42Natalie Monk sat on the floor of the little apartment in Russian Hill, California making sure that she had all of the paperwork in order and the airplane tickets for her and Adrian's move to Boston in hand.
Now in her 12th week of pregnancy, she had spent the past six weeks – not babying herself, but taking care of Adrian who had developed a strong case of Couvade Syndrome, or "sympathetic pregnancy"- taking on some of the signs and symptoms of pregnancy on his wife's behalf.
She felt bad for him, because while she had the cravings, he had the sickness. While she began to get that pregnant 'glow', he was looking fatigued due to lack of sleep and was experiencing greater than normal mood swings. Prior to the movers coming, when there was an actual bed in the apartment, she would make him soup and crackers to try to calm his stomach down, but for a couple of weeks he was losing weight because, horror of horrors, he couldn't keep anything down.
They had worried that something was seriously wrong with him, and finally he went to the doctor when he swore his ankles were swelling. However, when they were given the diagnoses, their reactions were quite predictable. Natalie sighed and said, "But of course, I wouldn't have expected anything different." And, Adrian denied the whole thing as being illogical. He wasn't the pregnant one. It was impossible that this should be happening.
Try as he might, even Police Commissioner Leland Stottlemeyer could not avoid making a little fun of the situation. He even went so far as to purchase Adrian a specially tailored suit with lots of room in the mid-section for 'when he began to show.' Adrian grumbled and Natalie stifled a laugh when it was presented it to him, but ultimately, he was able to put any hard feelings aside and enjoy the moment as his best friend, aside from his wife, threw the Monks a sweet and emotional going away party.
When the time had come for them to leave, Natalie gave Adrian a little extra time to look around and take in the little apartment that had been so much a part of his adult life. As he walked out the door, he turned around and stopped. Absorbing one last glance of the long hallway in the now empty home, he reached over on the wall to the right and adjusted an imaginary umbrella on an imaginary hook. Then placing his hand on the same wall, he bowed his head, smiled a melancholy smile and quietly shut the door behind him.
The Stottlemeyers were waiting at the airport to see them off. It was an emotional farewell filled with well wishes, a few hugs, and plans to get together sometime later in the following fall. TK loved the autumn colors in New England, and Leland was happy to provide her with what she loved. Once Adrian and Natalie got settled, Leland and TK had an open invitation to be their special guests and the Monks looked forward to having them in town and showing them their new digs.
Adrian and Natalie had turned to go when they were stopped by another sight. Walking up to them at the edge of the concourse was a very shaky, pale, and nervous Ambrose Monk with his wife Heather on his arm.
"Ambrose!" Adrian said, surprised. "I…I didn't expect to see you!"
Ambrose said nothing but just walked over to Adrian and threw his arms around him. Adrian nervously returned the embrace which eventually became a little too long for his liking causing him to motion for Heather to step in.
Ambrose looked at Adrian with almost a lost look and said, "I will miss you, little brother. You've always been the adventurous one in the family, and I brought you a little something as you go out into the world to help you remember us by." he said, as he handed him the picture that sat in the Monk family living room of Adrian, Ambrose and their parents.
"Awe, Ambrose. You didn't have to do this. Really." said Adrian as he took the photograph. "Besides, you know, I never forget anything – particularly you."
Ambrose went in for another hug, and after stepping back a couple of steps, Adrian walked forward and nervously gave him a standoffish embrace.
"I love you." said Ambrose, who began to cry.
"Awe, don't cry Ambrose. I love you too. And, we'll be back. What kind of people would we be if we didn't let our kids come and visit their Uncle Ambrose every now and then." Said Adrian.
Ambrose looked up and smiled and then went back by Heather's side. After receiving a hug from Natalie, the Ambrose Monks wished the Adrian Monks a safe flight and watched them walk down the terminal heading for their TSA pre-check. Stopping at the end of the aisle, Adrian and Natalie turned around and waved Ambrose and Heather one last farewell and then disappeared behind the security checkpoint. They were on their way.