"So what do you think?"

Daniel raised his head from his book and looked at her questioningly. "About what?"

"My idea for our costumes for Meg's Halloween party."

He searched his mind quickly. He couldn't recall what she had suggested, and he wasn't quite sure how to reply. "Well umm . . ."

Serena rolled her eyes then kissed his cheek quickly. "Clowns, dearest I suggested clowns."

"Oh." Daniel smiled. "I think it's a great idea."

"Good. I want you to go to the dress shop and put in our order." She replied and stood to answer the knocking on the front door. "And don't forget to tell Grace that I'll be in later in the week for a fitting." Serena looked out the small window beside the door and smiled when she saw Meghan.

"Well, hello there stranger." She said as she opened the door. "What brings you here?"

"I need to talk to someone who understands." She said softly.

Serena's brow furrowed. She knew that something was terribly wrong when Meg became quiet and came home to talk to someone. "Understands what?"

"This." She replied as she pointed down to her abdomen. Serena smiled and led her to the kitchen.

"Come on, I'll make us some lunch while we talk."

Meg watched as her stepmother practically floated around the kitchen. Despite being almost a month further along than Meghan, Serena seemed to be having a much easier time with her burgeoning midsection.

"Don't you ever have a bad day?" Meghan asked as she leaned her head in her hand.

Serena turned with a wide smile. "Nope." She placed a glass of milk in front of Meg and sat across from her. "I felt him move yesterday."

Meghan's eyes widened in awe. "How wonderful Serena. Is daddy happy?"

"Yes, although he won't be able to feel the baby moving around for another couple of weeks or so. But he's counting the days." Serena sat back and sighed. "So what's wrong?"

"Nothing and everything." Meg muttered. "I snapped at Corey and Luke for no reason."

Serena reached out and placed her hand over Meghan's. "I think you did it because you thought you had good reason to, but now you're feeling foolish about it."

Meg grimaced, Serena was always able to see right to the core of her. "I was angry."

"About what?"

"About the fact the Luke gets upset whenever I spend anytime with Ian, when we both know that I'm pregnant and highly unattractive because of it, so why would Ian want me? But here's Luke and he has this incredibly close friendship with a young, unmarried, thin woman, and I just sit back and accept it with no problems . . . or I did."

Serena rolled her eyes. "You were always over dramatic Meghan. First of all let's get something straight, are you saying that pregnant women are unattractive?"

"Not all, just me. You're beautiful. I see you and you seem to float and glow." Meg began. "Me on the other hand, I'm a month behind you, but I look like I'm further along and I feel . . . dumpy."

Serena frowned. "Luke makes you feel dumpy?"

"Oh no," Meghan said, quick to defend her husband. "He's always telling me how beautiful I am. It's just . . ."

"What?"

"Well, he' supposed to say things like that because we're married. Add to it that I'm carrying his child, and I get flattery all day."

"But you still feel dumpy."

"Only when I'm around Corey, or when I see some of the women in town and let's not get into the square dance lessons." Meg groaned softly. "I'm still amazed that Tally has so much patience. I would've given up on me a long time ago."

"Are you through feeling sorry for yourself?"

"Yes." She murmured.

"Good, now you're beautiful Meghan and your pregnancy has made you more so, and as far as Luke goes he's wary of Ian because of their past, but I think he's getting over it." Serena placed a platter of chicken on the table and went back to get the biscuits. "Sounds to me like you're a bit jealous of Corey, too."

Meghan frowned. "I am, and I hate it. I don't like being like this. She's my best friend."

Serena smiled gently at her. "Don't fret about it. Corey's not one to hold grudges. You two will work this out and you'll be inseparable again."

Meg shrugged. "I hope so."

�

Daniel entered the room moments later and after kissing the top of his daughter's head he sat beside Serena and looked at her questioningly, a slight shake of her head told him not to ask about what was going on in his kitchen.

"You're looking well, Meghan." He said stiffly.

"Thank you daddy, I'm feeling well, too."

"Good, I'm glad." He replied then sighed. "Are we still angry at each other?"

Meg smiled. "No."

Relieved, he squeezed her hand gently. "I'll be going to the dress shop after lunch, you could come along and I could drive you home right after if you'd like, or you could stay here for a while and help out at the clinic."

"I'll go with you to the dress shop. Grace has my costume."

"Really? Why?" Daniel asked as he filled his plate.

"Because there had to be alterations made. My body isn't the same as it once was."

Daniel looked down at his plate, unsure of what to say he simply muttered. "Oh. I'm sorry baby." He knew how difficult it could be for pregnant woman. He'd gone through it with Meg's mother and was now going through it with Serena though on a much smaller scale.

Meghan smiled at her father and jumped up to hug him tightly. "Thank you for trying to understand daddy."

"Your welcome. You just take it easy okay? Don't go worrying about this and that for the party."

"I will." Meg replied and looked at Serena. "You're so lucky to have him."