Remaining quiet about the baby for five weeks was not an easy task. Effie had moved in and was instrumental in finally getting the household staff in place. As much as Nola and Quint hated to see the children go back to school, it did make keeping the secret much easier. The arrangements for the renewal ceremony were in the final stages, and Nola couldn't remember having to deal with so many details since Vanessa insisted they do a "Coming Out" party for Anastasia several years earlier.

The CVS testing was scheduled the following day in Chicago. Nola had been seeing the doctor every week since she found out she was pregnant, and thus far everything was going well. In the past week, they had also been scheduled with a genetic counselor to go over all the possibilities and risk statistics, as well as the options in the event that there was a significant problem with the baby. They were also fully informed about the risks related to the procedure, but the Chicago clinic was definitely the best place in the area and one of the best places in the country for this testing

Nola approached Quint in the study the day before she went in for the test, so they could finalize their plans and be prepared in the event of the worst.

Nola suggested in a serious tone, "Quinton, we need to decide before we go in there what we want to do if things don't come back as we hope."

Quint pushed aside all of his work, "What are your feelings?"

"I've thought a lot about this," Nola sighed. "I've always been pro-choice, but it certainly feels a lot different when it's your own baby."

"I know, I've been struggling with the same thing," Quint admitted.

"I want this baby so badly and have wanted it for years, but at our age, I'm not sure it would it be fair to bring a special needs child into the world."

Quint added, "I've been thinking about that, and I think it depends on what the problem is."

"I agree. I have thought a lot about this, and I think it hinges on whether or not the child would be able to care for itself. If so, then I say we go for it and have a beautiful baby, but if it is a child that requires continuous care for the rest of its life, then how can we do that?"

"I would be willing to do whatever it takes," Quint clearly stated.

"And so would I, but we won't be here forever, and when the child is 20 and 30, you can do the math. I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving the responsibility to Stacey and AJ who'll hopefully have their own families. I just wouldn't trust a non-family member to do right by a special child."

Quint confessed that he hadn't thought of that.

Nola moved behind the desk where Quint was sitting, "I've hardly been able to think of anything else. We should be hopeful and wait to see what the results are? But I think we're in agreement on the plan?"

Quint nodded then uttered emotionally, "I want everything to be okay with our baby, Nola. We waited so long for her."

"You called the baby a 'her'," Nola acknowledged with a smile. "Do you know something that I don't?"

"Huh?" he chuckled. "I suppose that I have been thinking of the baby as a girl."

"Me too," she had to admit.

Nola slept restlessly that night before the procedure. She had been so devastated by the loss of Beatrice and knew of the significant risks that faced them in getting a healthy and happy baby in six months. It had been hard for her to not allow herself to get emotionally attached to this baby, especially since she already was seeing and feeling changes in her body. She and Quint decided to stay the night at the Four Seasons in Chicago, since the appointment was early in the morning. They both hoped that they would not have to make any difficult decisions and that everything would be perfect with their unborn baby. When she finally fell asleep, anxiety dreams tormented her until she saw a familiar child in her dream. She did not recognize her at first, as she was at a distance and kept turning away. Nola stared at the enchanting child and finally recognized her as Beatrice. Beatrice appeared to be very engrossed in something. Nola tried to move closer to her and then realized Beatrice was watching something.

Off further in the distance, she spotted what Beatrice was looking at. She was watching a flaxen haired toddler playing in a beautiful garden. The toddler was still unsteady on its small feet, but was so carefree and the garden was lush and green. Then she noticed that there was a white gazebo that the toddler kept running toward. Beatrice watched the child with care, but never called to or tried to speak to the child. Beatrice seemed to will the child to stay in the safety of the garden. Nola could not make out if the child was a little girl or a little boy. But the fair hair shone brilliantly in the sunshine, and when the child turned around Nola noticed the same brilliant blue eyes that Beatrice had; Quint's eyes. Nola approached Beatrice from behind and quietly called out her name. At first, Beatrice did not seem to hear Nola as she was so intensely focused on the child, but then she finally turned around.

"Mama?" she gasped.

"Yes, what are you doing so intently?" Nola asked.

"I'm watching her," Beatrice replied matter-of-factly, looking off toward the playing child.

"Watching her? Who?"

"I'm watching my baby sister, until she's ready to go to you."

"That's your baby sister?" Nola said in confusion. This time when she looked over to the child, she could clearly see the little girl in a pretty pink and white floral dress, stumbling across the lawn. The little girl chased after a bright red ball and giggled loudly when she bent down to pick the ball up, but instead accidentally kicked it away. Her gentle blonde curls floated in the breeze, as she continued to run and giggle.

"She's perfect," Nola said in awe.

"She is," Beatrice agreed.

"Can I go to her?" Nola inquired.

"Not yet, it doesn't work that way. She has to come to you, and she will when it's time." Beatrice had such a maturity about her for a child that only appeared to be about nine years old.

"When will it be time?" Nola asked, confused.

"Don't be silly. You know that. You have to be patient. She's coming."

"What's her name?"

"You know that too, " Beatrice teased. "But don't worry. I'll never stop watching her." Beatrice turned away from Nola and continued to carefully watch the baby girl.

The vision of Beatrice and the baby girl slowly and peacefully dissolved from Nola's mind.

When Nola awoke, it was the morning. Quint had already been up and had ordered them room service. The sun shone brightly through the windows.

"Good morning, sweetheart," Quint exclaimed as he noticed Nola stir. "Today, is supposed to be a beautiful and unseasonably warm, clear day. I ordered all your favorites: eggs benedict, Belgian waffles . . ."

"Oh, you spoil me. I think it's going to be a perfect day," Nola smiled as she sat up in bed. "Well, after I get through that procedure, anyway."

"I'm happy to see you being so positive," Quint remarked. He moved to the bed to give her a good morning kiss and a large glass of fresh fruit juice.

"I think we're going to get very very good news and have reason to celebrate," Nola said with a knowing grin.

It would be a week before they got back the results of the test, but Nola felt certain that her dream was a premonition, and that everything would be perfect with their baby daughter. She didn't tell Quinton just in case she was mistaken, but one evening while in bed watching the end of "Mogombo" with Clark Gable, Ava Gardner and Grace Kelly, Nola was struck with the perfect name for the baby.

"Quinton, how do you like the name Ava, if we have a baby girl?" Nola excitedly queried. "Ava Grace after both of them is the perfect name."

"That's a beautiful name, but I thought she didn't want to pick names until we knew that everything was okay, and that we knew if it was a boy or a girl."

"I know, but it just came to me, and I have this feeling that she's a girl, and everything is going to be perfect this time."

Quint suggested, "Don't you want to think of a boy name too, just in case?"

"Nothing is coming to me yet. Remember all the trouble we had in naming AJ?"

"Oh, yes, how could I forget?" Quint said with a sigh.

"Ava Grace is such a beautiful name and Ava Gardner and Grace Kelly were so beautiful, and the movie "Mogombo" always kind of reminded me of our adventures together. I think it would suit her. She's going to have eyes just as blue as Ava Gardner and hair as blonde as Grace Kelly."

"Blue eyes and blonde hair? But both Stacey and AJ have brown eyes and hair, and so do you."

"Yes, but you have blue eyes and blonde hair, and this baby is going to look like you," Nola stated with certainty.

"Nola, did you already hear back from the doctor, and you're not telling me something?"

Nola insisted, "No, I promise. I wouldn't do that"

"It's just that you were so cautious before about getting our hopes up and now . . It's such a turnaround."

"I know." Nola cautiously proceeded, "Okay, I'll tell you something . ."

"What?"

"Do you believe in premonitions through your dreams?"

"Um, not usually," Quint answered skeptically.

"Not usually, but sometimes?" Nola hopefully probed.

"Well, there was something that happened, Nola, which I never told you about."

"What?" she eagerly inquired.

"When you and Olivia were being held hostage by Silas here, well, I had a dream where I knew it happened."

"You did?" Nola exclaimed. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"It just seemed kind of unlikely and, after all, we knew Silas was a threat so I figured that it was anxiety more than a premonition, but there was one other thing . ." Quint paused, because bringing up Beatrice had always been a painful subject for Nola. "Beatrice was in the dream."

"I dream about Beatrice too," Nola concurred. "She was in my dream with the baby. I felt like I was actually with them. And I strongly believe that we'll get good news from the tests tomorrow . . ."

As the final credits rolled on "Mogombo," the promo on the television announced the next film as "The Lady Eve."

"The Lady Eve," Nola sighed dramatically. "You know what that always reminds me of?"

"Ah, yes, that very frustrating . . .I mean . . . romantic cruise from Tanquir," Quinton affectionately razzed. "Such a tease you were back then."

"A tease?" Nola defended herself. "I let you go all the way to second base."

"That's true, and I appreciated it, but I never took so many cold showers in my entire life. I think my lips were raw from kissing, but it was certainly nice." Quint leaned over and kissed his wife.

"Necking and everything else we did was fun, but you do know that I changed my mind about us not sleeping together by the next night. I was too embarrassed to tell you. And you were so polite and never brought it up again, after you thought I had my mind set . . ."

"Don't remind me," Quint whispered as he continued to kiss Nola. "However, you were definitely worth waiting for . . ."

"I don't make you stop at second base anymore," Nola purred.

"But I do have a special appreciation of that base," Quint murmured, caressing her neck down to her belly. "Mmmm, our baby is already making your tummy pouch a little. You're so sexy pregnant."

"You're crazy," Nola giggled.

"Crazy for you," Quint muttered between kisses, slipping his hand between her nightgown and breast, as they relived many of their memories from the transatlantic cruise many years earlier.

It was so good having Effie living with them at Thornway Road. Nola enjoyed her company, and Effie was such a big help. Nola did find it extremely difficult not to tell Effie about the baby, but since she and Quint had decided to tell no one until they had the official test results, she had to keep mum.

The morning that the test results were due in, Nola was going over the seating chart and final guest list for the ceremony the following week. She sat crossed legged on the floor of the study with everything spread out across the floor. Effie entered the room with Nola's breakfast on a silver tray.

"Effie, I told you that you don't have to do that," Nola chided, noticing the elaborate breakfast with fresh cut flowers.

"I like to do it for you, Nola, and besides," Effie slipped, "you need to keep up your energy."

"Why do you say that?" Nola suspiciously inquired.

Effie covered, "Oh, no reason in particular. Next week will be hectic for you." Effie put down the breakfast tray on the table beside where Nola was sitting.

Picking up the big, frosty glass of milk Nola added, "And since when do you serve me a big glass of milk for breakfast and no coffee?"

"The calcium in the milk is good for our bones."

With a sneaky smile, Nola remarked, "Effie, you know? Don't you?"

"I think so, Nola," Effie said with an equally mischievous smile.

"What do you think you know?"

"When you stopped drinking wine with your dinner, and you changed the date of your vow renewal and cancelled your trip to the islands, and instead planned to drive down to Florida, and with how concerned Quinton has been about you and all the vitamins . . . Well, I was surprised at first, but I figured it could only be one thing. Is it true?"

"Effie, Quinton and I decided not to tell anyone until we knew that everything was going to be okay, but I guess since you already figured it out anyway . . ." Nola's excitement grew to finally be able to tell someone. She whispered, "Yes, we're having a baby. Can you believe it?"

"Nola, that's wonderful," Effie beamed.

"It's practically a miracle. Today we're supposed to get test results on how the baby is, and then we plan to tell everyone at the ceremony, so please don't tell a soul."

"My lips are sealed," Effie promised.

"And look at this," Nola stood up and spread her dress across her belly. "I'm already showing. I'm gonna be as big as a house. You should have seen me with AJ."

"That's because you're so tiny. Every ounce shows on you." Effie affirmed, "You are glowing, Nola."

"I already had to get my dress altered, and we'll have to tell people before the ceremony, because it's going to be so obvious," Nola happily admitted. "Are you going to be up to having a baby in the house?"

"It has been a long time since I had a baby in the house, but I think I remember what to do. It'll be wonderful. Late in life babies are truly a blessing."

"I'll be hiring a nanny, Effie. You have enough to do. I only expect you to enjoy the baby."

"Nola, you have been so generous to me. Whatever you need me to do, I can help."

"I can tell you now I will need you a lot before the baby is born. There is probably a good chance I won't be able to do much of anything for the last few months with my history of delivering prematurely."

Effie nodded, "You and Quinton must be so excited."

"Oh, we are," Nola reacted to the doorbell ringing. Effie scurried off to answer it. Within a few minutes, Effie reemerged with a very well dressed and coiffed woman.

"Mrs. Chamberlain," Effie said professionally in front of the guest, "this is Mrs. Megan Walker from next door. She said she needed to talk with you about the upcoming festivities in the garden."

"Hi, honey," Megan chirped as she approached Nola. Effie turned and quietly left the room.

Megan Walker was an attractive, well dressed woman in her middle 40s. She spoke in a high pitched voice that could send dogs running. Despite her expensive clothes, Nola could sense an eccentric, appealing quality about her right away.

"Hi, Mrs. Walker," Nola said with a smile.

"Honey, call me Megan. Mrs. Walker was my ex-husband's first and second wife. Not me."

"OK, you can call me Nola . . or honey," Nola grinned.

Megan quickly scanned the room, "Isn't this room a little circa the dark ages?"

"The contractor hasn't gotten to this room yet," Nola informed her, not at all offended, sensing this was just part of her sense of humor. Nola immediately appreciated her sarcastic manner.

"Do you have anything to drink?"

"Juice?" Nola offered, holding up the crystal pitcher of orange juice that Effie had just brought her.

"Honey, I asked for a drink not a mixer," Megan enlightened Nola.

"Well, we have a bar over there," Nola indicated to the other side of the room, surprised she would want something to drink so early in the morning.

Much to Nola's surprise, Megan bounced over to the bar and began to pour herself a drink. "Would you like something?"

"Oh, I can't," Nola responded.

"Why ever not? In the family way?" Megan laughed at what she considered the ridiculousness of her statement. Nola turned pale.

"Oh, honey, calm down. I'm just kidding. They'd have to power hose the two of us with the special sauce to make that happen. Certainly not like a 16 year old in the back seat of a car, is it?"

"True," Nola went along with the joke, slightly surprised, but amused at her salacious joking. "I'm sorry; did you say why you needed to talk about the party?"

"I didn't say?" the licentious neighbor said, as she sipped her martini.

Nola shook her head.

"I got a notice from the village board that you were throwing a big party here next week. And I like people who throw parties, so I thought I should stop by and say hi since we are neighbors. Hi, neighbor."

"It's nice of you to stop by. I never met any of the neighbors around here. People never seemed that friendly."

"You just moved in didn't you, honey?"

"I have been here several months now, but I did live in this house with my husband about 20 years ago."

"Honey, you should never be so specific about years passed," Megan coached. "You know what I mean?"

"My kids kind of give it away," Nola revealed.

"You have rug rats?" Megan anxiously queried. "Where are they?"

"We have a son and a daughter. They're not really rug rats anymore. They're both in college."

"That's a good place for kids," Megan quipped. "So you live in this big house all by yourself?"

"No, I live here with my husband. The one I just told you about."

"Honey, you've been married to the same man for over twenty years, good Lord!!" Megan chided. "Don't you ever feel like you want a new model?"

"No, we're very happy together."

"I'm working on my fourth husband."

"Do you have any children?" Nola asked.

"Me? Oh no, I'm not the maternal type, but I do have several evil . .errr . . .lovely stepchildren. Some of them are away at college too. Is your husband at work? I would love to see this example of manhood that has kept you interested for over twenty years."

"He's an archaeologist and professor, and actually he's upstairs in his lab."

"Hmmm, If you don't mind me asking, what's the party you're throwing," Megan asked.

"My husband and I are renewing our wedding vows."

"Honey, if you two were any sweeter, I think I would throw up. This guy must really be something."

"Oh, he is," Nola assured.

"If you need any help with pulling the party together, let me know. I know great people and I'm really good with party planning and with partying." Megan giggled to herself.

"Thank you, but I think everything is pretty much set. We're just hoping the weather holds up, since we're doing it out in our gazebo where we met. The gazebo's very special to us."

Quinton entered the study dressed in his lab coat. He busily looked down at some notes, not noticing that Nola had a guest over. "Nola darling, I wanted to ask you about some of your notes, here." Quint looked up to notice Megan. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize we had company."

"Quinton, this is Megan Walker from next door."

"Quinton Chamberlain," he extended his hand to Megan.

"Well, well, yes, now things are much clearer," Megan flirtatiously chirped, noticing immediately how handsome Quinton was.

"I'm sorry?" Quinton replied in confusion.

"I was just telling Megan about our upcoming party plans, and she was curious about you," Nola explained to Quinton. "I guess she noticed, like I do everyday, how adorable you are."

"It's certainly nice to meet you," Quint politely spoke to Megan, blushing at Nola's complement and Megan's attentions. "I don't believe we ever met anyone in the neighborhood before."

"Lots of big bores around here," Megan commented. "But I can tell already that the two of you are a lot of fun."

"Nola and I would love it if you and your husband could come to the wedding," Quint remarked.

"Honey, I'm kind of between husbands right now."

Embarrassed, Quint replied, "I'm sorry, I just assumed. You can bring whomever you want."

"I think I'll do that. But listen, I should go and leave you two alone." Megan brought her empty glass back to the bar area.

"Stop by anytime," Nola said moving toward Quint.

"I will." Megan whispered to Nola, "Honey, I know some good diet pills that will knock off those few pounds before the ceremony, no problem."

"Thank you," Nola knowingly smiled.

Helena Manzini was making her plans to fly to the United States in a week to attend Quint and Nola's ceremony. She was happy to finally be getting out of Italy where so much sadness had recently occurred. She was relieved that Silas was finally in prison where he belonged, but she had not yet shared her fears with Quint that Silas had been responsible for her Sal's death. She wanted to have that discussion with him in person. She hadn't seen Quinton in over a year, and it had been several years since she last saw Nola. She didn't know what to expect, but she also never ceased to be amazed in how long Quint and Nola's relationship endured. It would always be hard for her to see Quinton with Nola, but she also valued Quint's friendship, so she would go to support her friend.

Later that day, Effie informed Nola and Quint that the clinic from Chicago was on the phone with the results of the genetic tests. Just as the dream had predicted and Nola knew in her heart, everything was perfect with the baby. They were told they were having a baby girl, and she was due on Christmas Day. Nola and Quint couldn't have been more thrilled. The cook prepared them a special dinner. That night, Quint made gentle love to his wife, as they looked forward to their vow renewal in a week and their new daughter later in the year.