I am sure the "friend" means well but Maria had NAMED the baby Gabriel - she definitely thought it was a boy. And Maria was not acting like a woman who was planning on giving her baby up for adoption. I think Maria's MOTHER wanted the baby given up for adoption, and Maria did NOT. She had made NO plans for adoption, had not found adoptive parents or even researched any prospective parents and her friend on base said she had bought baby things and was planning for the baby's birth and after.
I know Mary (Maria's Mother) probably had confided in a few people and even tried to get Maria's local friends to help her convince Maria that adoption was the best option for her. I think Maria DID consider adoption and may even have told some friends in OH that she was looking into it - BUT it's obvious that she had changed her mind and Sgt Durham even commented that Maria was having some disagreements with her mother and maybe other family members and friends over her decision to KEEP Gabriel/Gabrielle.
And it really doesn't matter if Maria knew the sex of the baby for sure (does anybody who doesn't get amnio ever REALLY know until the baby is born?) OR if Maria would have decided to to keep her baby or not - because



robber her of the chance to even MEET or HOLD her baby in her arms in this life.
I cannot judge Maria's Mother - she obviously feels and acts differently from ME, but I am not in her shoes so all I can do for her at this time is send her my prayers for peace and healing of her broken heart at this difficult time. I also pray Maria is in heaven holding a beautiful angelic daughter named Gabrielle in her arms.
My Opinion