That day was October 25, 2004 and I was seven months pregnant. Technically I was six months along because the doctors explained to me that they get the due date from the first period that I missed, which was April 3, so the due date was January 3rd, but Zac and I were counting from the day I got pregnant which him and I both knew what day that was.

So, on the Zac and Dirbee calendar I was seven months pregnant.

Our families just thought we were weird, but both Zac and I were used to that by now.

I was thinking about all that confusing stuff as me and Zac walked into the ice cream parlor, holding hands.

Meredith was already in the restaurant and she was talking to Jessie and Alyssa. I was sure that she was telling them about me and Zac’s fight.

I was so extremely thankful that Meredith had become friends with Alyssa. I found that I ignored her a lot so; when she started getting lonely she could just walk to Isaac's and gossip it up with Lyssa.

Zac and I headed up to the counter to order our ice cream. In just the short time that I was trying to figure out what I wanted to get I saw Alyssa move to Isaac and whisper something to him.

Then when she was done I saw Isaac lean over to Taylor.

“Zac,” I said putting my hand on his forearm to get him attention.

“Yeah?” he said while pulling out his wallet to see how much money he had with him.

“The chain has begun,” I said taking my hand off of his arm.

“You’re not serious!” he said petrified.

“Yeah, I am. Here watch it,” I said pointing it out. I followed me and Zac’s problem around the room.

Here’s how the “Hanson Gossip Chain” went.

Outside source to Alyssa, Alyssa to Isaac, Isaac to Taylor, to Natalie, to Avery, to Jessie, to Chris, then to Mack, next to Walker, and then finally it got to Diana. Watching in awe I saw the fight I had had today move to Diana.

Then we saw her get up and both me and Zac turned around fast, ordered, paid, and tried to get away, but we weren’t quick enough to Diana.

“I heard what happened today,” her simple statement had quieted the restaurant; I swear you could’ve heard a pin drop.

“Uhh, yeah, it was just a little fight, nothing too big,” Zac said as he took my hand and not letting go. My big strong man was genuinely afraid of his mother.

“We’re fine now. It was just a little understand. We’re fine now,” I added again. I wasn’t afraid of Diana so I decided to stand up for Zac and myself on my own.

“Well, that’s good. But, Zachary, if I ever have to hear anything like this again, well, let’s just put it this way. Don’t even try me young man,” she meant business and even the people working there knew it.

“Mom, it’s not like you can ground me or anything,” Zac said and while he said it I saw everyone in his family give him a look like, “Don’t tread that water!”

”Oh yeah, you’re going to be a smart towards me now huh? You’re only eighteen Zachary; you’re still on my insurance. Everything you have now that you think is a luxury can be gone in a second.

“Now let’s see how you handle that. Like I said; don’t even try me,” she finished just as our order was put on the counter.

We picked it up and just walked out of the restaurant.

We sat down on a bench to the right of the door. We hadn’t said a word to each other. We just sat there, we both knew what we wanted to say, but we both knew we dare not say it.

That’s when Isaac came out. He sat down next to Zac and Zac just looked at me and gave me this look like, “Oh geez, another lecture.”

“Zac,” Isaac started.

“Yes,” Zac said in a sarcastic tone to his older brother.

“Zac, don’t give me an attitude. You know that I love you and I know you’ve made mistakes. Hell, I’ve been there by your side through all of your mistakes.

“But, what I don’t want to see happen in you make a mistake where in the end something happens where you and Dirbee, Heaven forbid, leave our family.

“Mom doesn’t want to see that either. Mom loves you and she loves Dirb, a lot. She also loves her grandchild. She doesn’t want anything to happen that’s bad. Do you understand?” Isaac said putting his hand on Zac’s shoulder.

“Yeah, I understand,” Zac told Isaac than he turned to me. “I’m so incredibly sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking. I love you with all that I am and I would never leave you or Jordi.” He leaned over and kissed my forehead.

“Thank you baby, and I accept your apology and I realize that every human makes mistakes,” I said returning Zac’s kiss.

“That’s a very good attitude Dirb,” Isaac began, “Just keep that in mind with your kids when they end up breaking something valuable of yours.”

“You’re right. Thanks for the tip Ike,” I said grateful for any kind of parenting tips.

“Oh no problem, I’m always here for any kind of parenting advice if you need it. But, I also have other types of good advice and right now Zac, I think you owe Mom an apology,” Isaac said being the big brother that he’d always known how to be.

“You’re right, come on Dirb,” and at that Zac got up off the bench and walked into the ice cream parlor with me trailing behind him like a love sick puppy. He walked straight up to his mom and sat down next to her.

“Mom,” he said getting her attention.

“Yes?” she said turning to him, obviously still upset.

“I wanted to apologize it was stupid what I did, and it was stupid how I acted towards you, I’m sorry.”

“Zac, baby, I know you just made a mistake and I’m sorry for letting you explain your side of the story,” she had taken Zac’s hand and I could tell immediately they were back to their normal mother-son relationship.

“It’s okay mom. Umm, I hate to do this, but Dirbee and I are going to go home,” at that he got up, hugged all of his siblings good-bye, then he took my hand and pulled me out of the restaurant, ignoring my arguments to stay.

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