The More the Merrier

by Elena Graf

  Tony’s booming voice filled the room. With his penchant for high drama, he made Maggie’s promotion to chairwoman of the department at UNE sound like a palace coup.

  “Of course, no one even came close to her credentials. Yale Ph.D., New York University full professor. One semester, she’s an adjunct, the next an associate professor, and now chairwoman!” said Tony with the pride of a director who’d discovered a rising star.

  “And I thought I’d retired from teaching,” said Maggie, shaking her head.

  “Oh, you were so ready for a second act,” said Fred. “Admit it.”

  “But I thought I could make a comeback as an actress.”

  “And you have,” said Tony, “but you’re also a wonderful teacher and director. I wish you would direct Antigone. With the current political situation, it’s so apt.”

  “I don’t know, Tony. I have a long history with this play. So does Liz.”

  “Liz?” Tony flexed his bushy brows in surprise.

  “She was the stage manager when I played Ismene in college. You might even say it was that play that brought us together.”

  “Really?” asked Fred, sitting on the edge of his seat. “Do tell.”

  “It was the seventies, and all that weird experimental theater was all the rage. The director encouraged all this touching and kissing between the main characters, which was weird because they were supposed to be sisters. When I came back to the dorm after rehearsals, I practiced what I learned on Liz.”

  “Oh, you, crafty lady,” said Tony wiggling his dark brows.

  Alyson laughed. “Liz has always been an easy mark. For someone so smart, she misses a lot of cues.”

  “You noticed?” said Maggie. Despite Alyson’s history with Liz, Maggie found it hard not to like her. Besides being stunning with her strawberry blond hair and perfect features, she was warm and gracious. She was also an excellent physician. Alyson was the radiologist who had pinpointed Maggie’s breast cancer. Twice a year, she read Maggie’s mammograms and patiently took the time to explain every detail.

  Alyson checked her watch. “Shouldn’t they be home by now?”

  “The weather is terrible. I’m not surprised it’s taking so long,” said Lynne. “I’m sure the roads are awful.”

  Maggie heard the garage door open and the sound of children’s voices in the hall. “They’re home,” she said, jumping up. “Finally.”

  “Grandma!” said Katrina, catapulting herself into Maggie’s open arms. Alina, carrying Nicki, kissed her mother.

  “Thank heavens, you’re home,” said Maggie, squeezing them into a hug.

  Liz dragged the enormous suitcase up the garage stairs into the house. “I’ll take this upstairs. We’ll put you in the North Woods room with the moose.”

  “Moose! Moose!” cried Katrina with glee. “We got the moose!” She danced around happily.

  “Honey, do you want something to eat?” Maggie asked her daughter.

  “No, thanks, Mom. I just want to get the girls to bed.”

  Maggie nodded. “Let me know if you need any help.”

  Tony got up, followed by Fred. “I think we’ll turn in, if you don’t mind.”

  “You’re in the downstairs room, Tony. Let me get the coats off the bed.”

  “We should go to bed too,” said Alyson.

  “You’re in the seashore room.”

  “Thanks, Maggie. I know where it is.”

  Maggie collected the glasses and dishes and put them in the dishwasher before heading upstairs. She found Liz sitting on the edge of the bed, still dressed. She looked up wearily when Maggie came into the room. “Katrina’s taking a bath in our bathroom,” she explained. “The downstairs bathrooms are kind of busy.”

  “Oh, Sweetie, you look so exhausted,” said Maggie, stroking her back. “Thank you for rescuing Alina and the girls.” She gave Liz a kiss.

  “You’re welcome.” Liz let out a long sigh. “I wish we didn’t have such a full house. I was looking forward to winding down with you after the party.”

  “Once everyone’s in bed, we’ll have some time alone, and I’ll make good on my promise.” Maggie allowed her fingertips to linger on Liz’s cheek.

  Katrina ran out of the bathroom with only her pajama bottoms and wet hair. Maggie corralled her and directed her back inside, where she vigorously toweled her hair. She finished the job with Liz’s hair dryer.

  “All right, Miss, let’s go downstairs to Mommy’s room.”

  “Noooo,” protested Katrina, “I want to stay here with you and Grandma Liz.”

  “Not tonight, Sweetie Pie. Grandma Liz is tired from driving in the snow. She needs to rest.”

  “But I want her to read me a story.”

  “I’ll tell you a story. Come on. Let’s go down to Mommy.”

  Maggie walked downstairs with Katrina. Alina was just tucking her youngest into bed. “Oh, Mom. Thanks for bathing Katrina.”

  “Liz took care of it.”

  Alina nodded and sank down on the bed.

  “Oh, honey, you look so tired.”

  “I am.” Alina sighed. “It’s been such a long day.”

  “I’ll tell the girls a story while you get ready for bed.”

  “Thanks, Mom. You don’t know what a treat that is.” She rummaged in her luggage and found a nightgown. Shoulders drooping, she headed to the bathroom.

  Maggie had a whole repertoire of fairy tales from performing in children’s theater. She recited the “Princess and the Pea” for her granddaughters, enjoying the expressions on their faces change as she altered her voice for the characters in the story.

  “More!” cried Katrina.

  “More!” echoed Nicki.

  “Tomorrow night, I’ll tell you two stories,” said Maggie, pulling the comforter up to their chins. “Grandma wants to talk to Mommy now.” Maggie kissed each of the girls. “Now, sleep tight!”

  “Don’t let the bed bugs bite!” said Katrina.

  “No bed bugs here, sweetie.”

  Katrina giggled. “I know. Just roaches.”

  “Who told you that?” asked Maggie indignantly.

  “Grandma Liz. She said when you lived in New York, you had roaches everywhere!”

  “But not here. Now, settle down and go to sleep.”

  Maggie turned off the lights and closed the door. Alina was just coming out of the bathroom. Maggie gestured for her to follow her into the TV room.

  “Did the girls go to bed without an argument?”

  “I had to promise to tell two stories tomorrow.”

  Alina shook her head. “Those two drive a hard bargain.”

  Maggie closed the door and sat down on one of the futons. She patted a place for Alina beside her.

  “Oh, Mom,” sobbed Alina. “What a mess!”

  Maggie put her arms around her. “Honey, I’m so sorry.”

  “I found out he hasn’t paid the mortgage in eight months. He lost his web job weeks ago and never told me. Mom, I trusted him when he said he could take care of us if I quit my job to stay home with the kids. I never thought it would end like this.” Alina began to cry. Maggie held her tighter.

  “Was he abusive? Did he hit you?”

  “No, but he smashed things all over the house. He was drunk, screaming at the top of his lungs. When I left, the place was a wreck. Mom, he has a gun. I was so afraid. I had to leave.”

  “I know, honey, and I’m glad you came here.”

  “I didn’t know where else to go. Dad’s wife has been acting so strange lately.”

  “Well, that’s not your concern. You have enough going on. Most of all, you need a good night’s sleep.”

  Alina nodded.

  “You and the girls could use a diversion. Tomorrow is the Hobbs Christmas parade.”

  “That sounds li
ke fun.”

  “I think the kids will enjoy it.”

  Alina aggressively rubbed her forehead with her fingertips.

  “Headache?”

  “Just really, really tired.”

  “Come on, off to bed with you.”

  Maggie walked her daughter back to her room. “Sleep in tomorrow,” she said, kissing her. “We’ll manage the kids.”

  Alina gave her mother a fierce hug. “Thank you so much. And tell Liz too.”

  Wearily, Maggie trudged up the stairs to the third floor. Liz was already in bed, burrowed so deeply under the comforter only her steel-gray hair was visible. Maggie put on her nightgown and attended to her evening chores. As she brushed her teeth, she realized how grateful she was that the episode hadn’t triggered one of Alina’s panic attacks. She hadn’t heard much from her daughter about the anxiety and hoped that meant she was learning to cope with it better.

  Maggie crawled into bed.

  “Everyone down for the night?”

  “I think so.” Maggie moved closer and spooned Liz. She reached around her and cupped her breast.

  “Oh, Maggie. I’m too tired.”

  Maggie blew in her ear, which she had known since they were lovers in college was guaranteed to get Liz’s attention. “Are you sure?” she asked on a warm breath of air.

  “No, I’m not sure.” Liz rolled on her back, and Maggie slid her hand under her T-shirt.

  “Maybe I can find a way to rouse your interest.” She gently pinched Liz’s nipple.

  “That’s a good start,” said Liz, reaching for Maggie’s face to kiss her.

  The door clicked open and the sound of small feet crossing the wood floor could be heard.

  “Grandma?”

  “You didn’t lock the door?” whispered Liz.

  “I forgot.”

  Maggie sighed and sat up. Liz pulled down her T-shirt.

  “Katrina, you should be in bed,” Maggie scolded gently.

  “I know, but I’m scared. It’s so dark in Maine.”

  “I’ll bring her back downstairs,” Maggie volunteered.

  “It’s okay. Let her sleep here. Call Alina and let her know where she is.”

  “Yay!” cried Katrina, climbing on the bed. She insinuated herself between Liz and Maggie and pulled the comforter up to her chin. “It’s nice and warm in your bed.”

  Liz sighed and lay down again.

  Maggie called Alina, who answered in a sleepy voice.

  “We have your daughter up here with us, and we’ll keep her for the night if that’s all right with you.”

  “Thanks, Mom.”

  When Maggie got off the phone, Katrina asked, “Grandma, will you tell me a story?”

  “Yes, Grandma, tell us a story,” agreed Liz with mock enthusiasm.

  “All right, but just one.” Maggie began to tell the story of “The Leap Frog” because it was so short, but by the time she finished, both Katrina and Liz were sound asleep.

  2

  Liz opened her eyes to see two dark eyes staring back. The sun had just risen, sending streams of golden light into the bedroom.

  “What are you doing awake?” asked Liz in a whisper.

  “I’m hungry,” Katrina whispered back.

  “Okay. Let’s go downstairs and get something to eat.”

  Liz got up and put on a zip sweatshirt and her slippers. She took Katrina by the hand and they went down to the second floor. Liz held her finger to her lips as she paused outside the North Woods bedroom where Alina and Nicki were sleeping. To minimize the noise, she slowly turned the knob and let herself in. She rummaged in the huge suitcase, which was surprisingly well organized considering that three people were living out of it. Fortunately, Alina had adopted her father’s penchant for neatness and not her mother’s habit of spreading her clothes everywhere. Curing herself of that habit was the price Maggie had paid for moving into Liz’s bedroom. “Be a slob and you’ll have to sleep downstairs by yourself,” Liz had threatened when Maggie had begun to backslide.

  In Alina’s suitcase, Liz found a jacket that looked like the right size for Katrina and a colorful pair of little girl’s socks folded into one another. She quietly closed the door and gave the clothes to Katrina to put on. Then the two of them crept downstairs.

  “How about hot chocolate?” asked Liz, still speaking in hushed tones because Tony and Fred were in the downstairs guest room. The girl nodded. Liz filled a coffee pod with hot chocolate mix. While it ran through the machine, she filled another pod with coffee for herself. “Would you like some of Grandma’s blueberry bread to get you started?”

  Katrina nodded. Liz cut a few slices and put them on a plate.

  “I’m going to start a fire to warm us up. Can you be neat enough to sit in the living room?”

  “Yes,” said Katrina solemnly.

  Liz fixed herself a cup of coffee and arranged their cups and plates on a tray. “Come with me.”

  Katrina watched carefully as Liz made quick work of getting the wood stove started. She left the door slightly ajar and drank her coffee in silence as the flames began to lick the logs.

  “You do that good,” said Katrina.

  “You do that well,” Liz corrected gently.

  “Well,” agreed Katrina, nodding. Liz noticed that the girl’s dark hair was a nest of knots. Let Maggie deal with it, she decided. Hair was not Liz’s thing, which was why she kept hers short.

  The ship’s bell hanging on the front porch began to ring. It was too strong a ring for it to be the wind, so Liz pulled aside the blinds and looked out. Brenda Harrison, the police chief was standing on the porch.

  Liz opened the door. “Don’t tell me there’s a medical emergency. I’m not even dressed yet.”

  Brenda laughed softly. “No. No. I just thought I’d stop by and see how your trip went last night.”

  “Well, come in and have some coffee.”

  “Thanks.”

  Brenda stepped into house and took off her boots. She hung her flat-brimmed campaign hat on a peg by the door.

  “Are you Smokey the Bear?” asked Katrina.

  Brenda laughed. “No, I’m Chief Harrison. Don’t you remember me?”

  Katrina, nodding shyly, clung to Liz’s pajama leg.

  “Everyone still asleep here?” Brenda asked, looking around. “Guess I’m too early.”

  “Only my young friend here is awake,” said Liz. “Let’s go into the kitchen.” Liz led them through the living room to check the fire and pick up the tray on the way. In the kitchen, she lifted Katrina onto a stool at the island so she could finish her cake and hot chocolate.

  “What brings you out so early?” Liz asked Brenda as she filled a pod with coffee.

  “Have to report soon to get ready for the parade.”

  “Glad the snow stopped, or the parade route would be a mess.”

  “They’re working on clearing it now.”

  “I can make you some breakfast. Fried eggs and bacon okay?”

  “My favorite, thanks.” Brenda sat down beside Katrina at the island. “That looks like your grandma Maggie’s cake. Is it good?”

  Katrina nodded decisively.

  “Brenda, we need to find you a good woman to cook you breakfast,” said Liz, “and keep you warm at night.”

  “Small chance of that. Who wants an old lady like me?”

  “You’re younger than I am!”

  “You’re a surgeon with a ton of money and cool cars. That makes you a chick magnet.”

  Liz laughed. “Don’t sell yourself short, Brenda. A lot of women are suckers for a uniform. That’s makes you a chick magnet too.” Liz took out her cast iron frying pans and arranged them on the stove. “Over easy, right?”

  Brenda nodded.

  “Katrina, would you like some eggs?�
��

  Katrina shook her head dramatically, her long, dark hair flying back and forth.

  “What do you say when someone offers you something and you don’t want it?” asked Liz in a stern voice.

  “No, thank you!” declared Katrina.

  “How about some oatmeal?”

  “Yuck!” Katrina screwed up her face for emphasis.

  “The girl knows her mind,” said Brenda with a chuckle.

  “Blueberry pancakes?”

  “Yes!” agreed Katrina enthusiastically.

  “Well, that settles it,” said Brenda. “Better mix a lot of batter. Everyone loves your blueberry pancakes.”

  Liz searched in a cabinet for a can of wild blueberries and a jug of maple syrup. “Don’t want to make promises I can’t keep,” she explained. “Brenda, will you keep an eye on my sidekick while I check the fire?” Liz sliced a few more pieces of blueberry bread and put them on a plate for Brenda.

  Liz loaded up the wood stove and turned down the air vents. When she returned to the kitchen, she found Alina had come downstairs with Nicki.

  “Coffee?” Liz asked.

  “I’m still breastfeeding, so no, thanks.”

  Liz raised a brow. “If you pace yourself, the caffeine will be out of your body by the time she feeds.”

  “I know it’s not a big risk. But I quit for my pregnancy, and if I start now, I’ll be back to drinking gallons of coffee.”

  Brenda laughed at the hyperbole.

  “I’ll make you some herbal tea,” said Liz.

  “I can make it,” Alina said. “I’m homeless, not a cripple.”

  Liz gave her a hard look. “You are not homeless, Alina. You always have a home here with us.”

  Maggie came into the kitchen. She had already showered and put on some makeup. Liz knew it was because they had guests. Maggie, inveterate actress that she was, never showed her naked face to anyone but her family. She kissed Alina and Nicki. Liz turned her face from mixing the batter to get a kiss.

  “Good morning, Brenda,” said Maggie. “Looks like a full house this morning.”

  “Not any more than you have all summer,” observed Brenda. “Forgive me for intruding.”

  “You never intrude,” replied Maggie, giving Brenda a hug around her shoulders. She turned to Liz. “What can I do to help?”