“All right, I’ll stay.”
~~~
Liam and Eva said their goodbyes and took a cab home. Saimi had made a pitcher of lemonade and left it in the icebox. Liam took Eva to the bedroom and stripped her down to her camisole and bloomers. He opened all the windows for a cross breeze. She lay down, propped with pillows. He quickly got her a drink of lemonade, chipping ice pieces from the larger ice chunk.
“Here, sweetheart,” he said and handed her the glass. She drank the whole glass thirstily. “I’ll get more,” he said.
He disappeared into the dark kitchen and came back with a refill. When he returned, Eva was asleep. He sat in the rocker, but not before taking his shirt, shoes, and socks off. Then he drank the lemonade meant for Eva. He was glad for the cross breeze. It blew gently over Eva, making the wisps of hair on top of her head move with it.
He felt guilty, as he watched her sleep. A small furrow between her eye brows remained. He had asked Dr. Andersen how common this severe morning sickness was. The answer was “Not that uncommon.” He was to keep her hydrated and out of the hot sun. A few weeks earlier, Liam, Ellen, Annie, and Ed had planted the garden with Eva directing, sitting in the shade of the barn. Ellen had helped with the weed pulling and watering. It’s not growing too badly now, he thought. He stretched his neck to look out the window to see small plants sprouting in neat rows where before there was empty soil. Gazing upon her again, he suddenly had an overwhelming urge to be closer to her. He carefully lay down next to her. Soon he was dozing.
When he woke, the sun was much lower in the western sky, the shadows outside much longer. It was still hot, but the promise of the cooler evening was relieving. Liam turned his head toward Eva to find her looking at him. She smiled softly.
“How do you feel?” he asked in a quiet voice, softly putting a lock of hair behind her ear.
“Lil bedder. I vas happy to sleep.”
“I’m sorry, Eva.”
“Vhat you mean?”
“I got ye pregnant and ye’re sick like this. I’m sorry.”
She shifted her hips to face him. “Dis not you fault, silly man. I vas villi ruusu. I make you. Don’t you ’member?” She grinned.
“Oh, aye, I remember very well. I called ye a temptress.” He grinned along with her.
She crinkled her nose up. “I don’t feel like dat right now.”
“I wouldn’t think ye would.” He looked into her blue eyes framed by her pale face. He noticed she wasn’t as anxious as she’d seemed earlier. “Would ye like some lemonade?”
“You get me some?”
“Of course, I will.”
As he was getting up from the bed, he heard happy chatting as the front door opened.
“Sounds like the whole gang’s back.” Liam pulled his shirt on and greeted the lively mob as he walked into the kitchen.
“I brought some more lemons from the grocers,” Annie said. “I’ll make some more lemonade right away.”
“That’ll be grand,” Liam said. “We’ve finished off the last. This one can go to Eva.” He walked with the glass toward the bedroom.
“We’re not upsettin’ Eva, are we, Liam?” Annie called after him.
From the bedroom they heard, “No, you are not. I feel mutts bedder, now.”
Liam went to the bedroom and gave Eva the lemonade. Once again, she drank it, this time in three gulps instead of one.
“Dat is so good,” she said, breathless. She lay back again against the pillows and stretched.
“I can get up and help,” she said and started to get up.
“I know what ye want to do, and ye’re not goin’ to,” Liam said, using his medical authority.
Annie’s voice came from the kitchen. “Don’t get up on our account, Eva. We can take care of anything we need.”
“You heard her,” Liam barked. “Lay down. Stay.”
“Vhat I am? Dog?”
“Sorry. That was a bit harsh,” Liam said. “Annie, would ye like to take my place in here for a few minutes? Eva’s about to throw the lemonade glass at my head.”
Annie poked her head in. She had a freshly made glass of lemonade in her hand. “I’ll get ye another. Then I’ll be right in.”
Liam handed Annie the empty glass he’d happily taken it from his irritated wife. He kept eye contact with Eva, not getting the reaction from her he wanted. He put one knee on the bed and kissed her. “You are not easily amused right now, are ye?”
“No, but I still luff you.”
“That makes me feel better.”
Annie came back into the bedroom with a soft smile to chat with Eva while Liam took Ed to the front porch and closed the door. He did a wide sweep of the front yard and the side of the house to check for large-eared children. He heard them in the far back yard.
“Have ye heard anything of McKay?” he asked Ed.
“So far, we’ve seen nothin’ unusual. No strangers skulkin’ ’round town or comin’ off the train. There’s no talk of any leather-vested thugs.”
“That’s good,” Liam said, though he was skeptical that no one would ever come. “I’d still like the house to be watched, and I have money to pay anyone who’s up for it round the clock. They can keep watch at the station, as well.”
“I’ll keep a couple o’ teams goin’. There’s always a need for extra cash.”
“Thanks, Ed.”
“Ye can’t keep this up forever, Liam.”
“I am near to beggin’ him to get here. McKay’s one for makin’ people sweat waitin’ for ’im. It’s workin’ with me, only because I have Eva and the girls now. If it was only me, I’d go after him.”
As Liam spoke, he kept an ear open for any children sneaking up along the side of the house.
“Too bad ye don’t know where he is precisely,” Ed said.
“He’s protected heavily, and almost impossible to get at.” Liam sat quietly, but his mind was racing. “It may be that I’ll have to take off with the family. Perhaps out west somewhere. Ye say yer daughter and her husband are in Montana?”
“Aye, in Helena, at the mines there. Colleen writes it’s a bit wild, but not as bad as thirty or so years ago.”
“My colleague, John Andersen, says he hears doctors are needed out there.”
“Colleen says the mine company takes care of the town quite well. Perhaps there’s money to be had if ye go.”
“It’s not the money I’d be after. I’ve got plenty. My mother finally sent the paperwork for me to receive an inheritance. I wasn’t countin’ on it when we left Belfast. It’s all tucked away in the bank here.”
“Such the lucky man, then.” Ed smiled.
“I agreed to send her occasional letters and photographs of her grandchild and now in December, grandchildren.”
“Annie filled me in on what went on in Belfast as ye grew up. Thank God fer Annie, I say.”
Liam smiled in agreement, then became animated and asked, “Ed, so when are ye goin’ to marry the girl? Eh?”
“She says she’s not ready. Can ye believe that?”
“No, I can’t. I’ll have to scold her, and tell her to get movin’.” Liam got a smile from Ed.
At that moment, Eva, lightly redressed, came out on the porch with glasses of lemonade for them. Annie was with her.
“Ye look a good deal better, Eva,” Liam said. “It relieves me to see ye.”
“We just put three plump chickens in the oven,” Annie said. “Saimi bought them from the chicken farm, and they needed to get cooked before they spoil in this heat.” She seemed happy to have things under control, especially in the kitchen. She was quite animated about the chickens, which she explained were in the oven along with some potatoes and the last of the prior season’s turnips.
While Annie and Eva got a chair, Liam quickly turned to Ed. “Maybe she wants to do more in yer kitchen, Ed. After all, that was her life. Think about it.”
Ed’s eyes got wide as though what Liam said was an epiphany. Liam raised his eyebrows in
response. Then the conversation turned to idle chat between the couples.
~~~
That evening after supper, Annie didn’t return with Ed to his place over the soda fountain. Eva retired early with Liisa after Liam gave them both a bath upstairs. Arne and Arvid were picked up by their parents on their way home from the festival, and Ellen and Katia went to bed after their bath.
Annie and Liam returned to the front porch after cleanup.
“It’s nice to have ye alone, Liam,” Annie said. She patted his hand.
“I hear that ye’re balkin’ at marryin’ Ed. What’s the hold-up?” He looked at her.
“I just don’t want to lose myself, Liam. I’ve been a widow for so long. I forgot what it’s like livin’ with a man. And now, it’s a man who can cook. What am I supposed to do?”
Liam couldn’t believe his precise reading of her and the situation. “Do ye know, I told Ed that might be the stumblin’ block? I told him so, and ye should’ve seen his eyes light up.” Liam looked at her face, studying it for her thoughts. “Is he good to ye, Annie? Do ye feel comfortable with him?”
“Yes, he is good to me. Better than good. I love him to pieces.” She paused, looked at Liam and blushed. “He’s a grand lover, too. Why am I waiting? What the hell is the matter with me?”
“Ye’re just scared. Don’t ye know ye have the option to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’? I know our society tries hard to put women second, but ye don’t have to stay there. Eva certainly doesn’t. She gives me a boot in me arse when I’m overly bossy. It’s up to you, not Ed, to find the place ye want to be.”
It was Annie’s turn to look at Liam as though what he said was an epiphany. Her eyes went wide as Liam raised his eyebrows in response. They laughed.
“Is it too late to call a cab?” Annie asked.
“No, I’ll call one right now.” He searched her face. “Are ye sure this is what ye want? Because I’ll always be here for ye.”
“Oh, aye. I’m sure, Liam.”
He went to the telephone in the foyer and called a cab for Annie. She went to freshen up in her room, re-emerging on the porch just as the cab arrived. Liam escorted her to the carriage door, and before she climbed in, he gave her a kiss as a grown man would give his mother. Then he paid the cabbie, telling him to take Annie to Murphy’s Soda Fountain.
~~~
Two weeks later, Annie and Ed were married at the Catholic Church. A reception was held in the fellowship hall. Liam stood up as best man and Annie asked Eva to be her matron of honor. Eva was thrilled she was able to say yes. Her severe morning sickness had abated enough to where she was nearly back to normal. Ellen, the flower girl, resplendent in her blue linen suit, unpretentiously charmed all who ventured a conversation with her.
Annie and Ed's wedding night was spent where they felt the most comfortable—the apartment above the soda fountain. The next morning, they showed up bleary-eyed for a big breakfast at the boarding house among friends. Eva and Saimi cooked as Annie relaxed with Ed. Both Annie and Ed were told they were not to cook in any way, shape, or form for the entire day.
Then it was out to the lake with everyone for a picnic. It was a most beautiful summer day. The sky was a brilliant blue and not a cloud in it.
The Irish folk took care of the food for the picnic, bringing tables and chairs and tarps for shade. The entire congregation of St. Patrick’s came with children and musicians. All the children knew each other from school and stripped to their skivvies, swimming, along with half the adults.
Decorum blew away with the summer breeze. Ed, who was a staunch believer in the lesser god of Jamesons whiskey, had more than his share with his Irish compatriots. Annie sipped on no more than one or two, along with her lady friends. Liam could not, but he was all right with it. His family and his ability to take care of them were more important than ruining nearly three years of sobriety. There was a bonfire and a pot of jungle coffee at the ready, sitting on a grid at the edge of a cook fire.
Eva was glad for some shade in the sunny, hot weather and a rocking chair to sit in. She could see all the pale skin of the Irish beginning to flush scarlet, but no one cared at the moment; it was too grand of a day. She saw her elder daughter red as a cardinal, running wild. Liam had Liisa with him, and Eva could hear her squeals of delight as Liam dunked Liisa in the cool water and played with her along the shore. Liisa dug in the dirt with the little garden tools Ellen brought. Liam had to watch closely so Liisa wouldn’t put dirt or pebbles in her mouth. At one point, Eva saw Liam smell Liisa’s back end and make a face of disgust. He looked over at Eva with the same face. She grinned and waved him over for a clean diaper. Liisa was not happy. She fussed and kicked when Liam took her away from the water.
“God, she stinks,” Liam said to Eva as he arrived to the shaded area. He put Liisa down and looked at her. “Ye need changin’. Ye’re stinky in yer drawers.”
The seventeen-month-old tried to peer inside her diaper, sniffing. She looked at Liam, wrinkled her nose, and snorted.
“See. What did I tell ye? Stinky drawers. What would Mamma say? Paskaa—what?”
“Housut.” Eva laughed at their daughter’s antics.
“Liisa, they need to come off and I need to clean ye,” Liam explained. “When we’re all done, I’ll take back to the water.”
Liisa lay down on the grass, ready for someone to change her. Eva got all the necessary cloths and towels ready for Liam. She even went to the water a few feet away and wet one cloth for wiping the messy bits.
“Ye’re like a surgery assistant,” Liam said. “Thanks for prepping all this for me, sweetheart.”
Liam finished the procedure with skill and swiftness. He had to. Liisa squirmed and fussed the whole time.
“Ye’re a tough nugget, Liisa. I don’t know how Mamma does it. I give her a good deal of credit.” As one hand held his daughter's flailing feet, Liam looked at Eva and feigned exasperation.
He let go of Liisa’s feet. “All finished. Are ye ready, my wee selkie?”
“DA! DA! DA! DA! DA!” Liisa yelled exuberantly. She stood clumsily, bottom in the air. When she gained what footing she had, she started to run to the water, finding every dip and rise in the uneven ground. She barely maintained her uprightness; her dark mass of curls bounced with every hard step. Everyone witnessing the baby making her way cheered her on. They applauded when she made it to her toys upright, with Liam right behind her.
~~~
Annie and a group of her women church friends brought chairs to the shade with Eva, who was glad for the company.
“I saw ye sittin’ here, Eva,” Annie said, “and I wanted to get to ye as soon as I could. I’m dead tired, but I’m havin’ the time o’ my life. I feel like this is what heaven could be.” Annie had her own rocker and plopped down with a grunt and sigh.
“Are you stiff, Annie?” Annie's friend Orla snickered. The other two, Nan and Bernadette, took seats on the quilt.
“Jesus, Orla,” Annie hissed. “Shut yer pie hole. The men will hear.” Annie's face rushed with heat. She couldn’t help a giggle.
The women laughed heartily, including Annie.
Benny remarked in that same snicker, “I didn’t know Edward still had it in him.”
“Oh, God in heaven, he does,” Annie said, laughing conspiratorially. The women guffawed. Annie pretended to fan herself.
“We’re all envious. Except for Eva, I’m sure. Liam is a very handsome, sexy man,” Orla said. “Ye’re a lucky girl fer snaggin’ him. Lots o’ girls drool over him. Ye’d better be careful, he just might get stolen from ye without ye knowin’ it.”
Eva took the innocent comment as only she knew how. She didn’t want to show her annoyance, thereby ruining Annie and Ed’s day. “Tank you,” she said, not knowing what else to say.
Suddenly Eva felt horribly uncomfortable. Her belly churned. She looked over at Liam, still playing with Liisa and talking to some children sitting next to him. Good. No women near him, like Victor would’ve had, lu
ring them surreptitiously like little kittens to a saucer of sweet cream.
“Eva didn’t snag anyone, Orla,” Annie said. “It’s not in her. She’s sweet, through and through.” Annie gave Eva a wink. “I know my Liam, and he fell in love with Eva on his own. He’s a one-woman man, mind.” She spoke in motherly admonishment while keeping it humorous.
Eva glanced at Annie. Her eyes told Annie, “Thank you.”
“Well, I still think ye’re lucky,” Orla said, a little less sardonically.
Eva was unhappy with her negative, fearful reaction to Orla’s remark. It brought up memories of women giving her unfriendly looks as she made public appearances with Victor. He wouldn’t respond to other women’s advances when she was with him, unless they were separated by a wall and she couldn’t see him. He’d sneak off and be gone for spans of time, returning flushed and slightly mussed. He hid well behind the social drinking and his showy friendliness, she realized. In retrospect, she couldn’t believe how obvious it all had been and how much she’d refused to see. Right under my damned nose, she thought.
Without warning to the others, Eva began to cry. She knew her pregnancies could bring on emotions at any time. It was like her monthlies, only worse. It went past crying into a panic attack of sorts.
Annie came to her. “Sweetheart, what? Do ye want me to get Liam?”
Liam scooped Liisa into his arms and ran to Eva. He seemed to be ultra-sensitive to her again, now that she was pregnant. He was constantly in touch with Eva with his ears as well as his eyes, not to mention sensing her emotions. He handed Liisa to Annie and went directly to Eva in one giant movement.
He said nothing. He scooped her up into his arms and held her as she wailed into his neck.
Eva knew the women around them could hear his whispers of sweet nothings as if he were comforting a child. She willed there would be no doubt in any of their minds, including the sarcastic Orla, of his single-minded love for her. There was no possibility for anyone else to penetrate their bond and wreak havoc. No tearing asunder. His demonstration would leave in their minds a wonder, a curiosity, of what a bond Liam and Eva had created between each other, of how and from where it came. Eva knew none of the women in the circle had any idea of how the couple came to be.
Eva and the Irishman Page 57