December 2nd, 1995 (Saturday)

Another year was about to finish. The school vacation was close and, Andrea's belly already showed a small lump. Her breasts had gotten quite bigger. It was still not possible to know the baby's gender, but Andrea was feeling that it would be a girl. Mary Claire would be her name.

The whole Toledo family received Jackson's invitation to spend the weekend at his farm. He and Maddie said they had something to celebrate. Maddie's parents and siblings already lived at the place ever since the main house was built.

A true palace, with many rooms. It was exaggeratedly big, in Maddie's opinion, but she never said anything to her husband. Around the house there was a playground area, a pool, sport courts and a barbecue. Even a big recording studio was built. Jackson decided to do horse breeding and his stable had a nice squad, it was making good profit.

Like the Toledos, he also built a small village for the employees and their families, with very comfortable houses.

On another part of the land, very distant from the main house and the stable, it was constructed an arena for concerts with a space for a big crowd.

The place's infrastructure included even a heliport. Tall walls surrounded the place and isolated it from the other areas of the farm.

The project was still waiting to be approved by the government. The idea was to bring musical concerts to that area.

Before lunch, Jackson asked for everyone's attention.

─ I appreciate all of you accepting my invitation. It's a very special occasion to me and Maddie and it needs to be celebrated. We would like to say that, after a lot of treatments and frustrated expectations, finally our family is growing. We're gonna be parents and we'll need all the support from family and friends, because we have three coming all at once.

The fuss was so big that no one could understand each other, everybody talking at the same time, wanting to hear the details. Jackson asked for a minute of silence to continue.

─ Maddie will complete four months of pregnancy. Our delay to tell the news was a precaution. Until three months, the risk of spontaneous abortion is considered normal and, it had happened before. The cares will still be constant to keep these babies healthy in their mother's belly. I don't need to tell you how happy we are and how proud I am of my warrior wife, who faced so many obstacles to accomplish our dream. We really appreciate the support from this big family. To make me even happier, our kids will be the same age as Andrea's and Ollie's babies. We'll have many children running around here together soon.

Edward spoke loud and clear one of his jokes.

─ Lou, we could try having some twins.

─ That's not funny, Eddy. We already have four kids. That's more than enough.

The laughter was all around. Lunch went on very happy. After the families' musicians decided to play and sing until night.

On the ultrasound exam some days after, Maddie and Jackson finally discovered they would have three girls. They would be three Marys: Mary Elizabeth, Mary Louise and, Mary Victoria.