THURSDAY - JULY 15, 1976

Sam leaned back against the white carved dresser in Gisette's bedroom. They had just arrived this morning, pulling into the drive of their Malibu rental house at dawn.

The entire group had gotten their suits on and headed for the beach, right in their back yard. Gisette stopped Sam on the way out, asking him to come to her room.

Sam already knew, now that the tour was over, Gisette was out of a job. She told them all about a week ago that she was going back to Paris.

He stood now, and watched as she rearranged the items in her overnight bag, nervously.

"What's up, Gisette? I know you didn't ask me here to watch you pack and unpack your shit."

"I just wanted to let you know.." Gisette licked her lips, nervously. "Well, you know I said I was moving on..." She looked up at him, almost seeming embarrassed. "I've met someone, his name is Helmut. He's a business man. He's from Germany. I know you've seen him around these past two weeks."

Sam shrugged, now that he thought of it, he remembered seeing a short grey haired man at nearly every hotel they had stayed in. But he hadn't been paying too much attention. He had been out every night, after the show, going to clubs and bars in every city, asking all the bands that he met if they knew of the She-Devils. The mystery girl from the outdoor concert.

Gisette looked at him in disgust. "You didn't even notice." Then she shook her head, determinedly. "I'm going to travel with Helmut, so if you need to reach me for anything, you can go through my father."

"Does that mean you'll give me a divorce?"

"I don't know." Gisette shrugged her shoulders. "I'll let you know."

"So, is that it?" Sam turned to leave, then a newspaper on the dresser caught his eye. He studied a notice that was featured on the front page of the entertainment section. The She-Devils were playing at a club in San Francisco tomorrow night. He took the paper, stuffing it in his pocket. "Have a good trip." He said absently over his shoulder as he left Gisette's room.

MONDAY - SEPTEMBER 6, 1976

"You still look good in your bikini." Midgie told Sarah as they spread the quilt on the beach.

Sarah let out a loud laugh and opened the bag of chips. "I'm only 3 months! Please, that will happen soon enough! Especially if I keep eating like this." She had gotten through the morning sickness phase and her appetite had returned with a vengeance.

The two girls were the first ones on the beach so far, in what was promising to be a beautiful Labor Day. Midgie had come back from art school in Cleveland, and Sarah had driven in from Penn State, where she decided she would attend one more semester.

Her doctor said it would be good for her to go, she was healthy, and so far, her pregnancy was going good. She just had to be in town for her monthly appointments.

Her parents had given her their Vista Cruiser to drive while she was away. She had a small apartment off campus and when she went back after Labor Day, she would start her job at the campus bookstore. She also wanted to check out a job at a small pub nearby, waiting tables on Friday and Saturday nights. She knew that her social life was going to be limited, so she wanted to fill the time making money.

"What time will Pete and Toni get here?" Sarah asked. She and Pete were still not seeing each other socially. This weekend would be the first time they had gotten together since the fourth of July. She had seen Toni around town and they had been friendly towards each other, but Sarah was still a little nervous about spending the day with them.

"They went to Niagara Falls for the night, so probably around noon." Midgie opened a beer, then paused and looked at Sarah. "Still just one beer a day?"

"Yep, and I think I'll wait and have it later. I brought root beer for me."

"Are you waiting to drink it when Pete is here?"

"I may need it when Pete is here." Sarah said, dryly.

Midgie shook her head, "I don't think you will have any problems. You've been doing great."

"There isn't a lot that I can do about it." Sarah's hand rubbed over her still flat belly. "This little one is determining my future for me."

Sarah leaned back on her elbows and laid her head back, letting her hair lay out on the quilt. She hadn't worn a braid since she was with Sam. "Right now I have to focus on the changes that this baby will bring. That kind of forces all the other things to the back of my mind."

"Are you still having nightmares about Sam?" Midgie worried.

"Not as much, but when I do, they are always the same." Sarah sifted the sand through her fingers, watching it as she spoke. "I wonder if Gisette is showing yet. I don't even know her due date, but it's gotta be right before mine."

"You can't have that baby until my spring break. That will be March 7th." Midgie declared, changing the subject.

"My due date is March 3rd. I really don't think I will want to go any longer!" Sarah laughed.

Dave walked up to their quilt, joining into their conversation, as he sat down beside Midgie. "Do you want a boy or girl?"

"Girl." Sarah and Midgie answered at the same time, then laughed together.

"Oh no! The males in this town won't have a chance!" Dave teased.

"Although a boy wouldn't be bad. One that is as handsome as his daddy." Sarah said, then shook her head. "But I will not let him become a musician."

***

The three of them spent the morning on the beach, soaking up the warm rays of the sun and cooling off in the water. It was nearly 1:00 when Dave said he had to go check on things at the campground.

The girls decided to go back to the tent, Sarah's stomach was telling her that it was time to eat again. They had brought hot dogs to cook over the fire and she really wanted one smothered with ketchup, mustard and relish.

She was biting into her hot dog, eyes closed, enjoying the taste, when she heard Midgie laugh.

"My god, Sarah! Were you that hungry?"

"I can't help it, this tastes really good." She took another bite, chewing it and smiling. "I just might eat two of these today."

Sarah swallowed and set the hot dog down when she saw Pete's car pull in. "I think I'll get that beer now." She said, standing up to walk to the cooler.

Midgie came over to take the bottles from her hands. "Everything will be cool. You'll see."

Sarah pulled out two more of the ice cold bottles, and walked over to the table where Toni was standing. "Hey, how was Niagara Falls?" She handed one of the bottles to her.

Toni was several inches taller than her, and Sarah thought she reminded her of an exotic princess, with the dark chocolate eyes and the long, thick black hair. Toni was wearing shorts and a tee, like the other girls, but she still managed to exude a sexy confidence.

"It was fun. I love going there." Toni took the beer and drank, deeply. "Thanks. I needed this. It's going to be a hot day out here." She held the bottle, peeling at the label. "You know, Sarah, I don't want there to be anything weird between us, okay?" Toni looked over at Pete, who was at the other end of the table, making a plate of food for himself. "Maybe we can take a walk?"

"Sure." Sarah sipped at her beer, then announced to the others. "We'll be back in a bit. I'm going to show Toni the glass beach."

Sarah saw Pete and Toni exchange looks and realized that this was something the two of them had talked about. Pete gave Toni a wink and a smile, as if reassuring her. The intimacy in that look told Sarah that their relationship had taken a deeper turn.

Sarah and Toni talked as they walked the path to the glass beach. Toni told Sarah about the teaching internship she would have in the fall. Sarah knew that Toni was in the same classes as Pete, since he was majoring in education too and she wondered where Pete was interning. Toni asked about Sarah's apartment and Sarah was telling her about life on campus when she parted the bushes at the end of the path.

Toni stepped out on the beach and laughed. "This is so cool!" She walked around, bending to touch the glass stones. "I never would have known this was here."

"I like to think of it as our private beach." Sarah stood and looked out on the lake. She hadn't been back here since that night with Sam. The night he told her that he loved her. Possibly the night she got pregnant. According to the doctor, that was the week that she conceived. She wanted to believe that it was that night, when their love was so strong.

"Sarah..." Toni stood behind her, reaching out to touch her arm. "I know you and Pete really love each other." She gave a short laugh. "Everyone in town knows it, too."

The words hit Sarah with an impact to her chest. Pete was having to deal with the town gossips, while Sarah had been out of town for the past three weeks, getting settled in at school. She knew that everyone had seen him and Toni out together. Then it occurred to her that Toni was probably being talked about too.

"I'm sorry, Toni. I know what you're going through." Sarah said, sadly. "Just ignore them, and know that you aren't doing anything wrong. In a few months, I'll be the main topic, I can promise you that."

She turned and put her hand on her belly. "I'm pregnant." She smiled at Toni's shocked look. "It's not Pete's."

"That's why you two broke up?" Toni asked, she took a step back and looked away. "Wow! That kind of explains a lot." She paused as she thought about it. "I knew there was something he wasn't telling me."

"He said that it was up to me to tell everyone. We know that everyone will say that it's his baby. When I come home after this semester, I'll be staying. It will be obvious that I'm pregnant. I will just remind everyone that I was gone for those few weeks in June. If they're smart enough to count, they will realize that's when I got pregnant." Sarah looked at Toni, questioning. "Did Pete tell you about that?"

"He told me you had left town with a guy, but that he treated you badly and you came home. He said this guy really messed with your head." Toni said, sympathetically. "I know what that's like. I stayed with a guy for five years, before I wised up. No girl has to stay with an asshole."

Sarah took Toni's arm and led her to the grey twisted log that she and Sam had shared a spot on. "I'm going to tell you the whole story, Toni. I want you to understand that as much as I loved Pete, I love Sam so much more. And he's the baby's father."

The girls sat and talked for nearly an hour. Sarah sipped her beer as she told Toni everything about her and Sam and what finally led to her leaving him. She sifted through the sand as she explained how hard it was for her when she came back home. After she had finished, she looked at the pile of beach glass she had accumulated. It was full of reds, and yellows, normally the colors she kept. It dawned on her that she had been looking for a specific color. She had been looking for a blue glass.

Sarah rubbed her hands, and stood up. "I'm not telling Sam. But I'm not going to let anyone think that this baby is Pete's."

"I'm glad you told me all this." Toni picked up a piece of brown glass and concentrated on rubbing off the grit. "I'm falling in love with Pete. I've always had a little crush on him, all through high school. I've always heard the rumors about you two, but I don't believe half the shit those old biddies say." She laughed. "Trust me, when the rumors of Pete and this baby start, I will be the loudest voice, telling them there is no way in hell that he is the father. And I can be pretty damned loud."

Sarah sighed, relief washing over her. "That's so good to hear. Pete needs someone to back him up. You're the one to do it." She swept her eyes over the lake as she wondered to herself how she was going to do it with no partner to back her up.

Toni chuckled softly, as she saw Pete come through the bushes. "Speak of the devil."

Pete crossed the small shore with his hands in his pockets. He slowed down as he got closer, his eyes on Toni. Sarah could feel the vibrations between the pair as they locked eyes. She stepped towards the path, using hunger as the excuse to leave and give them privacy.

She knew that Toni wasn't the only one falling in love. And she was surprised that she actually felt happiness for him. This last hour had Sarah convinced that Toni was going to be the best thing to ever happen to Pete.

SATURDAY - FEBRUARY 12, 1977

Sarah shifted into another position, trying unsuccessfully, to get comfortable. "Ok, sweetheart, stop kicking my side." She pulled her shirt up and rubbed her hand across the bump on the side of her protruding belly. "Is this a foot or an elbow?"

Jane leaned across from the other end of the couch, where the two were sharing an afghan while they watched The Carol Burnett Show. She felt the bump; pushing lightly around it, and the baby kicked, causing Sarah's belly to jump. She looked up at Sarah in delight and they both laughed as the kick was followed by several more. They watched the skin grow taut as the bump appeared again.

"I think that is the little buggers foot and I tickled it!" Jane laughed. She and Sarah were bonding even closer since Sarah had come home. She knew there were times when Sarah still missed Sam, she could tell by the sadness she saw on her face at times.

Sarah was questioning herself about her decision to not tell Sam. Jane made it clear to Sarah that they supported her, however she decided.

***

Her parents had gone to bed and Sarah had the downstairs to herself. This was her favorite time of the day, she could sit by herself in the darkened living room and talk to her baby. She would rub the endless circles over the tight skin, telling the baby about its father.

Tonight she sat silent as she rubbed over her taut skin, deep in thought. She had been going over and over in her mind, different things that could happen if she told Sam. And she still couldn't decide what to do.

She felt the baby getting restless as she lay still, and gave a little laugh. "Yeah, I know, kick more at bedtime! Is that what you'll be like when you are born, sweetheart? If you are a boy, you will be a hell of a kicker on a football team. At least, that's what your grandfather keeps telling me."

It still sounded strange to hear her parents referred to as grandparents. An even stranger thought was herself as Mommy. Her mind curved around to thoughts of Sam. She swiped a tear off her cheek. She was silent for awhile, her hands still circling lazily, and the baby was still as if listening to her.

"I can do this now because I know you can't understand me. I'm going to tell you again about how I met your daddy.... I never imagined it would turn out the way it has. I was on the beach, trying to lay out my quilt, and he offered to help me. I looked up at him and he was so handsome! I was hooked. We talked so much that first day, I was in love by the end of the evening. I think....."

Jane stood on the landing at the top of the stairs; she had been about to go down to get her magazines, to read before she fell asleep. But she stopped when she heard Sarah talking, now she slid down to sit on the top step; listening as Sarah talked about the first two days that she was with Sam. She held her hand over her mouth as Sarah described how Sam had swung her over the water; Jane could hear a longing in Sarah's voice that was heart breaking. She would love more than ever to help ease her daughter's mind.

"..and we talked that day, as we dried off in the sun. I'd never felt so happy with anyone before, and he said that I made him happy. It was beautiful." Sarah wiped another flow of tears off her cheeks. "It wasn't all bad, sweetheart, your daddy was, deep down, a really beautiful person....."

Jane stood up and crept stealthily down the hall. She would leave Sarah with her memories, Jane had heard enough to know that Sarah was still undecided about her decision to tell Sam or not.