It was about a month before Madeline’s due date, and the parents-to-be were growing more excited by the day. They laid in the bed one night talking.
Todd held Madeline in his arms. “It’s almost baby time!” he joked. Madeline laughed. “I know, I can’t wait. I feel like an elephant.” she said.
Todd rubbed her belly. “You might be an elephant, but you‘re a beautiful one.” He joked.
She laughed and laid her head down on his shoulder. She sighed, closing her eyes. She thought for a moment, then quickly picked her head up. “Todd!” She blurted out. “Where are we going to put her?”
Todd looked around the room. “Well, I just thought we would… I mean, we can…” He looked confused. “Man, I have no idea.” Madeline suddenly started to panic. “Oh my god, Todd, I can’t believe we are this close to having a baby and we don’t even know where we’re going to put it!” She sat up in the bed.
Todd pulled the blankets down and sat up next to her. He started rubbing her shoulders. “It’s alright, Madeline, I figure something out.”
She pulled away. “Like what? What are we going to do this close to my due date? We can’t move!” She started to cry.
Todd was thinking hard for a solution. Suddenly he got an idea. “You know what, Tracy’s husband is into construction.” he said to her.
She looked irritated. “So what, you’re going to build it a house in the backyard next to Jake?” She said sarcastically.
Todd laughed. He couldn’t help but think she was so cute when she was frustrated. “No, although that’s not a bad idea.” He laughed. “I was thinking… I bet he would help me build an addition onto this place for pretty cheap. All I would have to do is get permission from the office guys.”
Madeline calmed down. “Really? Do you think it’s possible?” Todd started rubbing her shoulders again. “Oh yeah. I’ll talk to everybody tomorrow and get it all worked out.”
Madeline laid back down. Todd laid down beside her and brushed his fingers through her hair. “Thank you so much, Todd. I’m sorry I got upset.”
He smiled. “It’s alright, my beautiful elephant.” She playfully punched him in the arm.



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The next day, Todd talked to the people at the trailer court office. “Sure, Todd.” the lady said. “You guys have fixed the place up so nice, you can do whatever you want with it.”
He was excited. “Great, thanks so much!” He left from there and went straight to work.
He pulled Tracy aside when he got there and asked about her husband. “Tracy, I know you’re husband does construction work.” He said. “do you think he would have a little extra time to help me build an addition onto the trailer?”
Tracy thought for a moment. “I’m sure he would love to help. He can’t seem to get enough work.” She joked.
He laughed. “well, I’ll gladly pay him for helping me, I just can’t do it all myself before the baby’s born.”
Tracy looked surprised. “Great day, Todd, isn’t that baby due any day?”
He smiled. “In a month.”
She laughed. “You like to live on the edge, don’t you?” she pulled out her cell phone. “I’ll let my husband know what you’re up to.” Her husband agreed to it, and he and Todd constructed a perfect sized room onto the trailer right next to he and Madeline’s bedroom.
Madeline was so happy about how it turned out. “This is perfect.” She said.



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The baby was due any day now. The nursery was complete, decorated and ready for their little boy or girl. Tracy and the girls at work threw Madeline a beautiful baby shower where she got tons of gifts for the nursery. It looked like a room from a fairy tale. One evening, Madeline went out to dinner with Tracy and Kimberly leaving Todd alone at the trailer. He watched TV for a while, not knowing what do by himself. He was happy that Madeline was making friends, though. She needed that in her life. He walked to the baby’s room to make sure that everything was in place.
He picked a lonely teddy bear off the floor. “This isn’t where you should go.” He said as he walked over to the crib. He went to set the bear down and stopped. He looked down at the empty crib, the sheets pulled tight and the blankets neatly folded, all ready for a baby. He gently place the bear at the foot of the bed. He still stared, thinking about how in a matter of days he would be a father. “Wow.” he said aloud. “it’s really happening.” He leaned over, resting his arms on the crib railing and looked up. “Mamma,” he said “you were so good to me growing up, please give me the strength to be a good daddy to my child.” He looked around at the colorful toys and tiny clothing. “Please don’t let me hurt my family like my father did to us.” He wiped a tear from his face and walked out of the room.