by Ruth Hay
Chapter 17
Louise Beck woke early and took a moment to orient herself. It was such luxury to wake in this apartment shared with only the one delicious man who snored gently by her side.
No rattling of dishes in a sink already filled to the brim as flatmates searched for a semi-clean cup.
No queueing for a bathroom that was less than immaculately clean.
No attempts to keep her own possessions out of the hands of another predatory female.
No noisy music stealing sleep and studying time.
This was bliss. Silence, calm and satisfaction all rolled into one and the one who was responsible for all this was the gorgeous Jason Schuster who looked so darling and vulnerable without his glasses that she had to resist the impulse to waken him with a sloppy kiss. Seeing him there was a wonder that never ceased. He loved her. The first time he had called her wild hair a halo around her head, she was lost.
She covered up his broad shoulders with the edge of the duvet and slipped out of bed without a sound.
The early hours of the work week were her special time to brew a cup of coffee and prepare for the day. Soon enough, Jason would smell the aroma and awaken, but by then she would be restored to full energy and ready for anything.
The summer work placement in Jason’s family company had worked out better than she could have hoped. It was amazing to get hands-on experience with planning boards and blueprints and she had taken every opportunity to hone her skills. That this was appreciated was shown by the speed with which she was accepted as a valuable member of the team. She was able to add a little feminine touch here and there in the mostly masculine environment and after this was remarked on favourably by an important client, it caused a few eyebrows to be raised in surprise.
It was vital to Louise that Jason had not intervened in any of her projects. She needed to know she succeeded on her own merits and it was reassuring that they were in different offices. Jason was being groomed for upper management tasks while she was on the shop floor but she knew she could rely on him for advice if she needed it.
September signalled a return to college courses. She viewed this with great anticipation. With so much experience under her belt she saw the instruction offered in her final year as icing on a pre-made cake. She had the assurance of work well done and approved and that fact caused everything else to glow in a happy light. No matter how many times she had to sit through boring lectures, she knew the end was in sight and she was heading there with all speed. She had already received two offers to join architecture firms in the city when she obtained her qualifications. The choice would not be made lightly. It could be postponed for now but it was some kind of special confidence booster to know she had a secure job waiting at the end of it all.
* * *
The coffee tasted particularly good this bright clear morning. Louise sipped and remembered how everything good in her life had happened in just a few months. The accidental meeting with Jason at the bus stop had jump-started most of it but there was also the thing about her family pulling together. It hardly seemed possible that she had once believed her parents were heading for a divorce. Since Mexico, all that had changed. Tonight was their bi-monthly late dinner at the restaurant and she was anxious to hear about Devon’s latest ideas and find out what Abi had done lately to help Portia. Seeing her mother proudly presiding over the table on these occasions, just proved what a sea change had occurred. Her mother was a significant part of the restaurant’s success, according to her proud husband.
This man who had rarely had a good word to say to, or about, his wife, now happily gave her credit for managing the staff expertly and developing a clientele of her own who relied on her recommendations each time they arrived for a meal. It was obvious how much better the atmosphere was between the two. Her father had visibly relaxed now he could be sure how many servings he had to prepare each evening. Profits were up thanks to Devon’s new advanced booking system.
Louise thought it was all a kind of miracle.
She heard stirrings coming from the bedroom and knew Jason would soon step into the shower and arrive beside her shortly thereafter, slightly damp, smelling of his signature cologne and waiting for her coffee-flavoured kiss to start his day.
Another miracle in her life, for sure.
* * *
Abigail was the last to arrive. No one commented on this as she had the furthest to travel.
The family were starting on the first course, a seafood medley concocted by Terrence who often used the family dinner occasions to try out something new. The sounds indicated this choice was a winner and no one noticed the expression on Abigail’s face until her mother looked up and immediately knew something was wrong.
“What’s up, Abi? What’s happened now?”
Silence fell. The churning noise of a dishwasher in the rear of the kitchen could be heard clearly as everyone waited for Abigail to take her seat. She coughed nervously, knowing what was to come.
“Look, something has happened and Aunt Megan has been asked to tell you about it. She’s waiting outside for me to fetch her.”
Puzzled glances sped around the table but no one could shed any light on this unusual situation. They watched in silence as Megan arrived. She stood beside her brother and pulled the letter out of her purse, opening it up slowly. She had been given explicit instructions about how to proceed and she intended to follow them.
Addressing her brother, she began.
“This letter has been written by our mother, Marian Beck, and I have to read it to you all tonight by her request. Please don’t interrupt. It’s hard enough for me to do this.
* * *
My Dear Family,
I am sorry to burden you with this news at such a happy time as your family meal together, but I did not have the strength to talk to each of you individually. I have asked Megan to do this for me.
A few days ago I suffered a heart attack. I was at home when it happened and I was able to get to the hospital quickly in Aylward’s car. I received excellent care and the doctors have assured me I will recover much of my strength if I obey their directions in future.
Your father and I have talked about what this means for us. We will do our best to endure the restrictions my condition demands but we cannot do it all any more.
For some time, we have been concealing how much our energies have depleted. We have not been in regular contact with any of you and it was not difficult to pretend that everything was as it had been for the decades before.
Even during the holiday in Mexico, you would not have noticed how fatigued we were. Practice makes even the most difficult of tasks look easier in the short term.
Your father, and grandfather, wants me to write how happy he is that you all benefitted by the donations we dispensed during that holiday. We have lived long enough to see the differences those finances have made in your lives and for that we are both very grateful.
But now, the time has come to ask you for help of a different kind.
My strong, determined, husband will never admit this but even his strength is failing. I cannot continue alone should he suffer a stroke or worse.
In short, we are facing a huge change in our lives and we must ask each of you here tonight to put aside some time from your busy lives to help us make the necessary changes. Megan can help you with some of the decisions but much will be left to your individual resources.
Know that this comes with our love and thanks for anything you can do for us.
Your loving parents,
Marian and Aylward Beck.”
* * *
Everyone heard the catch in Megan Anderson’s voice as she reached the end of the letter. No one could speak as her final words faded. Jillian’s tears fell unheeded and Louise had her hand over her mouth to hide her sobs.
Most affected was Terrence. His mother’s letter seemed to him to be an accusation of a sort. He recalled all the times he had been too tired or too busy to make the trek acros
s the city to the Forest Hill mansion. He had taken it for granted that his parents were just as strong and active as they had always been. He hated the fact that his selfishness must have added to his parents’ difficulties.
Devon recovered first and took control of the situation.
“Aunt Megan, what can we do exactly?”
Hearing a positive statement galvanized the rest of the group. Questions began to flow as the shock began to diminish.
“How is Gran feeling?”
“Can we go and see her?”
“How did she seem to you?”
“Did she really write all this by herself?”
“Is Gramps okay?”
“Tell us what to do now.”
Megan had had longer to think about the next steps and she could give some indication of the problems ahead.
“We need to focus on the immediate issues. The house in Forest Hill must be sold, of course, but now the house in the Bahamas must also be sold. I can help with the financial details of those but Devon has a lot to do to empty the house of its valuables before the final sale. I will contact the best real estate agents in the city for the major sales but there is another immediate requirement. Our parents will have to be moved to a safer, less worrisome location where mother can recover in comfort.”
“Isn’t there a need to find a place for Portia as well?”
Jillian had looked toward Abigail as she said this, knowing she had the best information about Portia’s present condition.
Megan interrupted before Abi could respond.
“I have been thinking about this too. I want Portia to come back home with me. I have lots of space and I have reduced my work commitments. It’s time to repair our relationship.” She deliberately said nothing about her marriage situation. This was neither the time nor place for that piece of information.
“Aunt Megan I agree. I think she’s ready for this now. I want to stay with Gran and Gramps until they make the move but you can call on me if needed. We have a good rapport now, Portia and me.”
Devon jumped in with a nod to his sister.
“Abi’s right about Portia. You don’t know this yet but I have found a job for her in our Hi Tech Hub. Her paintings have been selling well and now she wants to move into fabric design again. There’s a new piece of equipment using 3D laser printers she can use to develop her ideas and there are three other women in that area who she can work with.”
Meagan caught her breath on hearing this excellent news from Devon. It immediately made her plan to live with Portia during this busy period in all their lives much more feasible.
“Son, I will help you with the house clearance when I can. We can look into storage options for the short term and that will give us more time.”
Jillian had been thinking of her mother-in-law’s health.
“I can arrange for heart-healthy meals to be delivered to the house each day. Marian should not be going up and down stairs and she needs a quiet environment for her recovery with no extra people running around the place.”
Terrence smiled his agreement. They could certainly solve any food issues.
“Wait a minute! I won’t be left out of this!”
Every head turned at Louise’s impassioned appeal.
“I’m the one who is living downtown. I know the housing situation very well. I will work with an agent to find the best spot for a new apartment for Gran and Gramps. Jason will help me. His company knows all about the residential properties. We’ll pick the perfect place and get them moved in fast, with Abi’s help of course.”
“That would relieve me of one of the real estate problems, Louise. Thank you and thanks to everyone for your suggestions. I can’t tell you how glad I am to know we can pull together like this in an emergency. I know I have a lot to make up for and this is a chance to do that.”
Terrence stood by his sister’s side and hugged her shoulders while he looked proudly around the table.
“Our parents have done so much for us. Since Mexico, their generosity has improved the lives of each and every one of us. Now is the time to repay their confidence in our abilities. Let’s do it!”
A spontaneous cheer raised the spirits of the group. Smiles appeared for the first time.
Jillian went off to the kitchen to see if she could rescue the lasagna that had been waiting in the warming oven. Devon found a chair for his aunt. Terrence poured generous glasses of a restorative red wine for everyone and the talk continued well into the night.
The Beck and Anderson families were now on the same page for perhaps the only time in their lives.
Tragedy has a way of bringing out the best in people, thought Abigail, as she looked at her united family. A sharp, swift shock had turned her own life around and now she was in a position to do some good for others. She had actually helped with Portia’s recovery without really trying. It was a satisfying feeling for a change. And now that she was gaining an audience on Zoomer radio and in the magazine, her future looked brighter.
She would watch closely how the turn of events was affecting her grandparents and this would be further material for her articles on Canadian snowbirds. She had recently discovered an organization devoted to the needs of these winter vacationers and she would investigate their claims.
For once in her life she felt she was in the right place at the right time.
Chapter 18
The euphoric days of sheer delight at the news of his wife’s pregnancy soon morphed into a world of deep concern. As a scientist, Wesley Philips knew only too well where to find the most esoteric information hidden in the internet and he made it his business to ferret out that information. His style of research was of the global kind. He needed to know everything before he was content.
What he discovered was disturbing. Zoe had not known she was pregnant for around eight weeks and this was the most crucial period of the whole nine months. It was the period during which there was the highest mortality rate and the highest risk of something going wrong.
He tried to cast his mind back over the two months. Had Zoe been eating properly? He knew nutrition was essential for normal growth of the specialised cells that would develop into a healthy baby. How many times had they chosen a take-out meal because they were too tired at the end of the day to cook something more appealing?
And what about sleep? Was Zoe sleeping well at that particular time or was she rushed off her feet at work and stressed about the paparazzi?
He blamed himself for every single time he might have added to his wife’s stress or been withdrawn because he was worrying about introducing the topic of conception at a time when, perversely, conception had already occurred. If it were possible to go back and have that opportunity again, he would have given anything to ensure Zoe had the best care and the best circumstances to focus on her health.
Should he have insisted on Zoe stopping work entirely?
As this thought occurred, it had the effect of pouring cold water on his hyper-active mind and bringing in a cool blast of more rational thinking. Of course, Zoe would not have agreed to leave work. Her work was who she was in the deepest sense. It followed that any attempt to slow his wife down now, was going to be equally unsuccessful.
It was vital to conceal his worries and support her in every decision she might make.
Wesley knew this was not going to be easy for him. From their very first encounter in his office, as therapist and patient, it had been clear to him that Zoe Morton was a strong-minded, independent woman who was not easily swayed by another’s opinion. To bring about her rapid return to mental health and stability, he had been obliged to step aside and let her work out exactly what she required. Because she had been such an unusual patient, his interest in her had risen to an unprecedented level and so their personal relationship had grown over time.
In a way, his role now was not much different. He would have to let her find her own way in this new world of pregnancy in which they were each complete neophytes.
/> After all, she was quite definitely a woman with all the womanly senses. She was the one dealing with the changes to her body and she would be the best one to show him how to support her. It just required patience and love. The second of these was never going to be a problem. It was the first that gave him concern.
Dr. Wesley Philips’ conclusion, one he had to reiterate frequently to himself, was to apply his skills as a trained observer in an intense way during this first trimester. He would watch Zoe like a hawk and be ready to step in with help, encouragement and loving care whenever, and if ever, she indicated such things might be needed. It was clearly not his job to make the situation more difficult for her. His worries must be put securely into the background of his mind whenever they were together. Zoe must not get even a whiff of his true concerns.
It would require of him a strict discipline but he was no stranger to discipline of mind or body. Anything that would help bring his child into the world safe and healthy would be well worth whatever sacrifice was required of him.
Chapter 19
Zoe Morton had been doing her own research, unknown to her husband.
She immediately realized her task in the next sixteen weeks was to provide the best nourishment and the best mental attitude for the tiny life she carried inside her.
She had not felt any stirrings of that life as yet, but it was a quiet presence in her mind that assumed greater importance as each week passed.
Suzanne, her friend and trusted co-worker, was the first to know. As soon as the morning coffee routine changed to a smoothie full of vitamins and green vegetables, she suspected something. It was not long before she found other signs to confirm her suspicions. Her boss was more chirpy in the mornings and a trifle more fatigued in the afternoons and there was that slight fullness in her cheeks that indicated something was happening.