"Are you sure doctor?" the woman asked as she prepared to leave the doctor's office.

"Yes Maria, you and Carlotta's babies should be coming any day now." the doctor replied checking his charts.

"Good thanks." Maria said as she went and handed the doctor a basket of fresh vegetables, and a checkas his payment.

"You know that Robert comes home tonight?" Maria asked as she was walking out the door.

"No I didn't, does he know?" His eyebrows perked up

"No he doesn't, and please don't tell him" Maria pleaded, she had kept this a secret for so long.

"Surely" he replied. Maria sighed in relief.

Robert was Maria's husband. They had been married for a little over a year. Together, they lived in a small village in Nicaragua. Robert worked in a government office of a neighboring county, as a janitor. Robert came home every 4-6 months. He left 6 months ago when Maria was 3 months pregnant. Both Maria and Robert were born in America, though they never spoke of it. All that they knew was that they loved each other, and to them that was all that mattered.

Maria slowly made her way home. It was a short walk from the doctor's building to her little hut-like house. Maria ste down her bags and sunk into her couch for a moment of relief. Carrying a baby around town wasn't easy. Maria rose, knowing that, she must get dinner on, for her husband would soon be returning.

"Maria, Maria are you home?" a familiar voice called in from the front of the house.

"Yes Carlotta, I'm out back!" Maria replied as she continued to pick vegetables.

"Well Maria... How do you do it?" Carlotta asked?

"Do what?" Maria replied, as she looked up into the eyes, of her best friend Carlotta. Carlotta was just as heavy with child as she was, but as happy as ever.

"How do you get your garden to flourish in the dry summer heat, and everyone else's withers and dies? You must have a green thumb." Carlotta replied

"Well if I have the green thumb then you must have the cooking one." Maria replied with a laugh.

"It came from my mother." Carlotta sighed as she helped Maria off the ground.

"I wish that I had listened when she tried to teach me how to cook like her." Maria said as she reminisced about those years.

Carlotta and Maria had been friends since Maria was 8. Maria could barely remember times when she and Carlotta weren't together, living with Carlotta's mom, Mrs. Gonzales. Carlotta was married to Juan. Juan and Robert, like Maria and Carlotta were best friends. Juan worked with Robert, and both would soon be returning.

"You were just always so busy experimenting with news seeds and stuff it wasn't her fault." Carlotta said defensively.
"I know, I loved your mother. She taught me how to try new things, and what she knew would work and what wouldn't. She also has a wonderful daughter to be my best friend." said Maria as she hugged her friend close. "Would you help me with dinner?"

"Of course!" She replied. They hugged all the way back to Maria's house. Within ten minutes the house was filled with the sweetest aroma. It was spicy, sweet, tangy, all at the same time. Carlotta made the best Bell Pepper Soup in all of eastern Nicaragua.

"What is that luscious smell coming from my home?" said a familiar voice to both of the women

"I think it's your wife's soup. You must be the luckiest man." said another familiar voice.

"Look Robert, I see the two chefs hard at work!" said the second voice, as it got noticeably closer.

Both women turned to see the faces that they had so longed to see...their husbands.

"Carlotta, you take your half of the soup and go eat with your husband." said Maria "We have plenty to tell them" she smiled as the two touched stomachs.

"Alright" Carlotta said as she turned again to Juan. "Let's go home. We have a lot to catch up on. Bye Maria!"

"Bye!" Maria yelled back over her shoulder. "Robert will you set the table I'll bring this over in a minute."

"Ok. It smells wonderful in here." Robert said as he laid down the plates and Maria put the pot on the table also.

Maria and Robert prayed over their food and began to eat.

"So what's your news?" Maria asked. Robert hadn't changed much since he left her 6 months ago. His hair was still that brownish-blondish color, and his eyes the most beautiful blue ever.

"You go first." Robert said. Maria hasn't changed much since I left, Robert thought, She still has that long brown hair and those violet eyes.Oh how I love her!

"Ok I will. Well as you can probably tell I...well.we're going to have a baby. So what's your news?" Maria said quickly as she stared into her soup.

"Wait what...we're. ... you're .a baby!!" Robert exclaimed, flabbergasted.

"Couldn't you tell?" Maria asked. She was a little offended that he didn't realize that her big belly wasn't fat.

"No...I mean, well, I thought maybe, but I thought that you would have told me!" Robert said, realizing that he wasn't making the situation any better, "That is so great that we're having one though! I can't wait. When are you due?"
"In a week or less." Maria said, she had forgiven him but was still a little upset, "Dr. Beacon doesn't know fore sure."

For a while their meal was silent.

"Well what was your news?" Maria said as she took the plates to the wash bucket.

"Well" Robert said hesitantly "for my news, you're going to want to sit down for."

What could have happened? Who was hurt, who was fired, flooded Maria's mind "What is it honey?" Maria said as she sat down across from Robert.

"Well darling...you see...I was dusting by the boss's office, and the door was open a crack and well, I overheard something I should not have heard. Juan was pushing the mail cart through and heard it too. If they knew that we heard, they would probably have us killed." Robert said sadly

Maria couldn't breathe for a moment, "What... They can't take you away from me," Maria said with the saddest look on her once beautiful face. "From us..." Maria who only seconds ago was rosy-cheeked, and sparkle eyed, now worried, sad and her face drawn.

"I know, I know but if someone tells you that I am dead while I'm away sometime, I want you to promise me that you'll take our children and flee to America. This is an address that I know you'll be safe at. If they get me they'll probably want you too." sadly replied Robert as he handed Maria a piece of paper.

"What exactly did you hear?" Maria asked

"Oh Maria, I want to tell you so badly, but if they ask you, you can truthfully say that you don't know what was said." Robert said "If they lie, and I am alive I will go and find you and we'll become American citizens, and live a new life."

"Oh...Oh my...my" Maria was still taking in all this news.

"I hate you make you feel worse but I can only stay for 2 or 3 months." Robert replied sheepishly. "Well Maria, you especially need your rest, so let's go to sleep."

She agreed and they headed of to their bed together.

"Maria darling, you stay in bed. Today is your day." Robert, still three-quarters asleep said.

"Oh Robert, I have to say that I have so much energy. I feel as though I'm not pregnant! That's a funny thought! Come here and eat your eggs before they get cold" Maria said as she placed Robert's plate at his seat. Maria could hear as he climbed out of the squeaky, creaky, old bed. Shortly, he came out into the kitchen just as Maria set her plate down. They sat down, and Robert said the blessing and they began to eat. When they had finished eating Maria took their plate over to where 2 buckets of steaming hot water were on the floor.

"What is the other bucket for?" Robert asked as he hoped he wouldn't hear the answer he heard.

"Carlotta is coming over today. We're going to do the wash. Juan is coming over and you and he are going to pick up a few items. Then they are staying over for dinner." Maria replied cheerfully

"Who's having dinner with you? I thought you were already booked?" Carlotta said as she and Juan entered the house.

"Carlotta you know that I can only have 2 guests over for dinner and I am having my 2 best friends for dinner tonight!!" Maria said as she and Carlotta laughed.

"Juan, you and Robert head out to do what you have to do. And we'll get the clothes washed and the best soup in Nicaragua made for you. Made by the best Chef of course!" Maria said as she grabbed Carlotta by the shoulders.

"Alright but we'll only be gone for 2 hours. Don't let those kids come without us!" Robert said as he grabbed his horses' saddle.

"We're not promising anything" Carlotta said as she gently nudged her Juan to the door.

"Are you sure we should leave?" he turned to Robert, looking doubtful.

"I don't know, but I do know that they're gonna chase us out of here if we don't leave soon!" Robert replied, and both of the men left.

"Those vegetables done yet?" Maria asked Carlotta "this water is boiling like lava!"

"Yes, just finished...the last one... There done." said Carlotta as she finished and began to rise, "Ow... That hurt" A sharp pain went through her stomach and lasted a short time. Carlotta handed Maria the red bell pepper slices. Carlotta went and sat back down again to cut up her carrots and potatoes.

In about 10 minutes later... "Ow there it goes again ..." Carlotta said as she stood up and, "Oh my, Maria my water broke!!" Carlotta said as she gave Maria the vegetables

"Let's go see Dr. Keller... Like now!" Maria said as she doused their fire and headed out with Carlotta. Together, they headed down to the doctor's office, as quickly as they could.

"Dr. Keller, are you in?" Maria called into the office

"Yes Maria, Oh and Carlotta, how are you two today?" asked Dr. Keller

"Did we catch you at a busy time?" Maria asked, with a worried face.

"Oh no, not at all." said Dr. Keller. "What can I do for you?"

"My water broke and I'm having contractions." Carlotta blurted out.

"Oh my, well come back into my office." Dr. Keller said as he escorted Carlotta out of the entry way. "Maria why don't you have a seat and I'll be back in a minute." he called over his shoulder

"Ok." Maria replied as she went to find a chair. Just before she was about to sit down..."Dr. Keller, Come quick!" Maria hollered. When Dr. Keller came in he found Maria standing over a puddle of liquid.

"Looks like you two planned to have your babies on the same night." He said with a chuckle. Maria just stared. "What's the matter?"

"Contraction." she replied

"Oh boy, come on back here!" he said as he lead Maria into the back room and onto a bed next to Carlotta.

"Is this all you boys be needin?'" asked a man's voice

"Ya Mike, that'll be it for this month. Add it to my credit please." Juan said with a smile.

"Yes sir." Mike replied as he handed Juan a bag full of things he and Carlotta needed. He went and joined Robert with his bag over by the door.

"Bye Mike!" Robert said as he and Juan left the market, and mounted their horses "Let's go get some of that soup!"

"Oh yeah!"

It took nearly a half hour to finally get back to Robert's and Maria's. They walked into the kitchen to find it empty.

"They started the soup." Robert said. He stuck his finger in the pot to feel the temperature, "They've been gone for about...an hour?"

"Good. Wonder where they went?" Juan said. Robert and Juan's faces suddenly changed from confused to excited

"Doctor!!" they both yelled at the same time and jumped on their horses and rode to the doctor's office as fast as they could. They both ran into the door just as Dr. Keller was coming out of the back room.

"Are they here?" Robert asked

"Did they have the babies?" Juan asked

"What did they have?" Robert asked

"Wow, hold on. Yes, Maria and Carlotta are here, and in active labor. They have been waiting for you. They're in the back room. You can go on back, I'll be there shortly." Dr. Keller replied

"Thanks!" Robert and Juan said as they headed for the back room.

"Oh Robert!" Maria yelled as she held her arm out to her husband.

"Juan!!" Carlotta said as she did the same.

Within 6 hours Carlotta delivered her first daughter. She and Juan named her Carmen Augusta Hope Sanchez, after Carlotta. An hour later, Maria delivered Esther Audrey JoHanson. Both families were overjoyed at their new additions.