Adopted

Chapter 24

Today was April 8th. Just one more week for the baby's due date. And it was just the perfect spring day – the weather was warm, the flowers were blooming, the birds were singing. Valeria sat quietly on the rocking chair in the back yard of the house and read her book. From time to time she rubbed her belly, feeling he's moving quite a lot in there, though she didn't think it was wrong.

She continued reading when suddenly she heard somebody knocking on the glass door that leads to the yard. She turned her head and saw Alexander in his Sportacus outfit.

"Hey!" she greeted him.

"Hi!" he said opening the door and coming to the yard.

"The kids wanted to play soccer, and so I just came back here to take Stephanie's ball and also check on you a little." He said as he came closer, rubbed her belly and kissed her.

"Aww, thank you! That's nice." She said and he bent down next to her, still with his hand on her belly.

"So is everything ok? Is he behaving well?" he laughed.

"Yes, he is." She laughed too, "Although he's moving a lot today."

"Oh, really? So just tell him to stop bothering you or I will go down there, ok?" he laughed again, stood up, and kissed her and her belly.

"Ok, I will." She laughed, "Have fun!!" she told him as he walked away and continued reading her book, when the baby kicked again.

"Didn't you hear what your father said? You should calm down a little." She laughed.

*****

In the afternoon, Valeria talked to her parents on the phone. Jorge and Alison came from Miami and now staying at Daniel and Mandy's place for the month so they can be there when the baby will come.

"Hey, mom!"

"Hey, sweetie! It's so great to hear you voice, how are doing?" Alison asked her from the other side of the phone.

"For a 9-months-pregnant, I'm feeling good." Valeria laughed.

"So how's papi doing there?" she asked her mother.

"Ugh, he just can't stop playing with Sean! It's amazing how in a minute he can turn on his 'grandpa-mood' and just play with him all the time." Alison laughed.

"I know. I really want to see him doing the same with Stephanie and Matias. You guys should visit us a lot more now." Valeria smiled.

"Oh, and we will! I mean, it's exciting every time all over again when you find out that you have a new grandchild. I mean, first Sean, now Matias. Even when you found Stephanie, it felt like the day you gave birth to her. And I'm sure that your father will turn on his 'grandpa-mood' right when he'll hear that Matias is born!" Alison told her daughter.

"Although that whenever he plays with him, he doesn't want to let him go, and I'm afraid that when the baby will be here he will try to take him with him back to Miami!" Valeria chuckled at the thought.

"Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on him. Now go and rest, you really need it now, because next week you won't get any rest at all." Alison told her.

"Ok, mom, I will. Bye. I love you."

"Bye, sweetie. I love you too."

They both hung up the phones and Valeria did as her mother asked her to do, and went upstairs to rest.

*****

At the evening, after dinner, Alexander, Stephanie and Valeria were sitting in the living room. Alexander - who hasn't changed his Sportacus uniforms to his regular clothes - and Stephanie were playing a cards game, and Valeria sat on the couch next to them and watched the TV – when she felt some pain.