Beholden

by Lesley Crewe

  “I wish! I’m so sick.”

  “Why aren’t you in the hospital? Where’s that asshole doctor?”

  “I don’t need to go right now, but I might. It depends on how bad this gets.”

  “What is it?

  “A baby!”

  “You’re not making sense.”

  “I’m having a baby. Your baby. This is your fault.”

  He looked how I must have looked when Maud had told me. Like the thought had never occurred to him.

  “What do you think happens when two people canoodle? They have a baby noodle!”

  “Holy shit. Are you serious?”

  “No. I always call you to come pick me up even though my car is right over there. What am I going to do? He said this could last for sixteen weeks or more.”

  “Let’s get you home. I’ll make you some tea.”

  “No! I hate tea. I hate water at this point.”

  He held my hand on the drive home and stayed with me while I crawled back into bed. He pleaded with me to sip some water, and I did. But it didn’t stay down long.

  Danny was hovering by the door. “She keeps doing that. It’s not good.”

  Mitch wiped the damp hair off my forehead. “You know, you’re going to have to change the sign to Spinster and Baby Bed & Breakfast.”

  “Oh, I know. Because you’re never getting married.”

  “This puts a different slant on things. I might like a sign that says Curry & Son at the end of the driveway.”

  “How do you know it will be a boy?”

  “Curry & Daughter would be fine too.”

  We kissed and stared into each other’s eyes, seeing only the future.

  I had to go to the hospital two days later. They wanted to be sure I was getting enough fluid, so I was hooked up to an IV pole. I dragged it with me to make a phone call.

  “Mrs. Beliveau. I’m dreadfully sorry, but I quit.”

  “Is something wrong?”

  “I’m having a baby out of wedlock.”

  “Oh, my.”

  “You can say that again.”

  I took another dime and called Patty. “I’m having a baby.”

  “You are not.”

  “I’m having such a baby that I’m in the hospital over it.”

  “What?! I’ll be right there!”

  And she hung up on me. The stupid woman was coming.

  Boy, was I glad to see her two and a half hours later. She got through the door and I wailed, holding my arms out for a hug.

  She patted my back. “You poor darling. Is this morning sickness?”

  “This is sickness sickness. You can’t even pronounce the name of it, that’s how horrible it is.”

  “Are you sure you’re pregnant? You look like a bean pole.”

  “I’ve lost seven pounds. This bean is going to be the runt of the litter.”

  “What does Mitch think about this?”

  For the first time that day I smiled. “He said noodles are his favourite thing.”

  “Okay, that’s a private joke, and I won’t ask what it means.”

  Patty sat with me for the whole day while I upchucked and then fell asleep from exhaustion. She was still with me when it got dark. Danny was by the bed too. They were chatting quietly.

  “You need to go home,” I whispered.

  “I’m going to stay at a fabulous bed and breakfast, and then run over to see you in the morning before returning to the zoo.”

  “Okay.” I fell back to sleep smiling.

  I stayed in the hospital for nine days but Danny, Maud, Mitch, and even Will came to keep me company. Danny filled me in on my business empire.

  “There’s a bunch of old hags renting Gran’s for a week,” Danny said. “They say they’re a book club celebrating twenty years together. But I think they’re making plans to kill their husbands.”

  “That can be our next advertising strategy. Come to our Murder Mystery Weekend.”

  “After that, there’s a troupe of Buddhist monks expected. They’re on holiday for ten days.”

  “You’re joking.”

  “Yes. I didn’t want you to know that more birders are showing up.”

  “Oh, God. One of them will leave behind their very expensive binoculars again and expect us to ship it back to them. They really are more trouble than they’re worth.”

  “We’ve got the cabin booked solid for fishing season. There’s not a safe fish anywhere in Richmond County, poor little buggers.”

  “What about the B&B?”

  “A steady stream of illicit lovemaking is going on. I think it’s got something to do with the name Spinster on the Hill. People are perverted.”

  When I got home, it didn’t feel like home. It felt like Danny’s B&B in some weird way. I tried to help now that I wasn’t working, but either Danny or Maud would shoo me away and I’d end up in the field complaining to Napoleon, Lucy, and Shortbread.

  “All this has become a well-oiled machine without me. What am I supposed to do? Other than be someone’s mother.” Napoleon bunted my head and then my tummy very softly. “You know it’s in there, don’t you?”

  My sickness was still there, but it was easing up enough for me to sit out on the porch swing and while away the afternoon. When was the last time I’d sat and watched the birds? They were lovely. Maybe those birders were on to something.

  The thought of my own baby was thrilling but worrying at the same time. My mother had died having me. It wasn’t something I could get out of my head easily, even though it was the car accident that had killed her. I knew that me being born, me just existing, had meant traumatic experiences for so many people. I was wanted but not wanted.

  This baby needed to feel completely secure, even though it was doing everything in its power to be a giant misery guts at the moment.

  Maud shouted from the kitchen. “Buttermilk pancakes are ready, if you feel up to eating.”

  For the first time in weeks, I did.

  Later that day I was in the barn giving Napoleon a brushing, or more like a patting, since my energy hadn’t fully returned. But I loved being with him and felt much better being by his side.

  “Did you miss me while I was in the hospital?” He snorted and flung his head up and down. “Why, thank you, kind sir. I missed you too.”

  The barn door opened and Mitch came in, Hobbs at his heel.

  “Yay! My three favourite men are here.”

  Mitch came over and kissed the top of my head. “How are you feeling?”

  “Better.”

  “Want to feel great?”

  “Sure.”

  He took Napoleon’s brush from me and tossed it to the ground. He also took of his ball cap and tossed that away too.

  “What’s going on?”

  He reached into his shirt pocket and got down on one knee, taking my left hand in his. “Miss Bridie Jane Mackenzie. This never-getting-married business is starting to bug me. You and I are bringing a noodle into the world and I have a feeling our noodle wants to belong to just you and me and Napoleon and Hobbs. So please do me the honour of becoming my wife. I can’t imagine anyone else I’d rather argue with for the next seventy years.”

  Then he placed a pearl ring on my finger.

  “How did you know I love pearls?”

  “You’re always wearing that necklace, so I figured you must. And by the way, would you please stop asking questions until you’ve answered mine?”

  I jumped on him and we ended up rolling around in the hay with Hobbs. “Yes, yes, yes, I’ll be your wife!”

  Napoleon whinnied his approval.

  27

  Mitch and I were married on a bright September morning. I was six months pregnant, but if I’d been trying to hide this pregnancy I would’ve done a great job. You cou
ldn’t tell.

  Maud patted my belly. “It looks like you’re going to have a bunny.”

  We only had Maud, Will, Danny, Ray and Patty, Mavis, and Aunt Betty at the church. Uncle Fraser begged off. His hip was acting up.

  A crown of daisies encircled my long hair, and I had a bouquet of daisies and baby’s breath in my hands, which I secretly thought was quite funny. My dress was short, fresh, and youthful as per Nell’s instructions, and covered with little white flowers, which I think gave the minister indigestion as he’d heard the rumours about the baby. He didn’t come straight out and ask us, which Mitch was hoping he’d do.

  “So you can say what to him?”

  “It’s 1973. Get over it already.”

  Ray walked me down the aisle, but he was so nervous he was damp. I kissed his cheek anyway.

  Mitch gave me a gold band with little diamonds all the way around. They looked like stars.

  When the minister said, “You may kiss your bride,” Mitch made sure he kissed me like he meant it. Something else for the minister to chew over.

  We went back to the B&B, and Maud had everything prepared ahead of time. We had a lovely brunch of ham and cheese quiche, waffles with cream and fresh fruit, croissants, bacon, muffins, coffee, tea, and orange juice with champagne. It felt so good to want to eat again, but I was still leery of taking too much at once.

  And then Maud unveiled the wedding cake she’d made for us. It was white, a traditional three-layered cake, and as we cut into, we were expecting fruitcake. She surprised us with chocolate, Mitch’s favourite. He gave her a big hug. I loved how much he loved his mother. It made me feel safe.

  We kicked back our shoes and everyone wandered into the living room. Everyone except Will, who went out to visit the horses.

  Mavis had a glass of champagne with no orange juice. She waved off Maud, who had the juice bottle in her hand. “No need to ruin it with that. So, where are you two going to live?”

  “We don’t know yet.”

  “You don’t know yet? Isn’t that a little strange?”

  “I technically have three properties I can live in, but I’m too greedy making money off them at the moment.”

  “But this house is big enough for you, isn’t it? All your bedrooms don’t need to be made into guest suites. Or you can kick this guy out of here and take his room.” She held up her glass towards Danny.

  “Mother!”

  Danny pointed at himself. “Me? This place would go to seed inside a week if I weren’t here with my magic broom and duster.”

  Mitch was trying not to laugh at Mavis’s gall. Mavis noticed it.

  “What’s your solution then, sonny boy? I know one thing. If George was here, he’d want to know where his baby was going to live when she has her own baby. A woman needs to be in her nest before her child comes into the world, so this is no small matter. It’s up to the man of the house to make these arrangements. Bridie has enough to worry about carrying this child of yours and feeling mighty ill while doing it.”

  That sucked the gaiety out of the room quickly. But I realized she was right. And from the look on Danny, Patty, Aunt Betty, and Maud’s faces, they knew she was right too.

  “Where are we going to live?” I asked.

  Mitch realized the crowd was now against him. “I don’t know. Can’t we discuss this another time?”

  “No.”

  “Okay. You’re my wife, so you’ll live with me.”

  “In your childhood bedroom, or are you planning a major renovation of your house? Excuse me, Maud’s house.”

  “I don’t have the money to do that right now and like you said, it’s Mom’s house. I can’t just start tearing down walls.”

  Maud put her hand up. “Yes, you can. I don’t mind.”

  Danny hopped into the air. “I’ve got it! Maud can come live here with me, and Mitch and Bridie can live at Maud’s.”

  Now Patty put her hand up. “Aren’t you forgetting about Will?”

  “That’s right,” I said, even though was I always forgetting about Will because he was never around.

  “He can flit between the two houses,” Maud said. “He usually sleeps in the barn anyway.”

  Mitch nodded. “That’s true.”

  “Your brother sleeps in a barn?” Mavis downed her champagne. “What’s wrong with you people?”

  “Are you sure this is all right with you, Maud?” I asked. “It’s your home we’re talking about.”

  Maud smiled. “Our barn is nicer than my house. Living here would not be a hardship. I love every minute of it. I’d be quite happy to stay here until you’ve added on to the house, or whatever your plans will eventually be. But Mavis is right. We need to get Bridie settled and prepare a nursery. I’d much rather she did it away from the public.”

  Patty laughed. “Can you imagine the gossips when they find out Maud and Danny are living together?”

  Danny clapped. “Oh, my sainted mother will be chuffed at the news!”

  Mavis put down her glass and rooted in her purse, taking out a small piece of paper. She stood and walked straight to me. “This seems very appropriate, now that we’ve had this discussion. I’d like you to have this.”

  I reached out and opened it. It was a cheque for twenty-five thousand dollars. My hand covered my mouth. “Mavis!”

  “This is the money I owe you. Your sister gave you half years ago, and she thinks I don’t know, but I figured it out. It was the right thing to do. In my heart, I know your Pops would want to be part of this happy occasion, and this money can go a long way to helping you build your nest for our grandchild.”

  I was so overcome I couldn’t speak. I stood up and hugged her, this other mother of mine. Then Patty ran over and we embraced. Pops would be so happy.

  We decided not to do anything with the house until the next spring. We needed time to go over plans, not just for the near future, but for when Maud eventually returned. She liked the idea of a separate space for herself so we could be close but not on top of each other. The idea of having a grandmother at my beck and call was reassuring. And this grandmother in particular.

  When I mentioned this to Danny, he got very upset. “When Maud leaves, I’ll be the only spinster on the hill!”

  “Maybe we could advertise for a cook who’s…more your cup of tea.”

  He instantly cheered up. “Why, that’s a grand idea. Why didn’t I think of that? Although how would I advertise for something so specific? Neat-freak pansy looking for a baking poof?”

  “We’ll definitely avoid the want ads in the Cape Breton Post. Perhaps a little farther afield would be best.”

  We cleaned out Maud’s room, with her blessing, and scrubbed and painted it white. I was mindful of Nell’s advice. You can bring colour in if you have the right background. This was also not a nursery per se. It was our room, with a bassinette in it. I took my favourite quilt from Nell’s for our bed after washing it and leaving it out on the line for three days. But I bought everything new for the baby.

  Patty, Mavis, and I went shopping together in Sydney, and they were very helpful.

  “Only buy a few items that are three to six months. They grow right out of those.” Patty handed me some six-to-nine-month pajamas, which looked gigantic.

  Mavis thought so too. “She’s having a hummingbird, not an ostrich. Just because your babies were huge doesn’t mean they’re all like that.”

  Patty grit her teeth. “You have an uncanny ability to be rude no matter what the topic.”

  I’d missed this.

  After we finished our purchases, we went for a quick lunch at a local coffee shop. We’d just sat down when Mavis hit my arm.

  “Isn’t that Loretta over there with another man? Don’t look!”

  “Mother, we have to.”

  “Don’t be obvious.”

&n
bsp; My head swivelled slightly and, sure enough, there was Loretta looking bright eyed and bushy tailed. Patty bent down to pick up an imaginary napkin and her face confirmed it.

  “It is her!” she whispered. “I wonder who that is.”

  “He’s a fine-looking specimen,” Mavis said.

  “Eww. Don’t be gross, Mother.”

  “What? I can’t admire a man’s good looks? You think we’re made of stone after sixty? Wait until you girls get to be my age. You’re in for a big surprise.”

  “Do you think she’s cheating on Uncle Donny?” I said.

  Patty took a sip of water from the glass the waitress put in front of her. “I hope so. He’s been feeling up every broad from here to Yarmouth for years.”

  Mavis fiddled with her collar. “Don’t be vulgar.”

  In that instant, Loretta looked over and gave us all a big wave. She and the man got up from their table and hurried over.

  “What a marvellous coincidence,” she said. “This is my cousin Harvey Healy, from the Valley. Harvey, this is my family. My sister-in-law, Mavis Mackenzie, who I told you about, and her girls, Patty and Bridie.”

  Harvey shook our hands. “So nice to meet you all.”

  “I was planning a dinner party for tomorrow night, Mavis, and I told Harvey here that I knew someone who would love to go on a date.”

  “I would?”

  “Yes! That way the table will be even.”

  “Please, Mavis. I don’t want to be third wheel,” said Harvey.

  Mavis got flushed and began babbling a little. Patty put her hand over her mother’s and said, “Mom would love to go, wouldn’t you, Mom?”

  “Yes, yes. Thank you.”

  “Loretta told me where you live, so how about I pick you up at seven?”

  “Fine, fine.”

  Loretta clapped her hands. “It’s all settled. Until tomorrow! Bye, girls.”

  We said goodbye, and then Patty and I turned to Mavis.

  “Did that just happen?” she said.

  Patty shoved her mother’s shoulder. “You’ve got a date! With a fine-looking specimen!”

  “What’s his name? Harvey Valley? Healy Harvey?