As promised, Jennie immediately called her mother, Clarice, after she had finished her conversation with her husband, Devon. Clarice was not expecting a call from Jennie, so it was with some trepidation when she answered the phone. “Jennie, is there something the matter? I wasn’t expecting a call from you at this time,” queried Clarice worriedly. “Mom, there is nothing wrong. I am calling you because I have great news….I am pregnant!” “Jennie, that is fabulous news. How far are you?” “As near as I can guess, four weeks,” Jennie answered.

The two women bantered back and forth for several moments. “That is not the only news I have for you, Mom,” Jennie finally interjected. Devon and I bought a new place, one that has extra room. So I was thinking that with me going to have a baby and you being by yourself and all, maybe you might want to move to Italy and live with us. Devon could make all the arrangements for you….You wouldn’t have to do anything.” There was a pause in the conversation as Clarice contemplated all that Jennie had told her. Clarice finally spoke after several moments of reflection and some tense moments for Jennie as she waited for he Mother’s reply. “Yes! I would love to live with you, Devon, and my new grandbaby. Truth be told, I have been very lonely since you moved to Rome. The days have just dragged on.” “I am so happy, Mom, that you have agreed to live with us. Our new house can be a little lonely when Devon is at work. I know I am taking classes at the college, but they only take a couple of hours a day. It would be nice to have a woman with whom to share things. Devon does his best to listen to me, but he is a man, and men can be really thick-headed sometimes.” Jennie added with a giggle. “I will text him the good news. I think he mentioned that the Vatican has a service they use for their clergymen. They need this service because they frequently relocate to different churches and distant countries.”

“This is going to be so wonderful having you here when I deliver my baby, Mom. I can’t wait to have you here. So you better start packing, because you know how Devon is. When he sinks his teeth into something, things happen pretty quickly.” Jennie said as she said goodbye to her mother. After Jennie hung up, she texted Devon with the news about her mother. A few moments later, Devon texted back that it was excellent news and that he would get right on it.