Tainted

by Tess Thompson

  “Which may explain why Brody’s such a big baby,” Honor stole a sip from the Guinness. “Seriously, he can barely order takeout.”

  “That’s what he has you for,” Janet said to Honor. “To negotiate deals and order takeout.”

  Honor flashed them all a cheeky grin. “That’s job security right there.”

  Flora fixed her gaze on Honor. “Young lady, Kara is a wonderful cook. There’s no need for takeout. She knows how to feed her man.”

  Honor laughed merrily and tore a paper towel from its holder. “Flora, no one in our generation gives two craps about feeding their man.”

  Flora sniffed. “Perhaps you should and there wouldn’t be so many divorces. There’s something sacred in making a meal for your family.” She squinted at the one carrot Janet had peeled thus far and threw up her hands in obvious disgust. “Oh, for heaven’s sake, give me that. We’ll be here until midnight.” She yanked the potato peeler from Janet’s hands and stripped a carrot of its outer layer with precise, brutal flicks of her wrist.

  “Zane cooks for me all the time.” Honor wiped her eyes with the paper towel, crying from the onions. “He doesn’t care about my culinary expertise, especially since we own two restaurants. But I do want to make nice meals for my family. That’s the difference. I want to. I don’t have to.”

  “Good attitude.” Flora looked over at Mary’s cutting board. “What in the world have you done to the celery? I told you to dice them not annihilate them.”

  Mary looked down. She’d cut the celery into very small pieces. Their juice bled onto the countertop. No wonder they had no calories. Nothing but water.

  “That’s like celery soup,” Honor said.

  “Not helpful,” Mary said, stifling a giggle.

  Flora put her hands on her hips. “I told you to dice them not mince them.”

  “You did?” Mary asked.

  “What’s the difference, again?” Janet asked.

  “I know.” Honor raised her hand.

  “Teacher’s pet,” Janet whispered.

  A peal of laughter escaped before Mary could hold it back.

  Flora looked from Mary to Janet, shaking her head in a look of utter disappointment. “I can’t say I’m sorry this is our last lesson. I’m not sure I have the energy to teach you how to coat the meat with flour before you brown it.”

  “Flora, that’s very hurtful,” Janet said. “After everything we’ve been through together, you’re giving up on me?”

  Honor raised her hand again and waved it around like an excited child. “Do you still want the answer to the chopped question?” Her mascara had smeared under her eyes from the onion tears, giving her a naughty clown look.

  Even Flora had to laugh, which set them all off.

  After they’d calmed down, Honor pointed to the empty pan on the stove. “How long does it take to cook? Shouldn’t we get it in there? I’m starved. Maybe we should order pizza.”

  “Pizza? No. There will no pizza,” Flora said. “You three sit. Put a movie on. Something. Just stay out of the kitchen while I finish this.”

  “Now we’re talking,” Janet said, already half way to the couch. “Honor, bring the bottle.”

  Mary sat on the other end of the couch from Janet, grateful to rest her tired feet. She swung her legs onto the coffee table. “Look at my ankles.” They were swollen to almost twice their normal size.

  “You keep your feet up,” Janet said. “I’ll get you some ice water.”

  Honor, as usual, was ahead of everyone. She arrived with a tall glass of water for Mary and wine for Janet, then plopped beside them. “How about a Julia Roberts flick?”

  “Great idea,” Janet said. “Pretty Woman or Runaway Bride?”

  “You’re all totally hopeless cooks,” Flora said from the kitchen. But her voice told a different story. She was glad to be there, taking over the meal preparations. She liked being indispensable. Mary had a sudden idea.

  Mary called to her. “Flora, I was wondering if you’d cook dinners for us when the baby first comes. Just the first few weeks or so?”

  “I suppose I should, given what I’ve seen of your skills in the kitchen. My poor Lance will need a good meal if he’s going to take care of you properly. You make him do everything, you hear me? You’re not to lift a finger other than to feed that baby.”

  “What do you two grandmothers want to be called?” Mary asked.

  Flora’s movements around the kitchen went silent. “Me?”

  “Yes, you,” Mary said. “You and my dad are going to be grandparents very soon and what she calls you is very important.”

  “I want to be called Grammie,” Janet said.

  “Grammie? That sounds like you’re saying Jammie—something you’d spread on toast. But if that’s what you want, I’ll take Nana. I always wanted to be a Nana.” Flora said with a slight quiver in her voice.

  Janet patted Mary’s knee. “My work here is done.”

  “You’re the scary one,” Honor whispered to Janet.

  “Like a fox,” Janet whispered back. “They say to never trust a lawyer.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Lance

  * * *

  FOR LANCE, the weeks sped by. He was busy preparing the nursery and arranging for someone to manage the shop during Mary’s maternity leave. In the evenings, they followed the routine they’d established early on, but now with no secrets between them. Most every day, he would stop what he was doing and marvel at this new life with Mary. Now that she was free from her guilt, she blossomed in front of him. A burden had lifted from her shoulders and it seemed to Lance that she was lighter on her feet and quicker to laughter.

  On a weekday in early August, Lance woke before his wife. Careful not to disturb Mary, he settled back against the pillows to read the news on his phone. The local headline startled him out of any residual drowsiness. Fires raged all over the state of California. This wasn’t news. The entire state had been under siege for weeks, with blazes taking out entire neighborhoods. So far, they’d been safe, although plagued with smoke. However, due to strong winds, the one just south of them, between Cliffside Bay and San Francisco, had worsened overnight. The fire had jumped the highway, burning hundreds of acres. Because of dense smoke, authorities advised staying indoors and to be on high alert for evacuation.

  Evacuation? How were they supposed to evacuate? The highway that took them into the city was blockaded as the firefighters fought to contain the fire. This complication took a moment to fully sink in to his consciousness. They were essentially trapped.

  Violet and Maggie were due any day now. Maggie wasn’t as much of a concern, as Jackson and Doc could deliver her baby. Violet’s twin birth would be more complicated, possibly a C-section. Kyle and Violet had planned to leave this very morning for San Francisco to stay at Brody and Kara’s condo in the city. Violet was supposed to be induced within the next few days. Twins were always considered risky births, but in a hospital, the babies would most likely be fine. Here in Cliffside Bay under the care of a general practitioner and without the sophistication of a state-of-the-art hospital, the risk was greatly increased.

  He texted Jackson, asking if he’d seen the news and if Violet and Kyle left for the city yet. When he didn’t get a response, he sent a text to Maggie. Seconds later, he received one back from her.

  Violet went into labor this morning. Jackson and Doc are with her at his office. If she can’t deliver naturally, he’s going to have to perform the C-section himself.

  Does he know how to do that?

  He’s been trained, but he hasn’t performed one on a mother of twins since medical school.

  Should I be worried?

  I am. Also, I’m feeling a little funky.

  Funky? Like labor funky?

  Maybe. Small contractions, I think.

  Crap.

  It’s okay. I’ll walk around a little and see if the contractions keep going.

  Call or text if you need us.

  Mary
stirred and opened her eyes. “What’s wrong?”

  He filled her in.

  “We should tell Maggie to time the contractions,” Mary said.

  “Yes, right. Hang on.”

  Another text alert buzzed on his phone. Maggie again.

  My water just broke.

  “Her water just broke,” he said.

  Mary threw back the covers and lumbered over to the dresser. “Get some clothes on and tell her we’ll be right there.”

  Stay put. We’ll come get you and take you to the office.

  As he pulled jeans and a shirt on, he thought through the situation. If she wasn’t already in labor, Maggie would have to be induced. He knew this from the book. After a woman’s water broke, risk of infection was too high if she didn’t deliver within twenty-four hours. How was Jackson supposed to deliver three babies in his small practice?

  Fifteen minutes later, they knocked on Maggie’s front door. She answered, looking disheveled and frightened. “Contractions are coming in regular intervals. I haven’t been able to get Jackson on the phone. He won’t know we’re coming.”

  “He’ll know soon enough,” Mary said.

  Lance escorted Maggie to the car and helped her into the front seat, then helped his wife into the back. Thankfully his car was roomy. He kept that thought to himself.

  He drove down the hill, watching Maggie out of the corner of his eye. She groaned and squeezed her eyes shut. “Another one.”

  “Breathe. Nice and steady,” Mary said from the back.

  “Hang in there. Jackson will know what to do,” Lance said. He talked to himself silently. Stay calm. Everything will be fine. Jackson and Doc know what they’re doing. Kara will be there to help. She worked in a trauma unit for years.

  He parked in the lot behind Jackson’s practice. Doc’s car was parked next to Jackson’s. Kara’s was there too. Three doctors for three babies. That was enough, wasn’t it?

  Maggie was in the middle of another contraction. He waited until the pain ceased before he helped her out of the car and up the steps to the front door of the doctor’s office. Zane and Honor were in the waiting room. Kyle must have called them. Honor rushed to them.

  “Maggie’s in labor,” Mary said.

  “Are you sure?” Honor asked.

  “We’re sure.” Maggie leaned heavily against Mary.

  “Jackson, Doc and Kara are all in there with Violet,” Zane said. “We don’t know what’s going on.”

  “We heard screaming.” Honor looked like she was about to cry.

  “Kyle’s with her,” Zane said, as if that needed to be explained.

  “Where are the kids?” Mary asked.

  “With Flora,” Honor said.

  Maggie doubled over and moaned.

  Mary led her over to a chair with wooden arms. “Get on your knees. Squeeze the arms.” She knelt by her, talking her through the contraction, reminding her to pant. When the contraction ended, Maggie slumped against her.

  “What do we do?” Zane asked. “Wait until they’re through with Violet?”

  “I think this baby’s coming soon. Like really soon,” Maggie said.

  “We need to get her into one of the exam rooms,” Honor said.

  Mary agreed. “You guys stay here. Honor and I will stay with her. The minute Jackson is done with Violet, send him to us.”

  Lance didn’t have time to agree. The women disappeared behind the closed door. He looked over at Zane, who was gray under his tan.

  “What do we do now?” Zane asked.

  “Wait, I guess.”

  “We’re useless. I hate being useless.”

  Another scream came from the examination rooms. Was it Maggie or Violet? Overhead, they heard the roar of an airplane. How close was this fire?

  Chapter Sixteen

  Mary

  * * *

  ONCE INSIDE THE examination room, Mary and Honor helped Maggie climb onto the table. She found a box of gloves on the counter and pulled them onto her sweating hands. “Honor, you do the same.”

  Maggie was curled up in fetal position on the table, panting and moaning. “I think she’s coming now.”

  Mary, with the gloves on, waited for the contraction to end, then spoke in a calm but firm voice to Maggie. “I don’t know exactly what it looks like, but I remember the nurse used her fingers to tell me how dilated I was. Four fingers meant I was ready.” She looked up at Maggie. “You okay if I feel?”

  Maggie nodded and opened her legs. Mary asked her to scoot down and put her feet in the stirrups.

  Mary gasped. “It’s…it’s the baby’s head. Right there.”

  “Holy shit,” Honor said. “Red hair. I see red hair.” She ran to the cupboards. “We need towels, don’t we?”

  Maggie sobbed. “I’m scared. What do I do?”

  Honor ran to Maggie’s side. She wiped the palms of her hands on the front of her shorts. “Mary, what does she do?”

  Don’t show Maggie how scared you are. Act like you know exactly what you’re doing. “You’re fully dilated. Do you think you can wait until we get Jackson before you start to push?”

  Maggie moaned as another contraction came. “No, I have to push now.”

  “Can she push?” Honor asked. “We can’t wait, can we?”

  “I don’t know. Get one of them in here,” Mary said.

  Honor ran out of the room.

  Mary told Maggie to squeeze her hand and pant. About twenty seconds in, she wasn’t sure it had been a good idea. Her hand might never be the same.

  The contraction subsided. Sweat soaked Maggie’s hair. Crying, she begged, “I have to push next time. Please.”

  “Just wait for Jackson. Honor’s getting him.”

  Maggie’s face contorted in pain. “It’s another one.”

  This baby wanted to come now. Mary would have to deliver this baby. There was no other option. And there was no way in hell she was letting anything happen. Please God, be with us. “Can you bear down like you need to poop? Give it everything you have.” Mary didn’t know if this was the right instruction. Meme had been so small the delivery had been easy.

  Maggie’s face reddened with the effort. Another inch of the baby’s head appeared.

  “Won’t be long now,” Mary said, amazed at how calm she sounded when inside there was a turmoil of uncertainty. “One more push should do it.” She lied, having no earthly idea if that was true or not. Where was Jackson? Why hadn’t Honor returned? When the next contraction came, Maggie bore down again. This time the baby’s head shot out like a ball out of a cannon. What do I do? What do I do? What do I do?

  A man’s voice, gentle and calm, came to her. Guide the rest of the baby out, like you saw on the video.

  Mary slipped her hand under the baby’s head. She could feel a shoulder and tugged gently. Like in the video, the baby slipped out. A great gush of blood followed.

  Honor burst back into the room. “Jackson’s coming. He had to wash up. Holy God, it’s too late.” She froze for a split second before darting to the counter and grabbing one of the towels. “You need this, right?”

  Mary nodded and took the towel from Honor. As gently as she could, she wiped the blood from the baby.

  “Is she all right?” Maggie tried to sit up, brushing her wet hair from her face. “I want to see her.”

  “She’s perfect.” Honor said.

  Mary placed her in Maggie’s arms.

  “Oh God, oh God, she is perfect,” Maggie said.

  “Is she breathing? Are we supposed to spank her?” Honor asked.

  The baby howled in response. “No, she’s just fine.” Maggie looked down at her bundle, tears running down her cheeks. “She’s going to be a singer like her mama.”

  “She might need some vocal lessons to work on that tone,” Honor said.

  Maggie looked up at them. “You guys, we did it. We got her out.”

  “You did most of it,” Mary said. With a little help from God.

  “Is there suppos
ed to be all that blood?” Honor asked.

  “I think the nurses usually do stuff to get rid of it.” Mary’s legs felt like they might collapse under her. “What just happened?”

  “You just delivered a baby,” Honor said.

  “I feel like I’m going to pass out,” Mary said.

  “Put your head between your legs,” Honor said.

  “I can’t. My giant stomach’s in the way.”

  They burst into hysterical laughter and clutched each other to keep from falling.

  Conversely, Maggie had calmed completely. With a blissful expression plastered on her sweaty, pink face, she stared at her baby. The little one continued to howl.

  “There’s nothing wrong with her lungs,” Honor said.

  “Try nursing her,” Mary said. “While we figure out what to do next.”

  The ropy umbilical cord stretched out like a snake over Maggie’s stomach. “We need to cut the cord,” Mary said.

  “How do we do that?” Honor asked. “With like regular scissors?”

  “I don’t know. And we have to deliver the placenta.”

  “There’s more going to come out of there?” Honor pointed at Maggie’s lower regions.

  Jackson rushed into the room. “No, no. I missed it?” He tore off bloody gloves and froze just inside the doorway. “Maggie?”

  “The baby came.” Maggie smiled up at him. “She came so fast. Mary had to deliver her.”

  He stumbled over to his wife and child, crying. “Red hair. I knew she’d have your hair.”

  Mary stepped aside, staring at the bloody mess all over the floor and exam table. “Thank God you’re here. We didn’t have any idea what to do next.”

  Jackson perched on the side of the examination table and wrapped his arm around his wife. “Get my dad or Kara in here. I need help.”

  Mary followed Honor out the door and down the hallway just as Doc came running from the other direction. “Is she all right?”

  “Yes, but Jackson says he needs you,” Honor said.

  He strode toward the examination room. Mary and Honor followed closely behind.

  “How’s Violet?” Mary asked.