The scent of waffles and bacon guides me to the kitchen when I wake up the following day. Downstairs, I find Maia there, standing next to the waffle iron.
Wade: How are you feeling?
Maia: Okay, but I’d feel much better once this nausea disappears.
I wish there was something I could do to help. But I can only offer a ‘feel better’ kiss on the cheek. Luckily, the nausea subsides long enough for her to enjoy her breakfast.
Everyone in the house benefits from Maia’s desire to cook this morning. As soon as she’s had her breakfast, she pulls out more ingredients and prepares gourmet meals for Luna and Hiro. I believe they enjoy Maia’s great cooking as much as I do.
Maia continues her morning routine with some yoga poses and meditation while I scarf down a couple of her delicious waffles. The funny thing about her being pregnant is that I also seem to have a slightly increased appetite. Or maybe it’s an excuse, and I’m just being greedy. Either way, I’ll pay for this sugary, salty meal with an extra mile or two on the treadmill later.
I’m well aware that today is when we agreed we’d tell our parents about the pregnancy. But I’m not in a rush to do that, so I suggest we attend the Geek Con Festival in San Myshuno. Other than video games, geek activities aren’t my thing. I don’t think Maia is into any of it either, but it gets us out of the house and helps us avoid our responsibilities for an hour or two.
Maia spends time in the observatory, and I stream myself playing the Ultimate Gaming Test, which I lose with probably the worst score possible. After enjoying our solo activities, we regroup and purchase some t-shirts and souvenirs from the swag booth.
Back at home, I stop at the mailbox to pay our bills. The money I make from SimTube daily more than covers the weekly cost of our bills for now. But as the views go down on each video, so does the money received. To be safe, I think it’s time to find a secondary, more stable source of income besides the money tree if I want to build a nest egg to pass down to our child.
But that’s something to consider later. Right now, it’s time to face the music and give my parents a call. Maia and I decide that a video call would be best, so I text Ma to let her know and then Maia and I gather next to my computer.
Ma answers the video call immediately.
Melisa: Dubbie! Maia! How are you? It’s so good to see your face.
Maia: Hello. We’re doing well.
Wade: Hi, Ma! It’s good to see yours too.
Melisa: So, everything is okay?
Wade: It is. But is Dad, Dray, and Mase available? We have some news to share.
I can see the excitement in Ma’s eyes, and I cringe a little, suspecting that our news is probably not what she expects to hear right now.
Melisa: Mase is out with Zoe, but Dray and Dad are here.
Ma turns from the screen and calls them over. Several minutes later, Dray and Dad are standing behind Ma. After the greetings, I take a deep breath and begin.
Wade: We were calling because we had some news to share. Uh –
The words get choked up in my throat. I clear it and continue.
Wade: We just wanted to let you know that, uh—
Maia hears my reluctance and takes the lead on this.
Maia: Mr. and Mrs. Banks, we wanted to let you know that…I’m pregnant – we’re expecting a baby.
Ma startles me with an unexpected squeal.
Melisa: A baby! Congrats! Kai, did you hear that? We’re going to be grandparents!
Drake: Congrats, big bro! So that’ll make me Uncle Dray, right?
But even Ma’s joy and Dray trying on his new title doesn’t prepare me for what my Dad says.
Kai: Finally!
Finally? That is not what I expected to hear.
Wade: Wait, I’m confused. I didn’t think you’d be happy to hear that.
Melisa: You didn’t think we’d be happy to hear that we’ll have a grandchild?
Kai: Maia, please excuse our son and his ignorance. Of course, we’re thrilled. We’re gaining two new family members.
Maia: Thank you!
Wade: What? Dad, every time we had ‘the talk,’ you always said don’t go out there getting anybody pregnant!
Kai: You never really listened to anything I said, did you? I told you not to have a baby you’re not prepared to take care of. And I was talking to a boy back then – not the man I see in front of me right now.
Ma doesn’t give me a chance to respond.
Melisa: Enough about all that.
Dray steps away right before Ma brushes Dad to the side and leans into the camera.
Melisa: Maia, we need to start planning a baby shower! Babies need a lot of stuff; I don’t want you to deal with that.
Maia: A baby shower? I don’t know. Do we have time?
Melisa: There’s always time, but don’t you worry. I’ll recruit my sister Lia, and we’ll take care of it. You won’t have to do anything but show up and flash your gorgeous smile.
Maia: Thank you!
Melisa: My pleasure!
It’s Dad’s turn to interrupt.
Kai: *in the background* If you ladies don’t mind, I’d like to talk to my son alone for a moment.
Melisa: *to Maia* We’ll talk soon!
Ma disappears from the screen, and Maia walks into the living room. Dad sits down in Ma’s place.
Kai: Son, I’m proud of you! You’re no longer the spoiled kid that left Henford. But I want you to know that you have a long road ahead. Having a family isn’t easy. It requires a lot of sacrifice and giving of yourself.
Wade: Thanks, but I know, Dad. I’m already thinking about how to make more money, and I’ll start looking for a bigger place soon.
Kai: It’s not just about money. I’m talking about emotional sacrifices and your time and energy. You will lose a lot of sleep once you become a father, and I’m not just talking about when the baby is little. I’m talking about for the rest of that child’s life.
Wade: What do you mean?
Kai: You don’t know worry until you bring a child into the world. You’ll have to shoulder a lot to help Maia and keep her and the baby healthy and happy. It will no longer be about you and what you want. You’ll have to consider the wants and needs of two other people before your own.
I give that a lot of thought. I recall times when Dad looked like he hadn’t slept in days. He was often the first up in the morning, working and running the farm, and the last to go to bed. But he always found time to spend with us. Will I be able to give of myself like he did?
Wade: I think I’m prepared to do that.
Kai: You have to be. And I understand your desire to make more money. That’s natural, but remember that this child won’t care about ‘things’ as much as they’ll care about the quality time spent with you and Maia. Nobody remembers a toy as much as they remember vacations and holidays spent with family.
I can remember every toy I’ve ever received just as much as any vacation or holiday, but Dad is in full preaching mode, so I keep that to myself and let him continue.
Kai: It’s the experiences that are most important. I don’t have those memories of my dad, and it still hurts me to this day. I hope you boys will all be better men and fathers than him and me.
Wade: I hear you, Dad. Yours are big shoes to fill, but I won’t disappoint you.
Kai: I believe you, and I love you, Maia, and that baby more than you know.
Wade: We love you too!
Kai: Okay, I’d better calm your Ma down. If I leave it up to her, she’ll try to plan this whole baby shower in the next five minutes.
Wade: *smiles* I can believe it; she’d pull it off too.
Kai: Yeah, she would. *chuckles* Despite what you thought, this is incredible news, and we look forward to meeting our grandchild. See you soon!
Wade: Yep. See you soon!
(Generation 4 Chapter Summaries)
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