She was scared to death and yet thrilled at the thought of having Nick's Baby. She wished she had a picture of Nick and she tried to draw his image from her mind's eye, but it never came out right, some way the body did not look right, there would be lines where they should not be.

She tore up all the drawings she had sketched while on the beach, she waited as long as she could without telling the Grandfather, then one bright sunny morning Gramps was at his best. Noticing her and with her in the present time she knew she would have to tell him quick before he dozed off.

"Gramps," she said, "I have to tell you something. Look right at me, and tell me, do you think I look any different?"

He looked up and now his face got serious, he said, "Bonnie, do you love the boy?"

Bonnie blushed and said, "Yes, I do."

"Then it's all right," Gramps said and reached out and patted her swelled up belly.

"You noticed? You know." Bonnie cried out.

"Yes, I know, "He answered.

There was sadness in his voice as he said, "The harm is done now but don't worry we will manage, does the boy know?"


Bonnie said, "No Gramps he doesn't, he went away with his folks on a fishing trip and he hasn't come back."

Big tears rolled down Bonnie's face, Gramps pulled her down on his lap and said, "Don't cry, it's all right, if the boy don't come back we will have a new little baby, you can give it my last name, maybe it will be a boy and he can carry the name on."

He consoled his granddaughter and had her laughing and happy again.

Bonnie said, "I don't know, I guess with-in about six and a half months."

Gramps then ask her, "when is the baby due?"

"Oh no! I have seen many with child before and you look like you are ready to birth it."

She had Gramps complete attention now, he did not doze off or wander with words, and he got up and walked back and forth saying, "There must be something wrong or maybe more than one."

Then he stopped in front of her, "Bonnie, you have to be examined, has Hank seen you?" she asked.

"No." Bonnie answered, "Since I have gotten big I have just left the list of groceries we need in an envelope with the money taped to the door."

"He will be here with the groceries tomorrow, and Gramps, Hank left the mail Friday and your checks came in, you will have to sign them so he can put them in the bank."

"I have written a check out to get more cash; you will have to sign it so Hank can cash it as well."

Gramps was still pacing the floor.

"Get them," he ordered, "I will sign them, and I'll meet Hank in the morning and go into town with him."

Bonnie said, "You will go?" It was the first time since she had been here, he made the trip, and Bonnie had gone when they needed clothing or something special in the past.