You Belong to Me

by You Belong to Me (NCP) (lit)

  Royce moved to stand behind his chair. "When is the baby due?"

  That was the one coming event Julie could predict with accuracy, "The twenty-fifth of next February."

  "We can work out something." Pulling out his chair, Royce sat down. "Is Max going to be around to help you through this?"

  "He says he is. But with Max, you never know."

  "Is he that unpredictable?"

  "Always has been, always will be." Julie stirred in her chair. "When is Dan leaving?"

  "The end of the week."

  Julie was surprised. "That soon?"

  Tears stood in Royce's eyes. "I'm afraid so."

  The poor man; he needed something to take his mind off Dan's leaving. Impetuously, Julie said, "Then you can help me do some things over the week end."

  Royce saw right through her little ruse. "Maybe I don't need to feel sorry for myself with you around to feel sorry for me."

  Julie stood and pushed her chair back. "If that's what you think, okay." Then she uttered the first thought that popped into her mind. "I was planning to move furniture out of Shannon's old room. I'm going to make it into a nursery." She marveled at the ease with which she pulled that thought from out of the blue. "Maybe I can get Henry Taylor to come over and help me move the heavy stuff."

  Royce was around his desk and by her side before the words were out of her mouth. "If you really do need help I'm available." He grinned self-consciously. "The truth is I'd welcome something to do on a lonely Sunday afternoon."

  Silently Julie congratulated herself as outwardly, she pretended reluctance. "Are you sure? I don't want to impose." She turned to go.

  Royce followed her out the door. "It's not an imposition. While we're doing the room, we can decide about how we're going to shift your work schedule around over the next few months. You should be able to work in the office after you can't manage in the kitchen." As they passed through the dining room, Royce asked, "Do you have any other plans for the weekend?"

  Max had said he'd be back this weekend. Dared she hope he'd really show? Where Max was concerned, Julie knew about hope deferred. "No, none at all."

  They walked past the booths and around the lunch counter, talking and planning as they went. Once inside the kitchen, Julie breathed a sigh of relief as she tied her apron about her expanding middle. Things had gone better with Royce than she'd expected.

  There remained two more obstacles to surmount and then her life should be on an even keel again. She had to convince Max she could handle this situation alone and she had to find some way to tell Shannon that she was going to have a baby. She'd talk to Max when he showed up--if he showed up this weekend. She would call her daughter the first thing Monday morning and set up a time and place for them to meet, hopefully without Brett in attendance. "Coward," she whispered under her breath as she realized she was procrastinating again.

  Through a long Friday evening Julie jumped each time the phone rang, thinking--no hoping, it would be Max. Maybe he wouldn't call. Maybe he'd just show up on her front doorstep again. By Saturday evening she was forced to admit that he wasn't going to do either. "It's just as well," she told herself but in her heart ached with disappointment.

  Sunday morning Julie woke early and decided that she had put off the inevitable as long as she dared. Picking up the telephone she dialed Shannon's number. As rotten luck would have it Brett answered. Julie couldn't keep the annoyance out of her voice. "Brett?" Without giving him time to answer, she demanded, "Let me talk to my daughter."

  Brett replied, "And good morning to you too, Mrs. Anderson."

  Julie had neither the time nor the inclination to trade insults with Brett Morrison. "Are you going to let me talk to Shannon?"

  In the background Julie could hear Shannon ask, "Is that Mamma?"

  "Who else?" Brett questioned.

  The next thing Julie heard was her daughter's anxious voice. "Mamma, is something wrong?"

  Julie snapped, "Does something have to be wrong for me to call you?"

  Exasperation tightened Shannon's reply. "When you call at six-thirty on a Sunday morning, yes."

  Was it only six-thirty? Julie apologized. "I didn't realize it was that early. I'm sorry."

  "You don't have to be sorry, Mamma. Just tell me why you called."

  "I called because I need to talk to you." Julie groaned. She was doing this badly.

  Shannon reminded her, "You are talking to me, Mamma. What do you want to say?"

  Julie's voice was hoarse with frustration. "I just said it."

  "No. Mama, you didn't. You said you wanted to talk to me but you didn't talk to me." On the end of an exasperated sigh she implored, "Will you tell me whatever it is that you called to tell me?"

  Julie couldn't blurt out over the telephone that she was pregnant. "I'd rather tell you in person and alone."

  "Mamma, please don't do this. I don't have any secrets from Brett."

  Shannon had never been this stubborn before she married Brett. "Shannon, believe me when I tell you this doesn't concern Brett."

  A note of belligerence slipped into Shannon's voice. "Anything that concerns me concerns Brett."

  It was happening, what Julie had feared most. Brett Morrison was coming between Julie and her daughter. "What I have to tell you has nothing to do with Brett."

  "Then what does it have to do with?" Aggravation was making Shannon testy.

  This was getting her nowhere. Julie drew a long breath. "It concerns you, me and your father and--someone else."

  "Someone else," Shannon mocked, "What someone else?" Aggravation was giving way to sheer frustration. "Mamma, I don't have time for silly games. Tell me what you want to tell me, please."

  Julie's heart fell to the soles of her shoes. "This is not the time or the place."

  Shannon's tone was ominous. "Tell me now, Manna or I'm going to hang up."

  Julie's anger rushed unrestrained to action, "Your father and I are expecting another baby in February." She couldn't believe her own audacity. "You can tell Brett he will have a new in-law very soon now. That should make him happy." Julie dropped the receiver into its cradle as shock began to replace her anger. She had never behaved in such an outrageous manner before. "Maybe it's all those raging hormones," She told herself as she stared at the telephone. She would have to swallow her pride, call back and apologize.

  When she did Shannon's line was busy. Shannon must be trying to call her. Julie hung up the phone and waited none too patiently for it to ring. As the seconds ticked by apprehension began to replace her impatience. After several minutes that apprehension reduced to fear. Shannon wasn't going to call back.

  Julie was reaching for the silent instrument when it resounded with a loud, insistent ring. She picked up the receiver and held it cautiously to her ear. In a high unnatural voice she said, "Hello."

  Shannon's angry voice scorched over the wire. "I know that's you, Mamma, so don't try to disguise your voice."

  Julie tried to collect her scattered thoughts. "Shannon baby, I'm sorry. I didn't intend to be so blunt. It's just that--"

  Shannon interrupted with a fierce, "Where the hell is Daddy? Is he there with you? If he is let me talk to him."

  "He's not here." Julie didn't want to discuss Max. She did want a chance to explain her rather delicate dilemma to her daughter. "I haven't seen him since last weekend." She wanted to tell Shannon not to send Max to check on her again. A quick assessment of her present position told her this was not the time to open up another reason to argue with her daughter. "Honey, I feel awful about blurting this out to you over the telephone."

  Shannon ignored Julie's apology. "I have to find Daddy. Where is he?"

  Julie shot back, "How would I know? I don't keep tabs on your father."

  Heavy tension stretched across the wire as Shannon demanded to know, "How long has Daddy known about your--" Obviously she couldn't bring herself to say the word pregnancy. "When did you tell Daddy?"

  "I didn't tell him. He guessed
."

  "That shouldn't have been too difficult considering the circumstances." On the end of a muffled sob, Shannon asked, "Mamma, how could you? How could he? What were the two of you thinking?"

  "If we'd been thinking, this wouldn't have happened."

  "I'll be home as soon as I can find Daddy and we can get there." Shannon's voice rang with authority. "I have something to say to the two of you and I want you together when I say it!"

  Her superior attitude was pushing Julie back into an angry huff. "I don't need you here Shannon and I don't want Max here either."

  "Well, that's just too bad because as soon as I can get in touch with Daddy, I'll be there and he had darn well better show up too."

  "Maybe we should set up a time and place--"

  "This is not negotiable. As soon as I can make the arrangements, I'll be there, and so will Daddy. Brett is coming too. So you'd better be at home!"

  "Listen to me, Shannon!" Julie was shouting into a dead telephone. Her daughter had hung up.

  Julie dropped the buzzing receiver into its cradle, lay back on the bed and pushed a pillow under her shoulders. Shannon's reaction hadn't been what she'd expected. She had anticipated an initial surprise and then maybe sympathy and hopefully acceptance but never anger. She should have gone to Shannon in person. She could add that to her growing list of mistakes. After several attempts to reach Shannon again and getting either a busy signal or her answering machine, Julie gave up. Shannon didn't intend to talk to her mother over the phone again until she had confronted her in person.

  With a heavy heart Julie unfolded the paper and tried to concentrate on the latest news. It was a hopeless endeavor. Worry and remorse made it impossible to focus on the printed page before her. Tossing the paper aside, she decided to cook a Sunday brunch and ask Royce to come over early.

  Royce arrived just as Julie was putting the finishing touches to her meal. "Something smells delicious."

  Julie smiled as he came through the back door. "I made potato pancakes." She waved her spatula in the direction of the coffee urn. "There's coffee in the pot."

  "Would you like a cup?" Royce took two mugs from the cabinet and set them on the bar.

  "I'll have orange juice instead. Caffeine's not good for the baby."

  Royce poured his coffee, added cream and sugar, and took a long swig. "How are you feeling?" He got the orange juice and filled a glass. "Have you been seeing a doctor?"

  How nice it was to have someone voice interest and concern. "I feel fine." Julie put hot cakes onto a platter. "I've been seeing Doctor Barnes since the accident. Doctor Greenway recommended her." She put the pancakes on the table and sat down. "Let's eat. Everything's ready."

  Royce sat across from her and helped himself to pancakes and sausage. "Then there are no problems at all?"

  "No, and I'm surprised. I had thought that at my advanced age I'd have to take all sorts of precautions. Doctor Barnes assures me that women much older than I are having babies every day now with no problems at all. I'm taking vitamins and iron. I've also enrolled in childbirth classes at the hospital." She stopped suddenly, realizing how starved she had been to share her recent experiences. Unfolding her napkin, she pressed it to her lips. "I'm sure none of this interests you."

  Royce laid his fork on his plate. "You wouldn't think so would you--a crusty old widower like me? But it does. "

  "You're not so old. A lot of men your age are becoming fathers for the first time."

  "That's true." Royce picked up his fork. "George Thompson and his wife are expecting their first baby soon and he's a year or so older than I am. He's been going with his wife to child birth classes for weeks now." Royce's fork halted in mid air as he leveled a searching glance in Julie's direction. "Won't you need a partner, too?"

  "Max says he wants to be there when the baby comes." Julie's appetite vanished. Max had also said he'd be here this weekend and he'd failed to show.

  "If he changes his mind I'm available." Royce smiled as he recalled. "I was with Jean when Dan was born. I cut his umbilical cord. Did you know that?"

  Julie did know. Jean had told her. "Maybe you don't need to attend classes, an old pro like you."

  Royce's smile was sardonic. "You're humoring me. Stop it. And I meant it when I said I'd like to be with you when the baby comes."

  "I'll keep that in mind. And you need a little humoring." She remembered how sad she had felt the first few days after Shannon had moved out of the house for good. "Has Dan called?"

  Royce nodded as sadness crowded into his eyes. "He called earlier this morning. He made the trip okay and he's looking for an apartment."

  "He's going to be fine." Julie laid her fingers over Royce's hand. "And so are you."

  "He doesn't know a soul there. He's going to be lonely."

  "Only at first, he'll make new friends and he has his job."

  "I don't know. Friends are hard to find." Royce pushed his plate from him and leaned back in his chair. "Julie, you're a friend--a damn good friend. I told Dan that this morning when I talked to him. And do you know what he said?"

  Julie laughed. "No. But I think you're going to tell me."

  One of Royce's eyebrows climbed up his forehead. "He said, 'Julie's not your friend, she's your crutch, and you're hers.'" Royce sighed. "I've decided that parents aren't supposed to understand their adult children."

  For no reason she could explain, Dan's observation had an unsettling effect on Julie. "Do you think we lean on each other too much?"

  "Do you?" Royce questioned, as he stood and walked toward the coffee urn.

  Sometimes she did. "I never gave it any serious thought."

  With his back to her, Royce poured coffee into his cup. "Then don't. Where would you and I be now if we didn't have each other?"

  That was not a question Julie wanted to pursue. "Would you like to read the paper while I do dishes?"

  "Why don't I keep you company instead? I can read the paper when I'm home alone."

  Julie stacked dishes and carried them to the sink. "You're not the only one who got a telephone call this morning. I talked to Shannon earlier."

  Royce's coffee cup stopped in mid air. "Oh?"

  "I told her I was pregnant."

  "And?"

  "Can you believe it? She was spitting mad."

  Royce lowered his cup onto the counter. "That's Brett's influence."

  That thought hadn't crossed Julie's mind. "Do you think Brett would try to cause trouble between Shannon and her parents?"

  Royce turned his head to one side and smiled at Julie's surprised look. "Don't you?"

  "Well I should hope not!" Julie reminded herself that where Brett was concerned Royce had to be biased, still... "That would be a terrible thing to do." She put dishes in the dishwasher and turned the on button. "Let's get busy. There's a mountain of work to do."

  It was mid afternoon before they completed the task. Julie leaned against the wall and surveyed the empty room. "I'll get a painter in here as soon as I know the results of my ultrasound."

  Royce put his hands to the small of his back and stretched. "It's been a while. Refresh my memory. What is an ultrasound?"

  "It's a way of taking a picture of the baby inside the uterus. When I see it I'll know whether to paint the room pink or blue. "Julie motioned with her hand. "Come along, I'll make a snack."

  As they entered the kitchen, Julie pointed toward a chair. "Sit down. I'll make sandwiches or would you like a salad?"

  Royce asked, "Do you suppose I could see the ultrasound picture too?"

  Julie shrugged. "I don't know why not."

  Royce pulled a chair from the table. "You sit down. Let me make the sandwiches."

  Julie smiled as she lowered herself into the chair. "I think I'll take you up on that offer." She wondered, as she watched him move about the kitchen, if that primitive urge to pamper pregnant females was innate in the male of the species.

  "I'm a fair short order cook," Royce said as he set a sandwich befor
e Julie.

  Mischief danced in Julie's eyes as she lifted the top slice of bread. "It looks okay but the final test is the taste test." She took a hefty bite.

  Royce watched as she chewed thoughtfully. "Well?" His tone was grave but his eyes were laughing.

  Julie swallowed. "Maybe I should take another bite. Then...."

  Before she could finish her sentence the back door flew open emitting a burst of hot air and a fiercely frowning Max Anderson. Slamming the door shut with his foot, he surveyed the scene around him before taking a step in Julie's direction. "This time you've gone too far."

  Julie bolted to her feet. "You can't come charging into my house without knocking. Who do you think you are?"

  "I know who I am, and I just did." Max scowled at Royce. "Get out of here Garner.

  Royce folded his hands across his chest. "I'm not going anywhere. And you should know better than to come storming in here upsetting Julie. Good Lord man, she's pregnant."

  Julie didn't have to ask the reason for Max's anger, she knew. "Shannon called you."

  "She's on her way here now." Max took a long breath as he fought to rein in his run away temper. As he addressed Royce his voice dropped and became resigned. "Nobody knows better than I do that Julie's pregnant. That doesn't give her license to mess up my relationship with my daughter."

  Julie sat in her chair pushed her sandwich back and put her elbows on the table. "Max is right, Royce. He and I need to straighten this out before Shannon gets here. Would you mind leaving?"

  Royce's condemning eyes swept over Max's belligerent form. "Is it safe to leave you alone with him?"

  Max took a step forward. "Would you like to step outside and repeat what you just said?"

  Quickly, Julie intervened. "No. He wouldn't. Royce is leaving." Then she surprised herself by saying, "Go into the living room and wait for me."

  Max bristled, "Damn it, Julie...."

  Julie stood and pointed toward the living room. "Go, Max." Now if she could get Royce out the door and on his way she was going to get a few things off her chest. How dare Max blame her for what had happened between him and Shannon.