wanted to tell him, if only to get it over with.  Deep down, though, she just wanted him to know.  She'd been practically glowing inside earlier just thinking about it, and she wanted him to feel that way too.

“Alright,” she said quietly, “but promise not to make a scene of it.”

He looked wary, but he nodded.  “Okay.”

She leaned across the table.  He leaned over too.  She put her muzzle next to his ear and whispered, “When I said I'm just not myself tonight, I really meant not just myself.”

She could almost hear his eyes pop as his mouth fell open and his breathing stopped.  “Jenna,” he asked, “do you mean...?”

“I'm pregnant,” she answered.

For a heart-stopping second, she thought he might forget his promise.  Then he laughed.  “I guess I can see why you wanted it kept quiet,” he admitted, glancing to the newly engaged couple across the room.  “We wouldn't want to upstage them.”

She shook her head.  She was going to say that wasn't her reason (although it wasn't a bad one); say that she had been afraid it might embarrass her, but then she stopped.  She wasn't embarrassed, just like she hadn't been afraid in the doctor's office.  Nervous, yes, but not embarrassed and not afraid.  She was his wife, she was carrying his pup, and she was proud of it.  He was her knight; he had been ever since that day in high school when she'd been in a tight corner until he backed her up.

Instead of the answer she had been thinking of, she drew back just enough to look into his eyes.  Then she kissed him.  “I just hope she's as happy as I am right now,” she told him.

He smiled, and just before leaning in for another kiss he added, “That guy can't be as happy as I am, but I hope he's close.”

Next to them, a female cleared her throat.  “Sorry to interrupt,” said a Cocker Spaniel, “but your appetizers are ready.  Do you want to order your main courses now, or later?”

“Oh.”  Balto sat back down in his seat, blushing a little.  Then a mischievous grin appeared on his face.  “I'll wait,” he answered, “but could you get my wife an order of ice cream with a side of pickles?”

The following morning, Balto awoke in a slow manner which called to mind the sensation of drifting to the surface out of a warm lake on a sunny day.  As soon as he looked at Jenna, he remembered the news from last night and caressed her stomach with his fingertips.  Boy or girl? he wondered.  He wondered a lot of things as he stroked, unaware that his attention was waking Jenna up.

“Morning,” she said softly, startling him out of his reverie.

He jumped.  “Jenna!  I… morning.”

She giggled.  “A penny for your thoughts?”

He sighed contentedly.  “Wondering if it’s a boy or a girl,” he mused.  “I was hoping for a boy, but now I kind of hope it’s a girl.”

“Why?” she asked, turning a little more toward him and propping her head up with her arm.

He shrugged.  “Well, at least one of us would have some idea how to raise a girl… except you had two brothers, so I guess that’s a moot point.”

Jenna knew all too well why that would worry Balto; having lost his parents at an early age, he’d always lacked a lot of role modeling.  She smiled, turned his face from the ceiling towards herself, and gave him a peck on the lips.  “You’ll do fine, whichever it is.”

As they continued to talk, she remembered her conversation with the doctor the previous week.  She hated to spoil the moment, but decided she’d better get it over with.  He took it well... for a wasp.

“He wanted you to what?!” he demanded.  “Why that-”

“Careful,” Jenna warned, patting her stomach.  “Not in front of the baby.”

Balto frowned, trying to remember that his wife's glibness was born of having had more time to get over the creep's idea.  Taking a few deep breaths, he went to the phone and dialed.

“Balto, don't say something youll reget,” Jenna warned.

“As long as it doesn't land me in jail, I'll regret nothing,” he replied.  Then, into the phone, “Hello.  Yes, this is Balto Williams.  I have an appointment next week, and I'd like to discuss it with Doctor Belljar.”  He waited, then spoke again.  “Yes, hello.  About that appointment, I have something to tell you: over my dead body.”  With that, he hung up the phone.

“Feel better?” asked Jenna.

He smiled.  “A little.”

The phone rang again, and Balto groaned.  “If that’s him again…”

Jenna gently pushed him aside and picked up the phone.  “I’ll check.  Hello?”  She paused.  “Oh yes, he’s right here.”  She put a hand over the mouthpiece.  “Mr. Bighams.”

Balto took the phone.  Mr. Bighams was his boss.  “Hello?”

“Hello, Balto.  I know you asked for today off, but we just got a big contract and we need all the hands we can get on it.  I know you’re feeling an hours crunch, so if you’re interested then you should get here fast.”

The news took Balto completely off guard.  “Just a second,” he said, covering the phone and quickly telling Jenna.  There was a regretful look in his eyes as he added, “I know we need all the money we can get right now, but…”

She shook her head.  “I’m fine.  We can catch up later.”

Balto nodded and returned his attention to the phone.  “Yeah, I can be there in about an hour.”

“Good.  If this pans out like I’m hoping it will, it could spell the end of your time cut.  I’ll expect you soon.  Goodbye.”

“Bye,” Balto replied, and hung up.  He turned to Jenna with a shrug.  “You just never know, do you?” he asked.

Well, that's about it.  Any input is welcome.