Their friendship had started in a house in Burnt Oak, but it blossomed as Joanna’s belly began to grow. In the beginning, Fran’s intent had only been to lend a shoulder to lean on, but when Joanna’s tears eventually dried up, and she finally wanted to get out of the house, who better to go shopping with than Fran.

With two sisters, both of whom had children, Fran was well versed with what shops catering to babies and expectant mothers contained, so when they entered the first, Joanna was tickled with Fran’s enjoyment of her surroundings. She tinkered with mobiles, played with baubles, tittered at the tiny shoes lined up in a row, and pulled outfit after outfit from the racks, eagerly stating she adored each and every one. She chatted with the clerks as if she was the one expecting, asking all the things Joanna had forgotten to ask, and by the end of the day, Joanna felt better than she had in weeks.

It was nice to have someone to talk to, and even though Evelyn had always been there for her, having a friend closer to her own age made Joanna feel less alone. So, a few days later, feeling slightly nervous about her upcoming twelfth-week prenatal appointment, Joanna called Fran and asked if she would be willing to go with her, and Fran didn’t have to think twice before she answered.

One appointment led to two and then to three, until Fran took it upon herself to coordinate her schedule with that of Joanna’s. They spent their weekends shopping until the nursery was complete and Joanna’s wardrobe overflowed with maternity clothes, and afterward, they met for lunches in the city and dinner at The Oaks with Millie. And when Joanna’s due date approached, Fran was honored when Joanna asked for her help again.

Acting as her coach, Fran sat by Joanna’s side during four weeks of natural childbirth classes, and then again, at ones involving the basics of babies, infant CPR, and how to nurse your child, and when Joanna was brought into the delivery room, bleeding and afraid, Fran was there to hold her hand through it all.

She had stumbled only once in their friendship when she had tried to get a hold of Addison, but the misstep had come from love and concern, and it was quickly excused by the woman who had become Fran’s best friend as well.

“Sorry, no tit viewing in the car,” Joanna said, chuckling as she opened the bag to her side and pulled out a baby bottle. “That’s why I had George stop at the house. I can’t believe I forgot to do it, but I knew she wasn’t going to last and I sure as hell wasn’t going to make it back to the hotel.”

“Oh, you pumped.”