodore was caressing his wife's hair while she rested her head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. They both were like that for a while with out saying much to each other until Mr. Frank Theodore finally spoke.

"Sweetheart?" He called her.

"Yes, honey." She replied in a really low tone.

"What do you think about handing Octavia back to her parents especially since now that you are heavy with our own child? You see, I do not want you to be stressed out having to take care of Octavia and—" he was saying but she didn't allow him to finish.

"But honey, I have never complained about being stressed out. By the way, I have the maids to help me out with Octavia," she said.

"You might not complain about it but think about Patra too. She needs her baby by her side or do you not think so? I know we have adopted Octavia but that was solely because we just wanted to have a baby around so we would be happy and trust me, I see Octavia as a blessing to this family and this makes me even love her more. She makes me feel as if adopting her brought luck to this family and now we would be having a baby of our own. You are happy, I am happy but is Patra happy?" He asked her.

"But you are only bringing this up because our baby is on its way. What if I never got pregnant, would you have thought of Patra?" Mrs. Frances Theodore asked her husband.

"Actually, I only thought about it because her husband brought the topic up today while we were at the bar. I think they both want to parent their child themselves and we shouldn't be the ones to stop them from doing so. Remember, even if Octavia is given back to them and they might be her biological parents, she still remains our daughter and she is ever welcomed into this family. Also, I would promise you this she would not be treated differently from our child and she would not lack a thing so far we are alive. She will be given equal privilege with our daughter." Mr. Frank assured her.

After he had said that, Mrs. Frances Theodore had to listen to her husband after all, he was the head of the family.

"We haven't even thought of a name for our child," he said to break the silence that ensued afterwards.

"We don't even know what sex the baby is yet," his wife told him.

"Yeah, right. But what if it is a boy, what would you like his name to be?" Mr. Frank Theodore asked his wife.

"Daniel. I think Daniel would do." She replied.

He shook his head, "alright. And if it is a girl?"

"Tasha." She replied without hesitation. It seemed like she had already figured it out herself before now.

"Your late mother's name?" He asked her.

"Yea.. I have always wanted my child to bare my late mother's name. Is that okay by you?" She asked him.

Mr. Frank took his wife's hand and kissed it, "anything you want my sweetheart."

She smiled and said to him, "I am so lucky to have you." And kissed him.

After that conversation, it was time for them to go to bed so they turned off the lights.

The following week was full of activities for the Theodore's family. They went for Maternity photoshoots, they bought a pent house and also decorated and furnished their baby's room. Mother's Day came along the line and so Mr. Frank gifted his wife with a gold necklace with a pendant that had her name on it as a mother's Day gift and also took her out for shopping as an appreciation for carrying his baby. These were the words he had said to her that day, "to the woman I know would be the best mother in the world. My trophy wife."

They bought new unisex clothes for the baby and a lot of toys and finally, they decided that it was time to go to the hospital for a scan.

It was then they found out that they were expecting a female child.