In the Fullness of Time

by Sabra Brown Steinsiek

  “Here you go, Laura.” He set a bowl of cantaloupe and raspberries in front of her. “Rosina sent the yogurt, too. Said you need your calcium.”

  “I hate yogurt, Taylor.”

  “I know that, but I wasn’t going to tell Rosina that I wouldn’t bring it to you.”

  “Good idea.”

  As Laura began to eat, Taylor said, “I got a call last night from that Hollywood producer. They’d like me to fly out for a day or so to discuss some ideas.”

  “Really? Anything exciting?”

  “They aren’t being real specific but I was considering it might be worth checking out. Would you be all right with me gone for a couple of days? I told them I could probably leave tomorrow morning and be back the evening of the day after.”

  “If you’re interested in it you should go. I’ll be fine. I think I’m probably just going to be doing a lot of sleeping anyway.”

  “I don’t want to leave if you think you need me here.”

  She smiled at him. “I always need you, Taylor. But go. See if you can get them to put you in something with Pierce Brosnan. Then I can meet him and run off with him.”

  “I’ll make a note of that,” he said with a mock frown. “No Pierce Brosnan movies!”

  “Sean Connery?”

  “The man’s old enough to be your father!”

  “That doesn’t make him less interesting.”

  “Eat your breakfast, Laura Morgan. I’m not discussing this with you anymore.”

  Laura laughed as he turned back to the paper. As if she’d ever be interested in someone other than Taylor! Guys could be so insecure.

  * * *

  “The baby looks fine, Laura. Your weight is up but still within line. I am a little worried about this swelling in your hands and feet. Are you having headaches?

  “Some, and I can’t seem to stay awake at all.”

  “Your blood pressure is up a little, too. I’ll know after I get the results from your urine test but I’m thinking you might be developing pre-eclampsia.” Dr. Bernard saw Taylor’s mouth open and stopped him. “Just wait a minute, Taylor. Let me finish. Then you can ask questions.”

  “Pre-eclampsia just means we need to take some precautions so that it doesn’t become eclampsia, which could be serious. This is not at all unusual, especially with first pregnancies. I think right now we can control this with medication and bed rest. Okay, now you can ask questions.”

  “How serious is this? Is Laura in danger?”

  “Only if it should get worse. But I’ll be monitoring her every day to make sure there are no further signs.” She turned back to Laura. “I’d like to send a visiting nurse over to take your blood pressure every day and to check the swelling. I need to know if you’re urinating as often as you should be and if the headaches get any worse.”

  Taylor said, “I’m supposed to leave town tomorrow for a couple of days. I can cancel the trip.”

  “There’s no need. Laura has Rosina and the girls there to wait on her hand and foot, right? She just needs to stay in bed, drink lots of water. The nurse can monitor her vital signs and I’ll see her every other day.”

  “Dr. Bernard is right, Taylor. I’ll be fine. You need to go on this trip.”

  “Are you sure? Both of you?”

  “Yes!” they said in chorus.

  * * *

  Taylor was still worrying about leaving the next morning. “Rosina, you’ll make sure she does what she’s supposed to while I’m gone?”

  “Sì, Taylor. You know I’ll keep her safe. This baby is important to me, too.”

  “I’m more afraid of Rosina than I am of you, Taylor. She doesn’t give in to me.”

  “She’s not going anywhere,” Meg declared from the doorway. “With me and Betta and Rosina on guard, Laura’s going to be allowed out of bed only after she’s submitted a request in triplicate that’s been personally approved by God!”

  “Fine—I guess. I’ll call when I get there and Matteo has the number of the hotel. Call me if there is the slightest change!”

  “Go on, Taylor. You’ll miss your plane if you don’t go. Give Pierce my love,” she said with a wicked grin then kissed him and clung to him a moment longer than was necessary. She’d never admit it but she was scared and having Taylor gone wasn’t going to help.

  “I love you,” he whispered, “and I’ll be home soon.” Another kiss and he was out the door. They could hear him talking to Matteo in the hallway and the door closing behind them as they left. Rosina left to make some tea and Betta tried to make Laura more comfortable as she settled onto her left side as the doctor had ordered. The waiting had begun.

  Chapter 23

  Taylor couldn’t concentrate on anything on the flight to Albuquerque. He spent most of the time worrying and kicking himself for leaving Laura. What if she did get worse? He must have been out of his mind to leave.

  Sean was waiting for him at the Albuquerque International Sunport and noticed the strain in his son-in-law’s eyes right away. “Something’s wrong, Taylor. What is it?”

  “That obvious?” Taylor asked as the two of them made their way out of the airport to the parking garage.

  “You look like you’ve been hit by a truck. Is it Laura?”

  “She’s not doing completely well right now. The doctor says it’s nothing serious but it could turn into something. Pre-eclampsia, she called it. High blood pressure and a bunch of other things.”

  “I’ve heard of it,” Sean said, fighting to stay calm at the thought of his daughter in any kind of danger. “I guess it’s fairly common.”

  “That’s what the doctor said. She’s put Laura on bed rest and is sending a visiting nurse over to monitor her every day. Rosina and the girls are with her.”

  “I’d put you on a flight back right away if I could but you know that tonight would be the earliest we could do that.”

  “I know. We might as well go through with this. Your Professor Straub will probably think I’m a total idiot. I don’t know that I can be coherent about this.”

  “You have until noon to get it together. We’re having lunch with her and the committee. I thought I’d take you to the hotel so you could catch your breath. Maria’s at home so we won’t risk running into her on campus.”

  “Think we’ll be able to pull this off, Sean? Keeping it from my wife and yours?”

  “I hope so, but I won’t be surprised if they put it all together somehow.”

  “Do you suppose if this baby is a girl, she’s going to be able to see right through us, too?”

  Sean laughed, “Without a doubt! We’d better keep our fingers crossed for a boy.”

  * * *

  Laura spent most of the morning napping in between being wakened to drink more water or tea. Despite all the liquids she didn’t seem to need to get up for the bathroom as often as she would have thought. Her headache was still there and she was starting to feel decidedly grumpy. And bored! Nothing she tried to read caught her attention and what was on television was dismal.

  Lunch was a rich broth that Rosina had made, with fresh bread and no salt! She ate some of it before pushing it away. “I’m sorry, Rosina. I’m just not hungry.” The light from the window seemed very bright and she asked her to pull the heavy drapes. “What time is the nurse supposed to be here?”

  “Around four,” Rosina answered. Laura did not look well. The puffiness seemed to be increasing. “Should I call the doctor?”

  “No, the nurse will be here soon. She’ll know. I’m just being a baby about it.”

  The phone rang and Rosina answered it before Laura could reach for it. “Si, Taylor. She’s here. She’s in bed and doing as she’s told. I will put her on the phone.”

  Rosina handed her the phone then indicated Laura should scoot back down in the bed to lay on her left side as instructed while she was talking.

  “Hello, darling.”

  “Hi, how are you doing?”

  “About the same. And I’m bored to tears.”r />
  “I’m sorry I’m not there to keep you amused.”

  “How’s California?”

  “Bright and sunny. Full of suntanned blondes. Pierce Brosnan says hello.”

  “Right, Taylor. Stay away from the blondes or you’ll have a redhead to contend with when you get home. What time’s your meeting?”

  “Meetings. I’m going to be busy the rest of the day and evening it looks like. I’ve left an itinerary with the hotel so I can be reached if you need me.”

  “Just land the job, Taylor. Right now, lying around on a sun-kissed beach sounds pretty good.”

  “Not with the way you sunburn. I’d be married to a lobster.”

  “Go to your meeting. You can pick on me when you get home tomorrow!”

  His voice softened, “I’m sorry I’m not there, Laura. I almost caused a scene and made them turn the plane back around right after takeoff. I shouldn’t have come.”

  “Don’t be silly. We’re fine. I’ll see you tomorrow night and I promise I’ll whine enough so that you won’t feel like you missed anything.”

  “A threat or a promise, Laura?”

  “A promise. See you then. I love you.”

  “Love you, too. Be good.”

  * * *

  “Any change, Taylor?”

  “It didn’t sound like it. She’s not liking the bed rest much.”

  “I’m not surprised.”

  “Do I have time for a phone call before we go?”

  “Sure. Shall I leave?”

  “No, I’m just going to call Beth and have her call Laura. That will cheer her up.”

  “Should I call Maria and tell her you called me?”

  “If you think Maria won’t jump the first plane.”

  “I’ll use my cell phone while you call Beth. Fifteen minutes?”

  “That should do it.”

  * * *

  The phone rang in New York half an hour later. Meg was sitting with Laura and snatched it up. “Hello?”

  “Hey, Meg! It’s Beth.”

  “Beth, how are you?” At the sound of her best friend’s name, Laura’s eyes brightened. Beth was just what she needed right now.

  “I’m fine but Taylor just called me about Laura. How is she?”

  “She’s right here being a horrible patient. You sure you want to talk to her?”

  “I’ll risk it,” Beth laughed. “I’ve seen her horrible before.”

  “I heard that,” Laura said since Meg had handed her the phone before Beth finished speaking.

  “Well, it’s true. I’ve seen you every way you can be seen, girl.”

  “Except almost eight months pregnant and looking like a blimp.”

  “I don’t have to see that. I’ve been there and done it. Taylor called. He said you’re on bed rest for pre-eclampsia.”

  Meg waved from the door and left them to talk. “Oh, Beth, I’ve never been so miserable in my life.”

  “What does the doctor say?”

  Laura filled her in and, in Taos, Beth’s eyes filled with worry as Laura talked about her symptoms. She glanced at the medical dictionary she had open on the computer screen. Swollen feet and hands. Headache. Sensitivity to light. None of this sounded very good.

  “You said the nurse would be there soon?”

  “She’s supposed to be. Then we’ll talk to the doctor.”

  “Call me back after you talk to them, please?”

  “Sure, if my guards will let me use the phone again.”

  “At least you still have your sense of humor.”

  “Not really,” Laura eyes and voice filled with tears. “Beth, I’m scared to death. What if something happens to the baby?”

  What if something happens to you, Beth thought before answering. “They know how to handle this, Laura. You’re getting the best of care. I know it’s uncomfortable and nerve-wracking right now but it will be all right. You have to hold on to that.”

  “I wish you were here to hold my hand. I feel like such a baby and I just want it to be over with.”

  “I know, sweetheart, I know.” Beth’s own voice was filled with tears. “I wish I was there, too. But I’ll be there as soon as the baby arrives so I can start spoiling her right away. Laura? Do you want me to call your Mom?”

  “No, she’d just go crazy with worry.”

  “And later she’ll just kill us for not letting her know.”

  “You’re right, but I’ll call her after I talk to the doctor, if there’s any change.”

  “Don’t forget to call me, too. I’ll be waiting by the phone.”

  “Thanks, Beth. I’ll let you know what they say.”

  “I love you, Laura Collins Morgan. You do what they tell you to and I’ll see you soon.”

  “Bye, Beth…love you, too.”

  Laura reached out and hung up the phone. She took a drink of water and the effort seemed to leave her breathless and nauseated. The phone rang again as Meg came back in the room.

  “I’m going to unplug this thing if it rings one more time, Laura. You’re supposed to be resting!—Hello?”

  “Megan! It’s Abuelita.”

  “Abuelita!”

  Laura’s eyes widened. She knew Beth hadn’t had time to call her mother even if she’d decided to break her promise not to. That left Taylor. He shouldn’t have worried her mother, Laura thought as she reached for the phone.

  “Hello, Mama,” Laura said.

  “Mi’ja! Your father just called. Taylor called him from California. What is he doing in California when you’re ill!”

  “Mom, I’m all right. It’s just pre-eclampsia. The doctor’s got me in bed and is monitoring me. I’ll be fine.”

  “Ay, Dios Mío,” Maria said. “You should have called me. Your mother should be with you.”

  “Mom, I have Rosina and the girls. They won’t let me move. There’s nothing you could do here. You need to finish up your classes so you can be here when this baby arrives.”

  “But I feel so helpless, mi’ja!”

  “I wish you were here, too, Mom. But I am getting the best of care. In fact, I just heard the doorbell. That will be the nurse. I’ll call you back when she’s left and we’ve talked to the doctor. It may take a while.”

  “I’ll be here, Laura. I love you.”

  “I love you, too, Mom. I’ll talk to you later.”

  Laura handed the phone back to Meg as Betta brought in the nurse. “I swear I’m going to kill Taylor when he gets home. He shouldn’t have called your grandmother!”

  “Getting upset’s not going to help your blood pressure, Mrs. Morgan,” the nurse said briskly. “I want to take you through a calming breathing exercise before I take your blood pressure. We’ll get a better reading that way.”

  Laura nodded and tried to pay attention to what the nurse was saying. How did her life get so out of control, she wondered, as she closed her eyes and tried to relax.

  * * *

  The meetings at the University were going well. Taylor had managed to pull himself together by the time he and Sean met the Theatre Department committee for lunch at the Monte Vista Fire Station, one of Albuquerque’s original fire stations. It had been converted to a restaurant and the building’s territorial style was one of Central Avenue’s landmarks.

  Taylor and Kris Straub hit it off immediately. Their visions of what this directed study in musical theatre could offer to the University’s program were very similar. Most of the committee sat back and listened as the two of them hammered out details and discussed possibilities. By the end of lunch, everyone was sure that Taylor was the right person to take the visiting position and design the program.

  Sean handed him off to Kris and headed back to his university office. She would take Taylor to meet the provost and the president. They would discuss salary terms and all the fine details. By dinner tonight with other theatre and music faculty, they would probably have a tentative answer—tentative to Taylor’s discussing it with Laura. Sean wasn’t too worried about what his
daughter’s response would be. The southwest was in her blood and she’d be thrilled to come back home.

  A frantic message was waiting on his voice mail from Maria so he called her back before his class was due to begin.

  “Sean, I should be there with her!”

  “Maria, she has the best of care and you only have two more days of classes to go. You can’t go running off now.”

  “Madre de Dios, Sean Patrick! Do you think I care about my classes?”

  “Yes, I do. Wait until Laura calls back after talking to the doctor. If she’s worse, I’ll put you on the first plane out and teach your classes myself.”

  “Oh, Sean. I know I’m overreacting. I just can’t lose Laura like we did Tomás.”

  The loss of their son had hurt them deeply when he died in his twenties from cancer. There was not a day that went by when he was not in their hearts and thoughts. Sean understood Maria’s panic but tried to stay calm for her sake. His voice softened, “We won’t lose Laura, darling. She’ll come through this fine, you’ll see. She’s strong like her mother.”

  “I don’t feel very strong right now, Sean. When will you be home?”

  “Not ’til late, sweetheart. I have that committee meeting tonight. I can’t miss it. I’m sorry.” The timing on all of this was not working well. For a moment he considered telling Maria what was going on but the thought of getting her hopes up that Laura might be coming home would be too cruel if it didn’t work out.

  “I’ll call you when I hear from Laura, Sean. You have your cell phone?”

  “I do. Call me when you hear.”

  * * *

  “There. Do you feel a little calmer now, Mrs. Morgan?”

  The breathing exercise had calmed her but Laura was beginning to feel terribly nauseated. “Yes, it helped. Could we just do this so I can go to sleep for a while?”