by Holly Jacobs
She’d never admit it, but his leaving her at the cottage while he returned to Cleveland for work had come as a relief. She’d finally be able to relax and enjoy these last days of pregnancy without worrying about Ross.
She hugged her stomach tightly, wanting to keep this baby from ever being hurt. Needing her baby to realize how loved he or she was. She continued to sit there, watching the ever-changing lake. The waves were high now, and clouds were blowing by. The sun kept valiantly trying to gain some foothold but the clouds cloaked it again and again.
“Hey.”
She turned, thinking Ross had decided that he could in fact spare a few days from work and sought her out. Instead, she found Stephan standing in the doorway smiling.
She smiled back. “Pull up a chair.”
“Don’t mind if I do.”
A cloud raced across the sand. “You know this is the perfect weather for—”
“Chasing shadows,” he finished for her. “I thought so yesterday. Though I hate to mention it, Caro, I don’t think you’d hold up very long in your condition.”
“Funny, Stephan. Oh, so funny. Mock the poor pregnant woman.” She tried to look disgruntled, but she couldn’t help but chuckle.
His laughter joined hers, as easily as it had when they were kids. “I just meant that if you weren’t up for shopping with our folks, odds were you weren’t up for running across the beach.”
She shook her head. “Sure, sure. It’s a nice story, but I’m not buying it. So what brings you over?”
“I just came to check on you. Mom said you weren’t going to Put-in Bay with them.” She could read the question in his eyes. The concern.
“I’m fine.” She reassured him. “I just feel a bit achy and bulky. How come you didn’t go?”
“So I’m here if you need anything. I have some paperwork I have to finish and send to the office. I figured this was as good a time as any.”
“I’ll be fine.”
He didn’t look so sure. “Why don’t I come back at lunch? I’ll cook.”
“I hate to look a gift lunch in the mouth, but I seem to remember a time when your cooking repertoire consisted of peanut butter and jelly, and even that was iffy. I’m not overly confident that it’s improved since then.”
He scoffed.
“Was that particular noise something they taught you in lawyer’s school?” She imitated it.
“No, I developed it all on my own.”
“I can hear you doing it when a witness says something you disagree with, but can’t really fight. Scoff.”
She’d often pictured him eloquently laying out an argument in front of a jury, impressing them all.
He’d told her he did mainly contract work, but it didn’t matter. Whenever she pictured Stephan, it was as a young hotshot, outtalking, outthinking judges and juries alike.
“We’re not here to talk about my legal career and its accompanying noises, we were talking about your rather disparaging remarks about my cooking. I’ll have you know that I’ve enlarged the scope of my talent since then.”
She must have looked unsure because Stephan seemed slightly insulted.
“Okay, you win. I’ll wait until lunch to decide.”
She tried to feign enthusiasm, although, to be honest, if it had been anyone but Stephan, she would have simply declined. She really felt as if she needed some quiet time.
And even after all these years, Stephan was still enough of a friend to catch her hesitation. “You sure you’re all right?”
She smiled, in what she hoped was a reassuring way. “Positive. Go get your paperwork done so you can make me lunch. You should always beware of bringing food late to a pregnant woman.”
“Good to know. I’ll file it away for when Ardith is expecting.”
She wanted to ask how big a family he and Ardith planned on, wanted to ask how he’d met his fiancée, how he’d known that Ardith was the one for him.
Once upon a time they’d been close enough that she would have asked those questions and more, but that was a long time ago. It had been years since they’d managed to meet up during the summer, and she felt suddenly shy about appearing too forward.
“So, see you a little later?” she settled on.
He waved and walked down the steps onto the path that led to the beach, and his family’s cottage.
Carolyn leaned deep into the chair and went back to studying the sights. There were no shadows dancing across the beach now. The clouds had totally obliterated the sun, and darker ones were blowing in off the lake. The breeze had turned to a stiff wind, and the temperature had dropped noticeably. It looked as if they might be in for a storm.
She ignored the nagging ache in her back, wrapped her arms around herself and turned her attention to the clouds rolling in off the water. Yes, it looked like Lake Erie was going to whip up a fine summer storm.
The wind picked up and the storm front blew in even cooler. Carolyn finally shook off her lassitude enough to pull herself to her feet. A grunt inadvertently escaped as she did. The thing about pregnancy no one ever mentioned was that it introduced a whole host of new experiences. Noisy ascents and descents were the least of the changes, hardly even worth noting compared to some of the others.
She waddled into the cottage, and made the rounds, making sure all the windows and doors were closed against the upcoming storm.
LIGHTNING OUTSIDE THE WINDOW momentarily lit the room. It was followed by the clap of thunder that shook the cottage even as it shook Stephan away from his work.
It was only eleven, not quite lunch yet, and the sky was as dark as winter-time dinner hour. Over the lake, thick clouds hung low and ominous. The sky was punctuated by another bolt of lightning, the brightness almost blinding as it illuminated the gloom.
Stephan hurried out to the kitchen and wondered what he could make Carolyn that would convince her that he was indeed capable of cooking more than a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
The jar of peanut butter was sitting center shelf, as if beckoning him, telling him that maybe Carolyn had simply forgotten how much she liked PBJs.
He couldn’t bring himself to believe it, and feeling his honor had to be upheld, he went to the freezer and stared into it, hoping for his salvation.
He spied his deliverance in the back of the freezer under a gallon of ice cream.
Oh, he’d show Carolyn that he could make something other than PBJs. After all, he was almost thirty and on his way to becoming a successful attorney. He could manage a lunch.
He put the meal all together on a tray, covered it, since it had started raining in earnest, threw on a slicker and carried their lunch across the walkway between the two cottages.
He hurried to the sliding glass door, just as another bolt of lightning shot across the lake, followed by a more powerful clap of thunder.
“Caro?” He knocked on the door harder.
She didn’t answer. She was probably sleeping. One of the guys at the firm had commented that his pregnant wife slept all the time.
He quietly let himself in, set the tray with the meal on the table.
“Hey, Elf, where are you hiding?” he called.
“Stephan, I’m in here.”
“‘In here’ isn’t a very descriptive direction,” he teased as he followed the sound of her voice into the Kendals’ small living room. Nothing had changed since they were kids, so he barely noticed the massive stone fireplace or the oak-paneled walls. The same red-and-blue plaid couch was where it always had been, and that’s where he saw Carolyn huddled under a quilt, despite the summer warmth and the mugginess brought in with the storm system. “Caro?”
She smiled wanly, but she couldn’t disguise the fact she’d been crying.
“I’m fine,” she assured him. “Just feeling punky. My back aches like nobody’s business.”
“If it hurts enough to make you cry—”
She shook her head. “You get used to odd aches and pains over nine months of pregnancy. I’ll confe
ss, a backache is definitely easier to cope with than the entire month I spent throwing up.”
He sat on the big cedar chest the Kendals’ used as a coffee table. “If it’s not the backache…?” He left the question hang.
She shrugged. “Hormones?”
He shook his head. Carolyn wasn’t the sort who would let mere hormones get to her. “Not buying it.”
“I don’t know how to explain other than sometimes a pregnant woman just needs to cry. One night I actually went to the video store to rent Terms of Endearment because I know it always makes me cry, and I really needed to cry.”
Over the years Stephan had tried to figure women out, but he’d never had much success, and of all the women he knew, Carolyn had always had the oddest way of thinking, so, like any sane man, he changed the subject. “I brought that lunch I promised. And, it’s not PBJs. Maybe something to eat will help?”
She scooted up on the couch, interest in her eyes. “Dare I ask what it is?”
“Turkey, broccoli and cheese sandwich. I just need a second to heat it.”
He hurried out, nuked both sandwiches and put them back on the tray and carried them out, then presented them to Carolyn with flourish, proud of the festive paper plates and matching napkins he’d found tucked away in a cupboard. Presentation was a big part of a good meal, according to Ardith.
“Ta-da,” he said, feeling triumphant that he’d indeed showed Carolyn how much his culinary skills had improved over the years.
She didn’t look convinced. As a matter of fact, he was pretty sure there was an upturn to her nose, as if she were sniffing with disdain.
She shook her head. “You didn’t make those. They’re Hot Pockets.”
“Hey, who do you think took them out of the package, put them in the microwave and heated them for you? And look at the matching plates and napkins.” He grinned as he feigned an accomplished look.
“I stand corrected.” She laughed, but the expression didn’t quite reach her eyes. She pulled the quilt tighter.
“Caro, are you sure this is just a pregnancy thing? Maybe we should take you to the doctor.”
“I’m fine.” As if to punctuate her fineness, lightning flashed in the sky, brightening the somewhat murky living room, on its heels a crack of thunder resounded.
“Why don’t you nibble at your lunch, and I’ll start a fire to take the dampness out of the air.”
“I thought you had work to do?”
“I do, but I finished the most pressing matters. The rest can wait. So, looks like you’re stuck with me. After I start the fire we could play a game or something.”
“One thousand rummy.” It had been their favorite game for long, wet summer days when they were young.
Stephan knew how this particular negotiation went. “Five hundred, maybe,” he countered with a grin.
“Fifteen hundred.”
“Seven-fifty.”
“Two thousand.”
“Fine.” He sighed, shook his head and attempted to disguise his grin and look truly put-upon. “One thousand it is.”
She laughed. “You still don’t negotiate well. I was shocked when you went to law school.”
“And you still cheat at cards. When we play rummy to a thousand, you simply have so much more time.”
She shook her head. “I don’t cheat, I’m exceptionally skilled and you’re simply a poor loser.”
Despite his grousing, he played the game willingly. He’d do just about anything to take the look of sadness from Carolyn.
He wished she’d confide in him, but old summer friendships were tenuous at best, he realized. He understood her reluctance, although he wished there was something he could say to convince her to trust him. Since he couldn’t, he’d simply do his best to cheer her up, even if it meant being thoroughly trounced at rummy.
An hour later, Carolyn was ahead, though not by much. She’d fidgeted through the game, as if looking for a comfortable position. She finally admitted defeat, tossing her hand onto the pile. “I think I’m done.”
It was one of the rare wins he’d ever had. Oh, he’d win a hand or two, but the overall games almost always went to Carolyn. But rather than some good-natured gloating, which was how a winner generally behaved in their rummy games, Stephan tossed his cards down, as well. “You’re not all right.”
“I’ve said over and over again, I’m fine,” Carolyn snapped. She looked as surprised as he was at her tone and immediately apologized. “Sorry. I think I just need a nap.”
Stephan eyed her, wishing he knew what was wrong. “Fine. I’ll just read, you nap.”
“Uh, maybe you should go home?”
“Have you looked outside? It’s coming down in buckets.” He walked across the room to the big old easy chair. “I’ll sit here and read. You’ll never know I’m here.” He picked up a Popular Science magazine, glanced at Carolyn, who’d for once taken his advice and shut her eyes.
The firelight was enough to play cards by, but not quite enough light to read by, so he reached over to flip on the light.
Nothing happened.
He got up and walked quietly to the light switch. Still nothing.
Carolyn opened her eyes and glared at him. “I thought you were going to read so quietly I’d never even know you were here?”
“The electricity is out.” He picked up the phone on the end table. There was no dial tone. “No phone, either.”
He didn’t add that he was already quite aware that his car phone didn’t get any reception in Heritage Bay.
“Is it really that bad out?” She sounded nervous as she glanced toward the window, as if she could make out the weather through the curtain.
Maybe he’d best pack Caro up and drive into town.
But as he went to the window and pulled back the curtain, that plan was shot. The sky was black, and the rain was coming down in waves, sheet after sheet, pounding against the window. He’d known it was bad, but he hadn’t realized it was this bad. He’d been coming to the lake his whole life, and this was probably the worst weather he’d ever seen. He could barely make out the end of the drive. “Worse, I’d say.”
“Do you think our parents and Ardith are okay at Put-in Bay?”
“I’m sure they’re smart enough to stay put until this blows over. I can’t imagine they’d even try to run the ferries, which means they’re stuck, like it or not.
“Speaking of stuck, it looks like you’re stuck with me for a while. You just take that nap, I’ll toss more wood on the fire and light a few candles.”
She looked as if she were going to get up. “Mom still keeps them in the cupboard—”
“Stay put. I practically grew up here, remember? I know where everything is.”
Stephan had spent more of his summers here at the Kendals’ than he had at his parents’ cottage. He was the middle of three boys. He loved his brothers, but he never felt he could compete with them when he was younger. Francis was smart in a gifted sort of way. Anything academic seemed to come easily to him. And George was an athlete, through and through.
Stephan was merely a competent student who worked for his grades, and a solid player who never really shone.
It wasn’t just school and sports. His mother doted on Francis, and his father was forever booming about George being a “chip off the old block.” Both his parents would deny they had favorites, but it was always apparent to Stephan they did.
Spending time with the Kendals was comfortable for Stephan. He didn’t feel as if he was competing and coming up short. He could just be himself.
Carolyn’s parents were quiet and orderly, which was a stark contrast to things at his house, where chaos and noise seemed to live.
Stephan took half a dozen candles into the living room and lit them, then threw another log on the fire. As he did it, he spotted the pair of oil lamps on the mantel, and lit them, as well, to the sound of another series of thunderclaps.
“Stephan?” Carolyn’s voice sounded small in comparison to t
he booming noise of the storm.
He turned and looked at her, huddled small under the quilt.
“Maybe we should think about going into town, after all. I think something’s not quite right.”
Stephan forgot about light, about the storm, and hurried to Carolyn’s side. “The baby?”
“Maybe. My backache is worse. A lot worse. And I just noticed that when the pain in my back is at its worst, my stomach muscles are rock-hard and feel as if they’re cramping. I think maybe I’m in labor. The nurse said that sometimes—”
“Labor?” Every ounce of oxygen escaped his lungs in a mighty woosh at that one word.
Stephan Foster had dealt with many, many things in his life, but a woman in labor wasn’t one of them.
“It will be fine, Stephan. We’ll just get in the car and head to the hospital.” She started to get up off the couch, but her size made it awkward.
He reached down to give her a hand. “Have you looked outside? The phones are out, the electricity is out. Noah’s ark would be hard pressed to get through this mess.”
“I don’t need Noah, I just need you to take me to the hospital. We’ll just head in and…”
She stopped and closed her eyes, her face a mask of concentration. Her hands clutched her stomach.
“Caro?” He started to reach out, wanting to do something, anything to help, but he didn’t know what, so in the end, he just let his hands drop to his side. “Caro?”
“Shh.” A few minutes, or maybe it was hours, passed and her eyes opened. “Yep, I might be new to this, but I’m pretty sure it’s labor.”
“CAROLYN.” THERE WAS A hint of panic in his voice, something Carolyn had never heard from Stephan.
She felt a stab of sympathy for him. He hadn’t signed up for this. He had planned to spend a day at his parents’ working in peace and quiet, not playing nursemaid to a woman in labor. “I’m sorry.”
Her apology caused him to stop and give her one of the looks he’d given her so often when they were young. It said he was annoyed, insulted and more than slightly put out. “Caro.”
She laughed for a moment, until another pain bit into her stomach. She froze and slowed her breathing. She took even breaths and closed her eyes, trying to focus on riding this pain out.