The Bells- Desires of the Heart

The Bell children, Paris and Athan, are now 4 and 3 years old.

The Bells have started attending Christian Fellowship Church on Sunday mornings, out on the outskirts of Rosedale. Scarlet always leaned on her faith growing up in the difficult environment that she did-and Forrest grew up Baptist, so it's nice to be able to get back into a church family.

Forrest and Scarlett put on their Sunday best and gather up the kiddos and head out to church.

Athan's such a Mama's Boy. You'll usually find him clinging to Scarlett.

The place is already packed, and the family hurries inside.

Today's sermon is on thankfulness.  Scarlet peeks at her husband and her kids and squeezes them all a little closer. If there's one thing this girl knows about its how to be thankful.  Forrest catches her eye and shoots her a little half-smile. The last 5 years of her life being married to Forrest sometimes still feels like a dream that she's afraid to wake up from.  When she was young, every time she became comfortable and secure in her foster family, she was transferred.  She never belonged anywhere, and everyone she loved eventually left her.  Sometimes she wakes up in the night bathed in sweat, making sure that Forrest is still sleeping beside her.  Coming out of her reverie, she bows her head and says a little prayer, thanking God for her little sliver of paradise.  She's not used to having so much to loose.

After the service, Scarlett meets Cassandra Willis, Anthony Willis's wife- Forrest works with Anthony over at the Police Department. Cassandra jokes that Anthony drags her here to try to pray the party-girl out of her, which makes Scarlett chuckle and Anthony roll his eyes.

Gerard and Lorraine Wright, avid church-goers, like to blast some oldies music and dance in the church fellowship hall. They're such a riot.

Forrest meets an interesting character at the church- a visiting Egyptian tourist Rami Atif.  They hit it off right away, and Forrest feels his sleeping adventurous self roaring awake inside him.  He misses his exploring days a lot suddenly, and what used to be a dull ache is suddenly an open wound.  Challenging himself, the thrill of a new discover in a foreign world- it all comes flooding back to him. He hasn't gone on a single trip in his marriage, what with having 2 kids and becoming established at a new job; but now that both of his kids are a bit older and out of diapers, he silently vows to have a discussion with his wife about going on a trip in the very near future.

When they get home, Scarlett busies herself making grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch.

And the kiddos play happily in Paris's room during the afternoon.

Before long the kids' bedtime rolls around, and Scarlett and Forrest put them down.

When him and his wife sit down in front of the TV to relax, Forrest clears his throat and decides that now is as good a time as any to have the discussion with his wife about going on an explorer trip; but before he can get the words out, it turns out that Scarlett wants to discuss something with him, too.  "So hunny, I've been thinking....I know you're only 29, but I'll be 34 in a month, and I wanted to know what you thought about having more children.  Paris and Athan are getting older, Paris will be in school soon, my own biological clock is ticking, and I really want to add to our family."  Her eyes sparkle at him, and her voice is thick with emotion.

Forrest is a bit taken aback.  He reels a little bit, and then stares at his wife.  If there's anything he loves more than adventure, its this woman sitting next to him.  He knows how much family mean to her- he's the one who holds her close and wipes her tears when the nightmares strike.  How could he be so selfish to tell her no, for his own reasons? He'd have his whole adult life to travel once his kids were grown.  He sighs a little and then brushes Scarlett's hair back, and says "Anything you want, babe. You know that."  Scarlet squeaks a little with excitement and pulls him closer. "No time like the present....."

And so, that was that.

A month or so later, Forrest and Scarlett take their breakfast on the back patio....

...and look out over their green little backyard.

After Forrest jets out to the Police Department, Scarlett gets the kids up and calls their stand-by babysitter, Candy Asherdale, to watch her little ones for a few hours so she can see some clients at the salon.

Scarlett's first client is Camilla Collins.  She's trying to break into an acting career, and tells Scarlett she wants a dramatic new hairstyle.

Scarlett hooks her up with extra long extensions, and Camilla leaves a happy lady.

Next up is Bessie Clavell, who's tells Scarlett that her husband wants her to try a new look.

Scarlett sets her up with some fresh new clothes and more flattering makeup and hair.

A half hour later, Scarlett's last client shows up- and thank God he did. Hans Mendoza needs a drastic change. He looks like a Frenchman from another century. Time for an update Hans...

Who knew there was a hottie under all that bad fashion!

After her last client leaves, Scarlett is suddenly overcome with a wave of nausea, and rushes outside.

She throws up all over the patio, and some old mean guy takes a picture of it.

All kinds of possibilities flash through her mind. Could she be pregnant already? That quickly? Best to not get ahead of herself. It could just be the flu. She rushes home to relieve the babysitter, her mind whirling.

She finds Candy playing with the kids in Paris's room. She thanks and pays Candy.

She sure misses these faces, even being away from them for a few hours...

Forrest is home from work a little while later, with his ex-roomate buddies Alex and Andre Mirage.  He pecks Scarlett on the lips and asks her whats for dinner.  The guys all slouch down on the couch and bicker over which videogames too play. Whenever Forrest is with his buddies, she's reminded that he's 5 years younger than her. She sighs. That's ok though. She readies her ingredients for goopy carbonara, and wonders again about the possibility that she's pregnant.

Despite being a bit rough around the edges, Scarlett likes Andre and Alex.  They're always gracious when she cooks for them, and good with the kids.

Little Paris always seems quite taken with Alex.

After their company has left and the kids are settled in bed, Forrest gets in a workout....

....and Scarlett goes into the bathroom and takes a pregnancy test from the cabinet.  3 minutes seem like a million years, and she paces the bathroom before finally going over to the sink to check...

A plus sign. That's definitely a plus sign.  Her body tingles with excitement and she runs out to tell Forrest.

Forrest is caught off guard at first- they had only been trying for a month- but then his surprise passes and she sees the smile spread across his face. 

He's barely had time to adjust to this new development. It was only a few weeks ago that he was considering taking his life into a new chapter.  But that didn't matter now. He loved his kids and his wife more than life, and if she was happy- then that was better than an adrenaline rush anyday.