Maia wakes up with a persistent longing to research baby names, triggered yesterday by Dub telling her the meaning of her name. Finding a name with a special meaning for her baby is significant. On a whim, she looks up her mother’s name, Elise, and finds out it means ‘pledged to God.’ Maia continues her search for a name that means calm or at ease. Maybe with a good name, Maia’s baby can defy the odds and be free from the mental issues that have plagued her and her mother. It may be wishful thinking, but it couldn’t hurt.
After finishing her name search, Maia begins browsing parenting forums and finishes the morning cooking and cleaning the entire house.
Ma calls to tell me that she and Aunt Lia miraculously managed to pull together a last minute baby shower today in Copperdale. Maia is excited when I tell her the news but won’t listen to me when I suggest that she rest to preserve her energy for the party. Since I can’t talk her out of cleaning, I give it up and go outside for a more unique exercise. I grab my lightsaber from Batuu and practice my skills. Maybe I can avoid getting my butt kicked this time if I ever return.
In the text invitation, Ma suggests that guests wear either pink or blue, depending on whether they think the baby will be a girl or a boy. I go with a pink button-up and blue pants because I can’t decide what sex the baby will be. As the guest of honor, Maia is free to wear whatever color she wants, so as usual, she chooses green.
A few hours later, we arrive at a Rustic Garden in Copperdale that overlooks the pier. I greet Dad and my aunt Lia, but Ma makes a beeline for Maia as soon as she sees her.
Melisa: It’s so good to see you! I can see you’re taking great care of yourself and my first grandbaby.
Ma looks down at Maia’s big belly and reaches out.
Melisa: May I?
Maia: Yes, of course.
Ma places her hands on Maia’s tummy.
Melisa: You look so beautiful!
Maia: Thank you and this party—I couldn’t thank you and Lia enough for pulling this together.
Melisa: It’s our absolute pleasure. How are you feeling?
Maia: My back is tired, but I’m much better now that the morning sickness has gone away.
Melisa: I’m glad. That was the worst part for me, too.
I walk over to my cousins Terra and Bri.
Wade: Hey, y’all! Thanks so much for coming.
Terra: I wouldn’t miss it.
Brianna: Congrats, Dub – I almost can’t believe you’re about to be a father.
Wade: Me neither. It’s all surreal. And I’m not sure I’m ready.
Terra: Is anyone ever ready?
Brianna: Right! I hope to know that feeling one day. By the way, I have someone that I want you to meet!
Wade: Yeah, okay. I’m looking forward to it.
As the rest of the guests arrive, I lead the way into the nicely decorated venue, wondering how Ma even found this place.
I sit at a table beside Dad, shocked to see him so animated.
Wade: You’re wearing blue – you think we’re having a boy, Dad?
Kai: Only because the odds are in my favor. *chuckles* It seems that boys are the only thing this family can create lately. But I’m excited for a girl, boy, whatever! No matter what—I’m going to be somebody’s Pop-Pop.
Wade: Pop-Pop? That’s what you want the baby to call you?
Kai: That’s what I called my grandfather. He’s the reason your name is Wade. It was his last name.
Wade: I’m sure you told me that before.
Kai: Have you and Maia come up with any names yet?
Wade: Nothing we’ve agreed on.
Kai: Well, your father and grandfather shared the same name – Quincy Wade Sr. and Quincy Wade Jr.- a nice, refined name.
Wade: I kind of like the name Quincy. But I’m not sure if it goes well with Banks. But I’ll run it by Maia and see what she thinks.
Kai: It would honor them well.
I think about the name some more as I grab something to eat.
Right after grabbing a plate, Mase’s girl Zoe walks over.
Zoe: I have a gift for the baby from Mase and me. He’s sorry he couldn’t make it today. He had a class.
Gift is one of my favorite words, so I put my plate down for a moment to receive it.
Wade: Thank you! I’m sure the baby will love it.
Zoe: Yeah, I never shopped for a baby before, so I hope it’s okay.
Wade: It’ll be perfect.
While I’m talking to Zoe, Maia grabs some food and finds a spot at the table with Bri and her boyfriend, Dwight.
Maia: It’s so lovely to see you again, Bri.
Brianna: It’s good to see you too. This is my hus – I mean, my boyfriend, Dwight.
I look over, confused. Did I overhear Bri almost say, husband?
Maia ignores the near slip-up from Bri. Whatever is going on between them is none of her business.
Maia: I like your shirt.
Brianna: Thanks. I chose it because part of me thinks you’re having a boy, but a small part is wishing for a girl, thus the pink flowers.
Maia: Okay, I like your thinking.
Brianna: I know this might be a bit personal, but what does it feel like to be pregnant? Feel free to ignore me if it’s inappropriate to ask.
Maia: No, I don’t mind.
Maia stops to think about it.
Maia: It feels like nothing short of a miracle. One day, I was just me; the next thing I knew, another sim was growing inside me. It’s like I’ve lost control of part of my body. When the baby moves, my entire stomach sometimes shifts, like the worst case of gas you’ve ever felt, and I can’t do anything about it. There’s something humbling about that. I don’t know how else to describe it.
Brianna: Wow!
Dwight: Not trying to butt into your conversation, but I have a funny story that’s somewhat related to what you’re saying.
Maia: I’d love to hear it.
Dwight: As a little kid, I didn’t know that only women could get pregnant. Mind you, I was always chubby with a big stomach like this pregnant woman in our neighborhood. So I figured that I was pregnant, too. So, my granny took me to a doctor’s appointment, and the doctor said that I had gained some weight since the last appointment. I look up and tell him that I gained weight because I’m pregnant. He tried to explain that little boys and men cannot get pregnant, but I insisted on telling him that I could feel the baby move and everything. Long story short, I was extremely hurt when I learned that the movement was just gas and my stomach was bigger because I was bloated. It all went away after I started taking medication prescribed by my doctor. With some coaxing from my doctor, my granny, who raised me, enrolled me in a woohoo education class at the rec center soon after that.
Maia and Bri laugh at Dwight’s story.
Brianna: Oh baby, poor thing. I hope you didn’t go around telling anyone else about your ‘pregnancy.’
Dwight: Thank the Watcher, I didn’t.
Maia: I’m sure you’re not the only little boy who ever thought that.
Dwight: Yeah, well, thinking I was pregnant at the time felt a lot better than realizing that I was just chubby for no reason.
Brianna: I bet you were just as adorable as you are now.
Dwight: Adorable?
Brianna: Handsome, I meant—handsome.
Dwight: That’s better! Thank you
Maia giggles at how cute Bri and Dwight are together.
Me-Me and her sister Lia are sitting at another table.
Jamelia: So, are you looking forward to becoming a grandmother?
Melisa: Yes! I couldn’t be more excited. What about you? You have time before your kids are old enough, but – they’ll be grown before you know it.
Jamelia: I might as well be a grandmother. I was so old when I had kids that everyone mistakes me for their grandmother.
Melisa: Yeah, it was like that when I had Drake. I know what it’s like to be an older mother.
Jamelia: No, you don’t. I had gray hair already when my kids were in grade school.
Melisa: I can’t argue with that.
Maia doesn’t want to sit in one place too long. It’s important for her to mingle with everyone kind enough to show up today at such short notice. She grabs her plate and moves around the venue until Justina, Me-Me and Lia’s sister-in-law, stops her.
Justina: Hey there, Maia. I have a gift for you from me and Jay.
Maia is shocked.
Maia: A gift? For me?
Justina: Well, it’s for the baby.
Maia: You didn’t have to do that.
Justina: This is what baby showers are for.
Maia: Oh, right. Thank you so much!
Maia almost wants to cry. She’s not used to so much generosity.
I follow Maia’s example and mingle amongst our guests. I end up at a table with the only two other guys suckered into attending – Dad and Dwight.
Wade: Do men usually come to these things?
Kai: What?
Wade: Baby showers?
Kai: We live in a new age, son. Men are a part of everything now. Get with it!
I sit down with my plate.
Wade: If it involves gifts, I’m with it – believe me. But now I feel bad I didn’t invite a few more friends. It would have been an excellent chance for you to meet my boy, Luca, and his wife.
Kai: Well, this was so last minute, I’m sure they’ll understand. And your Ma will come up with a million more parties you can invite your friend to.
Wade: Ha! No doubt. As soon as Maia and I are engaged, she’ll be all over it.
Kai: Engaged? So you’re thinking about it.
Wade: Yeah, it’s been heavy on my mind these days.
Dwight: Well, if you need a ring – that’s my specialty. I own a jewelry shop here in town.
Wade: That’s good to know. Thanks!
(Generation 4 Chapter Summaries)
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