Donny arrived to work not expecting applause and others praising Loril. Entering the break room all local workers, accept Ray, were gathered around one table viewing Bill's work laptop. Bringing Donny they replay the surveillance footage of Loril kicking Miguel. Putting a smile on Donny's face the action created concern in mind for her and his employment. Assured all is good and Miguel is in the security office until his employment agency comes to retrieve him to send back home. The local ladies all had negative moments with Miguel so they ask Donny if there's anything they can do for Loril. He said two things off the cuff help paying off their debt and Loril would like a tour of the green-house. They of course said a tour of the green-house could be arranged.

In Richard Novo's office the office staff were watching the same surveillance footage, several times, looking for other camera angles.

Miguel sat quietly in the security room waiting for either Stacy or Mick to take down his side of things. Merely exchanging smirks and winks Stacy and Mick carried on their daily duties waiting for his agency to arrive. Finished his and ignoring Miguel, Mick reviewed parking lot surveillance from yesterday, again seeing nothing. His curious nature follows Miguel's workday loosing track of the man during scheduled afternoon break was about to question Miguel when his ride arrived.

Finally getting to the workday the green-house encountered a problem. The last row of the Garilic Jelly strain is beginning to go moldy and buggy, slowing down the day. Strother and Jose joined the green-house crew to cut down plants and send anything decent to the Trim room.

In the Trim room the conveyor wasn't turned on merely a work surface, those trimming had a full bin of branchy buds on the floor between them. Each individual bud was first checked for mold or bug. If either were seen the bud was sniped off the branch and left on the conveyor. A waste bin was placed at the end of the conveyor, and turned on just to clear the belt periodically. Saved buds were few and sometimes only one left on a branch, they were placed in plastic bagged bins on rolling carts behind each line of workers.

Using the provided phone Donny called Loril to tell her not only does he know what happened but saw. Assuring her no one is mad at her or him they were only curious to what was said as the video seen had no audio. With noticeable joy in the voice she rehashes the event. Before hanging up warns her he may actually be late tonight.

Finishing the day and all the Garlic Jelly plants at 5:30 that afternoon. Friday with the sanitation crew gone already Donny stayed with Bill to finish entering waste weights and removal. The Latin crew finished the basic room cleaning and left at 6:30.

At seven'o'clock Donny was astonished by the weight total of the day. Of the one-hundred and eleven pounds of marijuana the company expected to profit from Thursday only saw twelve pounds, thirteen ounces, and one gram sent to be dried. Almost one hundred pounds of moldy buggy bud is bagged and tagged for destruction. Inquiring if it and even the waste outside could be put to better use in extract, paper or textile Donny finds out the processing and equipment required is more than the company wants to spend at this moment. Bill does agree it could be used for extracts but the place that buys their weed wants clean bud. The paper and textile idea had been discussed when the place first opened but it almost requires a separate facility to be built to happen.

Asking if the bud should just be tossed directly into the waste bin outside Donny's reminded it still has to be logged and weighed by sanitation. Leaving the building Bill and Donny's cars are the only ones left in the parking lot. Bill's car closer to the door he gets in and rolling right away. Bill honks in passing, Donny glances to him returning a simple wave. Seeing the waste bins Donny's curious to how full they get and notes it's still the same bin since starting. Stepping up a ladder rung on the containers side Donny peers over the edge his senses hit in marijuana smell. The mulched up green is almost to the top of the bin. Donny is in true awe of how much wasted weed has been collected.

Completing the first walk around of the evening night security guard Ed Cooper approached Donny just to see who it was. After introductions Donny explains just being curious to how much gets thrown out. Ed informs him they were told the company had been called today to come pick up the bin, however a mechanical breakdown has waste company short a vehicle and they may not be able to make it until Tuesday. When Ed realizes who Donny is they talk about Loril as he too saw her video.

Donny arrives home late this night, all smiles for Loril, they sit discussing the day over dinner.

***

Saturday morning Donny spent with the Granada replacing a brake line and bleeding off the lines. Re-creating her mother's lemon coconut-squares Loril occasionally glances out the kitchen window towards barn checking on Donny.

Coming back in to wash up Donny stops to smell the baking in the air. Getting to close to the yellowy squares covered in shredded coconut he's sternly reminded they're for tomorrow.

Discussing possibilities of Sunday Loril doesn't feel a couple batches of squares sufficient for the occasion and wondered if they should have bought a baby gift or a novelty item that indicates new parents. Donny being financially conscious felt squares should be good enough. Listening to Loril it became clear to Donny her rational, it's about a baby, babies are cute, there should be a cute gift. She however never mentions that financially they are better off than ever before. Throwing out suggestions Donny's reminded of a few brand new baby outfits in a closest that were gifts intended for their baby. Loril had sentimental reasons for not wanting to give them up. Except one a sailor-suit onesie she didn't like however it was a baby shower gift from Debbie. Discussing other ideas requiring spending money Donny kept trying to re-sell the sailor-suit re-gifting. The points that changed her mind were; she's barely a friend anymore, she liked it so she'll like it again, because our baby hadn't the chance your baby should. After hearing the last thought she loudly sighed pondering the thought. After a couple minutes she rose up to not only look for it but wrap it up as well. Loril's final thought on the decision, "See what kind of friend she really is then."

***

Sunday morning Loril would look at the wrapped gift in long contemplative thought. The third time catching her it was appearing to Donny like she'd put a bomb in there instead of a onesie. Calling her on it received a fleeting grin followed by a lengthy monalog debating possible meanings, feelings and outcomes. After a few minutes and the ideas becoming more dramatic Donny makes her rethink again stating, the things we think will happen rarely go that way, typically opposite. Of course she doesn't go with positive ones where Debbie merely says thank you.

The conversation carries on the truck ride over to a point Loril doesn't even want to go. Humorously she was driving and kept rolling onward even when Donny was fine with going home, knowing the squares would be all his.

Stopping at Debbie and Rod's townhouse she debating going in or not. However Jerry arriving draws them from the safe confines of the truck's cab. Donny picks up the container of squares to ensure their safety. Loril studies the gift one more time even picking it up. With a final mental debate on whether the gift is a good idea or not, she slides it under the truck's bench seat, for the time being.

Loril follows Donny and Jerry while they chat about knowing what's going on and Rod is the only one that isn't aware he's about to be a father.

Over all the time Jerry knocks on the door while opening it. Stepping in he announces their arrival. Greeting them Debbie steps out from the front-room where she's chatting with other women. Debbie delightfully take the squares from Donny noting the men folk are down in the man-cave and gestures to Loril to join her and the ladies in the front-room. Jerry didn't have to be told and leads Donny downstairs.

Nervously Loril joins the ladies finding a dinning chair to sit on. Loril gladly accepts a glass of wine while being introduced to the others. Three of the ladies are family to Debbie, her mother Doreen a sister Donna and a cousin Dianne. These women Loril knows and they inquire about her physical health. Two others are Debbie's neighbors, Sally and Monica, her best friend and also friend of Loril, Kathleen, who asks about life out in the country. The last two ladies Loril meets are Debbie's co-workers, Pattie and Cheryl both a couple years older but Loril recalls them from high-school when staring out and wishing to be as pretty and together as them. Being seated next to them Loril spends the first hour relaxing talking about teachers and the school.

In the man-cave Donny's introduced to the women's significant others. Walter, Debbie's father he recalls well and they shake hands. Don, Donna's boyfriend they nod to each other. Cliff, Dianne's fiancé and notes he doesn't want to be there. Rod's male neighbors' counterparts, Kurt, Monica's husband and Irvin, Sally's husband they exchange simple waves. Lastly Malcom who's presently dating Cheryl and lets it known he's just glad to get out and have a drink and watch a game, not allowed to watch sports on Cheryl's TV. Given a beer Donny takes a seat on a bar stool joining them watch sports highlights of the week.

After an hour of chatter Debbie was ready to make her announcement to Rod and called the men up from the basement. Donny sidled up beside Loril taking her hand.

With all assembled Debbie takes Rod by the hand and pulls him over near her family, "Rod babe I love you so much and though things aren't always sunshine and roses in our life I want you to know you mean so much to me and I want to know I couldn't be more thrilled to have you as my partner in the next stage of life as we become parents." Focused on his eyes she waits for his reaction. As well as everyone else there knowing.

At first smiling it faded from Rod's face looking down to her belly in contemplation, "I'm so glad my mother said she couldn't make it today." His eyes refocus on Debbie's eyes, "does she know?"

"No?" Debbie's becoming annoyed he's not at least smiling, "are you happy about this or what? Because I sure am."

"No, it's not that," slowly a smile returns to Rod's face, "That means I get to tell her."

"Of course," Debbie and everyone else there breathes a sigh of relief.

Many varied congratulations are uttered to them

Debbie needs confirmation, "so you're happy about this. Right?"

"Oh yes thank-you my love for providing us with child," He kisses her lips though she doesn't kiss back.

Pulling back Debbie notes, "this means some things need to change around here." Inferring time to grow up and take responsibility for your actions.

"Of course," He smiles deflecting to the group, "at first I was like no way. I can't be a dad I'm only in my thirties I'm not ready for that... but my dad did it in his twenties. So I should be able to do it a better job at being a Dad, at least more fun."

Hoping that a good sign Walter shakes Rod's hand, "almost had me worry there a second boy. But kinda reminded me how I reacted when Doreen told me about Debbie and kinda when Doreen told me about Debbie and you. Ah you two should be okay, at least you've a job."

"Sure thanks sir," Rod returns the shake.

Doreen hands Debbie a thick pink envelope with card inside containing cash and bank form of registered secondary education savings account opened. "For your baby and the Baby's future."

"Oh thanks mom," Debbie kisses her cheek before opening it to read the card within.

This action inspires the other ladies to open purses retrieving brightly colored envelopes and small wrapped baby gifts. Almost embarrassed for not even getting a card Loril squeezes Donny's hand.

Half understanding Donny pats her hand with his free hand, "I'll get it dear," Releasing her hand makes his way to the truck to obtain the wrapped gift they brought.

Loril makes a failing attempt to retake his hand and pull him back fearing their re-gift may just be embarrassing with so many unfamiliar people there. Nervously she watches him go and awaiting his return.