Our Little Corner Of The World
"We're pregnant ladies," Jennifer said, "We can do anything we want."
Alvin looked at the kitchen table, covered with the wadded foil from what looked like dozens of chocolate hearts. He looked at Mary, but she could not answer, her mouth was too stuffed with chocolate.
"Well, alright," he said, "but tomorrow is Valentine's Day. What if someone was planning on buying his wife and daughters candy? I mean, now it's like if you own fifty pairs of shoes, and I think I'm doing something special and I buy you another pair of shoes."
"That a really crappy analogy, honey," Mary said after swallowing her chocolate. Jennifer tapped her on the arm.
"Listen, Mary, is it just me, or does being pregnant make you really horny all the time?"
"Oh, yeah," Mary nodded.
Alvin put his hands up. "I don't need to hear this."
Mary laughed. "Baby, you don't like hearing about how horny I am?"
"You, fine." He jerked his thumb at Jennifer, "Her, no."
He went upstairs and washed up in the bathroom. When he came back down, Jennifer had rolled all the foil wrappers into a ball.
"Daddy, grab the wastebasket from under the sink."
He fetched the basket and held it up in front of his face. Jennifer leaned back in her chair and tossed a perfect finger roll.
"All net," Alvin said, putting the wastebasket back under the sink.
"Do you ever miss it? Basketball?" Mary asked.
"Yeah, we both do. In fact, that's something I wanted to talk to you about, daddy."
Alvin pulled out a chair and sat down at the table.
"There's that spot out at the edge of the woods that is granite ledge about a foot down," Jennifer said, "Nothing's going to grow worth a shit there. So we were thinking that come spring, when it gets dry enough, we might put in a half court."
"That sounds like a great idea," Mary said, but Alvin frowned and scratched his head.
"Something to think about," he shrugged.
"When I started playing," Jennifer told Mary, "we had a hoop up on the barn above the door. And in the winter, Daddy would take me to the YMCA to practice there."
"It was a lot of fun, right up till she started beating me regularly at one on one," Alvin said.
Jennifer laughed as she pushed her chair back from the table. "Well, think about it, okay?"
"I will, sweetheart."
"Cool. Well, I've got work to do." Jennifer got up and left the house.
Mary looked at Alvin and squinted. "You didn't seem any too happy about her basketball court idea," she said.
Alvin looked at his hands for a minute. "Well," he said, "the thing is, I don't like the idea of the expense at this time. The farm ain't in the black yet."
"So, tell her that."
"Well, you know..."
"That you hate to say no to her?"
Alvin shrugged and said nothing.
"Alvin, this is frustrating for me," Mary said, sitting back and crossing her arms. "I have a business degree from one of the country's top universities, and my husband and his sister run a business and shut me out of it."
"But this is about Jennifer..."
"No, it is not Alvin, it's about Diana. She thinks I'm some kind of threat to her, like I'm going to squeeze her out."
"Well, you can see how she might be afraid of that."
Mary leaned forward and put her hands on his arm.
"I do understand that. But the thing is Alvin, we are going to have a baby. We...you...have to put that at the top of our concerns. I think that if I could take an active part in the business, the wharf, the farm, the whole thing, I could make it more profitable. I'm not talking about having an equal share, but as your wife, I should at least be fully informed and be allowed to offer my advice and opinions."
"You've got a hell of a point there," Alvin nodded.
"Alright. So, think about what you want to do about it."
"Alright, sweetheart. But something else I want to think about right now."
"What's that, love?"
"That thing about you being horny all the time."
"It's a common reaction in early pregnancy."
He put his hand on her thigh and squeezed. "Well, then, let's see if can't attend to that."
"Oh, god no, not now," she said, moving his hand away, "I'm too bloated from all that chocolate."
***
Mary stood in the hall and stared at the nursery door. Someone, Alvin, or perhaps Jennifer or Rachel, had closed it on the day she miscarried her first pregnancy, and she had not opened it in all the months since.
Her hand trembled as she rested it on the doorknob. She drew in a breath, hesitated for a moment, then turned it.
The room was dark and she felt afraid to step into it until she had reached inside the doorway and flipped on the light.
It looked just as it had. She stepped inside, thinking back to watching Alvin paint the walls and ceiling. She looked at the parade of silhouetted circus animals he had stenciled all the way around the room.
She crossed the room to the crib. She had been so moved when Alvin brought it in, and when he told her that three generations of his family had slept in it. The cartoon stickers on the headboard caught her eye. She reached down and ran her fingers over the image of Jiminy Cricket. What was the song he sang? She searched her memory until it came to her, then she turned and left the nursery, switching off the light, but leaving the door open.
She crossed the hall and entered the bedroom. She turned off the light and looked up at the ceiling. All the little fluorescent stars that Alvin had painted on the ceiling glowed above her. She felt a bit silly, she had not seen the movie since she was a little girl, but she could remember the voice so clearly.
When you wish upon a star, your dreams come true
Please, she thought, looking up at the stars her love had created for her, please let this dream come true.
She went downstairs, where Alvin was waiting for her in the kitchen. He was leaning against the counter when she entered.
"I was starting to wonder about you," he said, reaching behind his back. When he brought his hand forward again, it held a bouquet of pink and red roses.
"Happy Valentine's Day, sweetheart," he said as he handed it to her. Mary took it and buried her face in the blooms, inhaling their sweet aroma. She stepped into Alvin's arms, put one hand on his face and kissed him.
"I love you, Alvin."
"I love you too, baby. Now let's get going."
Alvin helped her into her coat. "Let's just hope your ex-husband isn't lurking around this year," he said, taking his own coat down from it's peg.
"You're going to bring that up every year, aren't you," Mary laughed.
"Well, sure, it will be a family legend sort of thing."
"Including the part where you and Tim were going to throw him in the ocean?"
Alvin frowned. "You aren't supposed to know that part."
"Oh honey," she said, kissing his cheek, "I know all your secrets."
They drove down the coast to Camden in a light snowfall. Alvin had made reservations at Caroline's on the waterfront, where they were shown to a seat near the fireplace. Mary looked out the window at the twinkling harbor lights.
"This is cozy," she said, smiling at Alvin.
Alvin ordered prime rib, while Mary asked for the braised duck breast.
"If you want to get a beer or something, go ahead," Mary said, "Don't refrain because I have to."
Alvin shrugged. "I'm fine with water."
"You're a sweet man," she said, taking his hand.
"So, Mary...let me ask you something."
"Yes, love?"
"The, uh, the last time, we decided not to learn the baby's sex. Do you still think that?"
"Yes," she nodded, "I don't want to know."
"Alright, well, maybe we could talk about names."
Mary frowned. "Alvin, I'm not sure how to put this..."
"Just say what you want to say, sweetheart."
Mary gazed out the window for a minute before speaking. "I'm scared, Alvin. I don't want to lose another baby."
"No, honey, of course not..."
"I just think that, well, the less I imagine the baby, the easier it will be if...if something happens. Does that sound heartless?"
"No, it sounds sensible."
"So, we'll talk about names when the time comes, okay?"
Alvin frowned, but nodded. "I think you might change your mind about that, but I'll say no more about it. If you do change your mind, you can let me know."
Their food came and they ate, basking in the warmth of the fire.
"How's your duck?" Alvin asked.
"It's delicious," Mary said, "but I really wish I could have a glass of Merlot or something to go with it. How's your prime rib?"
"Just how I like it," he said.
When Mary finished eating, she put down her fork and slipped off her right shoe. She stretched her leg until her toes touched Alvin's calf. He looked up from his plate in surprise as she ran her foot along the inside of his leg.
"So, we were going to have a discussion about hormonal effects in early pregnancy..." Mary said, scooting forward in her chair, and extending her leg between Alvin's thighs.
"About what?" he asked, dropping his fork.
"About how fucking horny I am," she whispered, pressing her toes against his crotch.
"Jeezum crow, Mary, I guess you are."
He dropped his hand under the table and slid it up her leg. He gently caressed her knee. "So, maybe we'll skip dessert."
"Oh no, we won't," she said, sitting up straight and dropping her foot to the floor. "I've been looking forward to their toffee pudding."
Alvin laughed. "Alright, baby. You want to split one?"
"Nope, I want my own."
"Well, alright then." He reached across the table and took her hand. "I had a thought, sweetheart. What would you think about getting a room down here and driving home in the morning?"
Mary smiled and nodded. "That sounds like fun."
"You know, that sort of thing is going to be harder to do with a kid running around."
Mary's expression turned serious. "Alvin, please, let's not be one of those couples that lose our erotic interest in each other once they have children."
He lifted her hand and kissed it. "I promise, but you have to know, if you aren't mindful, it starts to just slip away without you noticing."
"I forget sometimes that you've been through all this before."
"I do too, baby. Sometimes I forget I did anything before I met you."
Mary rolled her eyes. "There you go, so sincere and so corny at the same time."
"Well, ain't it Valentine's Day?"
After they finished their desserts, they walked up Bay Street to the center of town, leaving their car in the restaurant parking lot. The snow had stopped, but it was bitterly cold. Alvin wrapped his arm around Mary's waist and held her close as they strolled along the quiet street.
They entered the lobby of the Lord Camden Inn and approached the front desk.
"We'd like a room for the night, if one's available," Alvin said to the clerk.
The clerk looked up at them, and Mary thought she saw a slight smirk on his face.
"Very good, yes, we can accommodate you. Do you have any luggage?"
"No, we don't," Mary said in a low voice, trying to sound as lascivious as possible. Alvin stifled a laugh and paid the clerk. As they started up the stairs, he looked back over his shoulder, caught the man's eye, then slid his hand down Mary's back and squeezed her ass.
"You are so bad," she giggled as they mounted the stairs.
"You're the one talking like Marilyn Monroe to the friggin' desk clerk."
"Ooh, did I sound like Marilyn?" She turned and took his hand, walking backwards and pulling him toward their room. "Did you like that?"
"You're sexier than her," he said as they reached the room.
He backed her against the door. She started to speak but he stopped her with a kiss, reaching behind her to cup both sides of her ass in his hands. She gripped his back and returned his kiss, thrusting her tongue into his mouth.
Alvin heard a door open and took a step back. An elderly woman in a pink bathrobe and bunny slippers came out of her room, flopping down the the hall with her ice bucket. He smiled and nodded to her, then reached around Mary and unlocked the door.
Mary turned as soon as the door closed and took hold of the waist of Alvin's pants. She walked him toward the bed, then sat down on it, pulling him down beside her. She leaned over him and kissed him.
"Do you know what I want?" she asked.
"No, sweetheart, tell me."
"I really, really want you to go down on me," she whispered.
"That seems doable."
Mary laughed. "Well, good."
She rose up on her knees, unzipped her dress and pulled it over her head. Alvin sat up, put his hands on her hips and kissed her stomach. He hooked his fingers in her panties and slipped them down her thighs, then leaned forward and kissed her again, in the soft tangle of her pubic hair. She tugged her underpants off and tossed them aside. She straddled Alvin's lap. His cock was straining against the fabric of his slacks. She rubbed herself against it, laughing when he moaned in response.
"I never gave you a lap dance," she said, gyrating her hips and grinding down on him, "How do you like it?"
"It's a bit stimulating, you might say."
She gently pushed him down on his back and crawled forward on her knees. When she reached his chest, he wrapped his arms around her hips and pulled her forward, raising his head between her legs.
Mary leaned backwards until her hands touched the mattress. She tilted her pelvis forward, and pressed herself against Alvin's face. She felt his lips on her labia, and then his tongue slipping between them. He lapped at her pussy, flicking his tongue against her clit. She squeezed her thighs tightly around his head and rode his tongue as she would his cock. Her breathing turned into a ragged pant and her arms began to tremble. She felt lightheaded. Her elbows buckled, and she fell backwards, laughing and gasping. Rolling on to her side, she tugged at Alvin's belt buckle.
Alvin rolled with her, still holding on to her ass. He lowered his head back between her thighs and resumed licking her, while she opened his pants and slipped her hand inside. She pulled his cock free and wrapped her lips around it. Alvin responded to the sensation of her warm month engulfing him by increasing the fervor with which he worked his lips and tongue on her clit. Mary's hips began to buck, and she felt a wave of intense pleasure wash over her. She lifted her head from Alvin's cock and gasped for breath, nearly hyperventilating as a second wave surged through her like an electric current.
Mary arched her back, but Alvin wrapped his arms around her and refused to let her pull away. He rolled on to his back, carrying her with him. She came a third time, grinding down on his face.
Alvin pushed her hips upward, gasping for air. Mary stroked his cock while catching her own breath. When she had regained enough strength, she rose up on her knees, turned around and straddled Alvin's hips, and sat down on his cock. She guided it inside her, then placed her hands on Alvin's chest and began to slowly ride him.
"You told the truth about that hormone thing," Alvin said, in a voice that was not much more than a grunt. Mary grinned at him and sat up straight, placing her hands on her hips. She gyrated on his cock, chuckling as she watched his mouth open wide in a long moan.
"You like that, baby?"
"Hell, yes," he said. He put his hands on top of hers and began to thrust his hips forward. Mary moved with him, bouncing with each motion. She felt another climax coming on, and she dropped on to Alvin's chest. He wrapped his arms tightly around her waist and pounded his loins against her. Mary's orgasm rolled over her, and Alvin followed right behind, draining himself into her.
"I love when you come inside me, " Mary murmured as they cuddled in the afterglow of their lovemaking.
"Well, you know that's how you got in your current situation, right?" Alvin replied.
Mary laughed. "Do they have room service here?"
"I imagine so, but it's after eleven, it's probably closed. You ain't hungry again already, are you?"
"I'd really like some ice cream," she shrugged.
Without a word, Alvin stood up, pulled up his pants and stepped into his shoes.
"What are you doing?" Mary asked.
"There's a Rite Aid just up the street, I can get you ice cream there."
"Really? Alvin, you are so sweet."
He kissed her, put on his coat and went out.
Rite Aid was closed. Alvin headed back toward the Inn, but at Bay Street, he turned and walked down to Caroline's, where they had left the car. The Shop and Save ain't but a mile or so down the road, he thought.
But the Shop and Save was closed as well. The gas station at the town line was open, but didn't have ice cream. Finally, the Shell station in Rockport was open, and had a small selection of Ben and Jerry's. He bought a pint of Cherry Garcia and one of Chunky Monkey. He left the building, then remembered to go back in and get a pair of plastic spoons.
Mary was asleep when he returned to the room. He kicked off his shoes and sat down in the chair next to the bed. He peeled the top off the Cherry Garcia and watched her sleep while he ate it.
***
The scent of lilacs was heavy, almost cloying, as Mary stepped out on to the front porch. She remembered how it had pervaded the house on the morning when she had seen blood pooling in the shower, when she had lost her unborn child.
It was a beautiful day. The sky was a cloudless blue, the trees were green with fresh leaves and across the road, a large stand of forsythia blazed bright yellow. Everything in the world around her looked so right. Still, she fought off a wave of melancholy as she walked down the long driveway to the mailbox.
As she sorted the mail, she looked up and saw Jennifer walking toward her between the furrows of the cornfield.
"Hey," Jennifer called as she approached, "Have you been getting nose bleeds?"
"No," Mary said, "But I'm getting the worst goddamn heartburn."
"Yeah, I've got that, too."
Mary looked Jennifer over. "Holy cow, your boobs are getting huge."
"I know, right?" She held out the front of her shirt and looked down inside it. "I gained, like, two bra sizes."
"Mine haven't gotten all that much bigger."
"Any mail for us?" Jennifer asked.
Mary handed her a catalogue and an envelope. Jennifer looked at them. "A seed catalogue after I already planted and a credit card bill I already paid."
"Listen," Mary said, "I don't really know what to do with myself now that I'm not working. If you need any help with anything, let me know."
"It's good you took an early maternity leave, though, considering, you know, last time."
"Yes, but it's only been a week and I'm bored. So, if I can do anything..."
Jennifer shrugged. "I haven't had to cut back my work any yet. Danni and my Dad have both said that they would take on some things, and I have made a deal with Theo to do the weeding once school is out."
"What's the deal?"
"That if he weeds, he gets to feed the animals."
Mary laughed. "The boy drives a hard bargain."
"Alright, well, I need to go pee for the tenth time today, I'll talk to you later."
"Okay, Jen, see you, honey." As Jennifer walked away, Mary called after her, "Hey, what happened to putting up your basketball court?"
"Oh," Jennifer replied over her shoulder, "My Dad said wait until next year."
Mary shook her head and chuckled. She slipped the mail into the pocket of her sweater and began to walk along the stone wall that separated the farm from the road. As she strolled, she looked out across the fields of corn and tomatoes and at the grazing pasture and the rigging tangled with vines of hops. Every stone in these walls came from these fields, she thought. Decades before, Alvin's ancestors had dug them all from the earth, clearing their land and constructing the walls. The thought made her feel a deep connection to the place. "Not just Alvin's ancestors" she muttered aloud, while patting her belly, "Your ancestors, baby."
She stepped over the mounded rows of soil to the fence of the alpaca pasture. A pair of the wooly creatures, one white, the other rusty brown, watched her for a moment, then went back to their foraging. Most of the rest were lolling in the shade of the barn. When he neared the gate, Virgil, the donkey, sauntered over to greet her. He reached his head over the top rail, and Mary stroked his mane and scratched him under his chin.
"You know I brought you a treat, don't you, sweet boy?" she said. She took an apple from the pocket of her sweater and held it out to him. He grabbed it in his teeth and gobbled it down. Mary patted his neck and continued her walk.
She entered the cool shade of the grove, pulling her sweater up around herself. Standing in the middle of the clearing, she looked around, closed her eyes and recalled her wedding day. Her family was there, and all of Alvin's. Friends from work and from the town had surrounded them. She remembered the smell of lilacs on that day as well.
Stepping out of the grove, she walked along the edge of the woods. The Queen Anne's lace was high in the margin between the field and the trees, and she ran her hand through it as she walked. When she reached the path that led down to the stream, she turned into the shade of the towering pines. She barely noticed the cloud of blackflies that swarmed around her, idly brushing them from her face.
As she nearly the stream, she heard a splash. She stopped and peered past the trees. Sunlight glittered through the brush. She ducked under the low hanging branches, carefully avoiding the scattered clumps of undergrowth. She was deathly afraid of ticks. When she was a few steps from the water, she heard splashing again, this time, several splashes in succession. A streak of motion on the opposite bank caught her eye, and she leaned further forward just in time to see a long, sleek otter slide down the muddy bank into the stream. As she watched, two more otters climbed out of the water and scampered up the bank. She laughed out loud as they turned and took their turns on the slide. When they reached the water, their heads popped up above the surface and all three otters looked right at her.
Mary smiled and stepped back to the path. She rubbed her belly. Look, baby, she said to herself, you will grow up in a place where you watch otters play. You will see deer and foxes and eagles. Your daddy will teach you how to tell all these kinds of trees apart and he will teach you the names of a hundred different birds. And we will love you and love you and love you.
She continued down the path until she reached the beaver pond. The spring rains and winter snow runoff had caused it to swell over its banks, and the water nearly reached her bench. There was just enough room for her to sidle over to it and sit down.
Shielding her eyes, she gazed across the glistening water. A heron stood on a log near the far bank, its head jerking from side to side, searching for prey. She scowled at it, wishing it would fly away. Be rational, she told herself; its just a bird, it has to eat. But she was not in a mood to be tolerant of any creature that preyed on smaller things. Closer by, a pair of mallards swam past her, and their quiet grace lifted her spirits again.
Mary had realized that morning that her pregnancy had passed the point at which her first had come to it's tragic termination. She had hesitated to mention the milestone to Alvin, fearful that to speak of it aloud might be some sort of jinx. But now, she thought of all the life around her. The alpacas in their pastures and the corn stalks that seemed a little taller every day. The creatures in the woods and the birds on the pond. The tiny fish flitting about in the water only inches from her feet. Even the nettlesome swarming flies.Nothing is more powerful than life, she thought, and I have life inside me. I am the hub of the universe. She stood up and touched her belly with both hands. "We can do this,baby," she said aloud, "You and I, we can do this."
***
The asphalt shimmered from the heat, but just on general principles, Alvin refused to turn on the air conditioning in his car, even though the temperature had topped ninety degrees. He had lugged the air conditioner from Mary's apartment up the stairs to cool their bedroom for her, and she kept the a/c blasting on full cool when she was in the car, but it gave him the sniffles. Besides, the sea breeze had kicked in and would soon begin to cool things off.
He finished the last of his Coke as he turned on to Puddledock Road. It was warm and flat, and he grimaced as he swallowed it, then burped loudly. Glancing over at the pond, he saw Jennifer, lying on her back at the end of the dock, dangling her feet in the water.
He pulled into the driveway, but rather than go on to the house, he stopped halfway and got out of the car. Walking toward the pond, he felt the heat of the sun on his head. She must be baking down there, he thought.
Jennifer looked up when he stepped on to the dock.
"Oh, hi, Daddy," she smiled.
"Baby, ain't you roasting out here?" He dropped to one knee beside her.
Jennifer shook her head. "It's not so bad. The water's cool and the hard surface makes my back hurt less."
She struggled to sit up. Alvin put his hands under her shoulders and lifted her to a seated position.
"Thanks, Daddy. This kid is really going to owe me."
"Your mother used to say that about you and your sister."
Jennifer sighed. "I was a big baby, too, wasn't I?"
"You were a behemoth. Almost nine pounds. Your mother had to get stitches."
"Jeezum. Don't tell me that!" She picked up her water bottle and took a long drink.
"You talked to Mary today?" Alvin asked.
"Yeah, a while ago. I wish I was doing as well as her."
"Well, she's taking it easy, while you are working. I worry that you might push yourself too hard."
"She's got to take it easy, after the last time. But, I still feel a little jealous."
"Maybe you should have timed it a mite better, so's not to be pregnant until after you finished harvesting."
"Yeah, I thought about that, like the day after I got pregnant. On the other hand, the baby will come just as the slow season begins, so that's good."
Alvin watched the water ripple as Jennifer's feet slowly paddled back and forth. He stood, slipped off his own shoes and socks and rolled up his pant legs. He sat down next to her and plunged his feet into the cool pond.
"Oh, yes, that feels wicked good."
Jennifer grunted, then took her father's hand and placed it on her swollen belly. "Feel that?"
Alvin waited a minute, then felt the slightest bump under his hand. He broke into a broad smile.
"I think the last time I felt a baby kick it was you."
She rested her head on his shoulder, "So, Daddy," she said, "When's the last time anybody asked you how you are doing?"
"I'm doing just fine," he said, rubbing her back.
"Are you sure? You seems a little, I don't know, distant...like something's bothering you."
"Well..." he looked out at the pond, gathering his thoughts. "There is something that has been on my mind."
"Tell me, Daddy."
"I'm forty eight years old and about to father a child. Jen, do you realize that I will be in my sixties when he or she graduates from high school?"
"Yeah, Dad, that's not hard math."
"Now, don't be a wiseacre, I'm serious here."
"Daddy, you'll probably live to ninety."
"Neither of my parents did."
"Grandpa's death was an accident, that doesn't count."
"You think I can't have an accident?"
"I think it's unlikely."
"You never even knew him, my father. He was gone before you were born."
"As much as people say that you are like him, I think we would have got along pretty good."
"Oh, he'd have thought you were a pisser."
Jennifer offered him her water bottle. He took a drink and handed it back. They sat in silence for a while, watching a water bug dance across the surface of the pond.
"I'd ask a favor," Alvin said.
Jennifer wrapped her arm around his. "Anything, Daddy."
"If anything should happen to me..."
"Oh, jeezum, nothing's going to happen to you."
"...if anything should..."
"Don't even say it. I know what you are going to ask."
"I suppose you do."
"Danni and I, all of us, will watch over Mary and your baby if lightning should strike you, or a giant kraken yanks you off the dock or something."
"I know you will, but sometimes things need saying. Favors need asking."
"Alright, but it never occurred to me that I should ask the same of you."
'Well, I will take it that we have a pact between us." He kissed her head and stood up. She held up her hands and he took them, pulling her to her feet. He picked up his shoes and socks and walked up the grassy slope with his daughter. He kissed her again as she turned toward her house, and he continued across the field. Mary was sitting on the shady porch steps, waiting for him.
"Hey, sweetheart," she said as he reached the dooryard, "I am so hot, I couldn't make dinner."
"That's alright, why don't we go into town? Maybe sit out on the deck at the High Tide and catch the sea breeze?
"I like that. Give me a few minutes to freshen up and change."
They went into the house and Mary went upstairs, while Alvin washed his face and hands at the kitchen sink. When he finished, he went up to the bedroom and put on a fresh shirt. He looked into the bathroom. Mary was standing at the sink, brushing her hair. Alvin leaned in the doorway and watched her. She looked up and caught his gaze in the mirror.
"So what do you think about having such a big fat wife?" she asked.
"I'd love you no matter what. And you ain't big and fat, so if that was a trick question, I'm not falling into your trap."
Mary laughed and rubbed her belly.
"I felt Jen's baby kick, just now, down to the dock," He told her.
"Ours kicks now and then. If she starts up again, I'll let you know."
"She?"
Mary shrugged. "I just have a feeling."
"What happened to not personalizing the baby, in case...you know."
She turned and kissed him. "I'm not afraid any more. Everything is going to be fine. Now, I want a big plate of nachos."
"Did you eat any lunch?" he asked as they went down the stairs.
"Oh, yeah, I had a peanut butter and mayonnaise sandwich."
Alvin shuddered.
"What? It was good. I can make you one for your lunch tomorrow."
"That's alright, darlin'. Let's just go get some nachos."
The High Tides' deck was crowded, but they managed to find a table on the rail, where they enjoyed the full benefit of the cool breeze blowing off the harbor.
They ordered a pitcher of ice tea and a large plate of nachos. "When I can eat shellfish again," Mary said, "I am going to completely pig out on lobsters."
"Ill tell you, Miss Mary, you have done a wicked fine job of turning yourself into a Mainer."
"Oh yeah, I've acclimated pretty well. I didn't even freak out last week when the coyote was in the yard."
"You freaked out a little bit."
"I did not. I was just worried about the alpacas."
"Virgil would have took care of him. Besides, I think he was more interested in the chickens."
Mary grew serious. "You know, it's interesting how your two daughters grew up in the same place, with the same parents, roughly the same experiences, and they turned out so different."
"I don't think they are that different," Alvin laughed, "A couple of foul mouthed troublemakers."
"Now, don't joke," she said, "One's going to law school, the other is farming. It's interesting to me, because I have been thinking a lot about what it will be like for our child to grow up here."
"Hard tellin', not knowin'," Alvin said, "I mean, this place is changing, seems pretty fast to me. Three, four new restaurants just since you moved here. There's that dollar store just opened by McDonalds. And there's a whole bunch of condos going up out the Searsmont Road. This is like to be a real city by the time our child is grown."
"I don't think it will really change, Alvin. Just be bigger and more of what it is."
"Like I said, hard tellin', not knowin'."
It was growing dark by the time they finished eating. As they were getting in the car, Mary said, "I'm still a little hungry."
"Jeezum crow," Alvin muttered. He turned left out of the parking lot, instead of right, toward home.
"Where are we going?" Mary asked, but Alvin was already turning in at the wharf. He stopped next to the diner and got out of the car.
"Be right back," he said. He unlocked the diner door and went inside. Mary got out of the car and stood in the driveway, raising her arms and letting the breeze flow over her.
Alvin came back and handed her a popsicle. "You like cherry, right?" he asked.
"Oh, thank you, baby." She unwrapped her popsicle and began to suck on it. "This probably gives you ideas, doesn't it?"
"It don't take much to give me those ideas where you're concerned." He began licking his own popsicle and held out his hand. Mary took it and they strolled down the driveway into the boatyard.
Alvin led her to the launch. The tide was three quarters full and the water came nearly to the top of the sloped ramp.
Mary watched as Alvin removed his shoes and socks. "What the hell are you doing?" she asked as he unbuckled his belt and began to lower his pants.
"Cooling off," he said. He tossed his shoes and pants up to the top of the ramp and waded knee deep into the water.
Mary hesitated a moment, then took off her own shoes and pushed down her stretch pants. She stepped forward and tested the water with her toes. It was warmer than she had expected. She waded in up to her ankles, and then her knees. As the water grew deeper, it felt cooler. Alvin took off his shirt, balled it up and threw it up the ramp. Mary nearly slipped as she walked toward him, but he grabbed her hand and pulled her to him. He took her in his arms and kissed her.
"Feels refreshing, don't it?" he asked.
"It feels great," she said. She turned and waded in a little deeper.
"The bottom of your shirt is getting wet," Alvin warned her. She pulled it over her head and handed it to him. He tossed it with his own.
Mary held out her hand and Alvin took it. They slowly descended the ramp, the water rising to their hips, then above Mary's full belly.
"Baby's first swim," she laughed. As she waded deeper, the water gave buoyancy to her belly, and she could feel the muscles in her abdomen loosen and relax. "Oh, Alvin," she said, "this feels like heaven."
Alvin moved behind her and put his hands on her hips. "Lean back, honey."
Mary leaned against him. He kissed the side of her face.
"Pick up your feet," he told her.
Mary hesitated.
"Trust me."
She lifted her feet and he slipped his hands under her, taking her weight as she rose and began to float. She spread her arms out straight from her sides and slowly kicked her feet.
"Don't let go of me," she whispered.
"Never."
She closed her eyes. It was if she were floating in space, with only the touch of Alvin's hands tethering her to Earth. Inside her, she felt the baby stir. She opened her eyes and looked up at the night sky.
When you wish upon a star...
"Alvin, let me down," she said in a quiet voice. He took several steps backward, guiding her into shallower water, then lowered her down until her feet touched bottom. The water gently caressed her breasts.
"Feel," she said when she had found her balance. She took him by the wrists and guided his hands to her belly.
Alvin closed his eyes and bowed his head. The only sound was the rhythmic lapping of the waves. He felt a motion against his hands, so slight at first that he thought he had imagined it, but then stronger, unmistakable.
"Hello baby," he whispered.
Mary turned and reached her arms over his shoulders. His silhouette was barely visible in the darkness, but starlight twinkled in his eyes. They kissed, then gathered their clothes and walked up to the diner. Alvin unlocked the door and they went inside, where they dried themselves off with paper towels from the bathroom.
"Grab a couple more of those popsicles," Mary said as they left.
Mary leaned over and let her head lay outside the car window, enjoying the feeling of the wind as it brushed her face and rippled her hair.
"What are you thinking about, Miss Mary?" Alvin asked.
"Danni told me a Jewish saying," Mary said, pulling her head back inside, "That when someone saves a life they save an entire world."
"I've heard that," Alvin nodded.
"I wonder then, when he create a life, aren't we creating an entire world?"
"I believe we are, sweetheart," he smiled, "I believe we are."
***
Mary looked out the window at the thunderheads looming on the horizon.
"The sky looks like it's bruised," she said as she sat down at the kitchen table. She winced and arched her back.
"You alright, honey?" Alvin asked, "You having another contraction already?"
"Yeah, but it's more in my back," she said, frowning.
Alvin put a plate of spaghetti in front of her, and sat down.
"Maybe after supper I can give you a back rub, see if that helps."
"That would be lovely, thank you."
"Looks to be a hell of a storm coming," Alvin said between mouthfuls of spaghetti. "I'll take a look and make sure that the livestock is all battened down."
"I'm sure Jennifer has it taken care of."
Alvin laughed. "I get a kick out of her out there, waddling around, doing all her chores. The girl's a scrapper."
"I wish I could be more active," Mary frowned.
"We just have to be cautious, honey."
"I know, but..." She sat up straight, a look of pain on her face.
Alvin looked at her with concern, his fork dangling strands of pasta.
"Alvin, how long apart were those contractions?" she asked.
"Five minutes, maybe?"
Mary nodded. "I think maybe you ought to get the go bag, honey."
"It's almost two weeks early."
"I don't think the baby has a calendar, sweetheart."
Alvin got up from the table and fetched the pre-packed suitcase from the bedroom. Mary was by the door, leaning on the kitchen counter when he came back downstairs.
"You ready?" he asked.
"Just a minute," she said, grimacing. She blew out a deep breath, then said, "Let's go."
"Jeezum crow, I hope we beat the rain," Alvin said as he helped Mary into the car.
Mary called the doctor, and then her mother as Alvin sped toward town.
"Mom, I think it's time," she said.
"Oh, dear. It's early, is everything all right?"
"I think so, we will call you as soon as we have any news."
"Alright, sweetheart, I love you both."
"Thank you, Mom, love you, too."
There was a tremendous crack of thunder as Mary hung up the phone. She chuckled to herself. Someday Alvin is going to tell our child a tall tale about the terrible storm on the night they were born, she thought.
They pulled into the hospital parking lot just as the first fat drops of rain hit the pavement. Alvin rushed in to get a wheelchair, but Mary just got out of the car and walked inside.
"Jeezum crow, Mary, sit down," he said, pushing the chair toward her. She did not feel that she needed it but sat anyway. He wants to feel like he's doing something, she thought. He wheeled her to the Birth Center.
"Call the girls and let them know," Mary said as the nurse took her into triage.
Alvin went into the waiting room and called Jennifer. She answered on the first ring.
"Danni will be home in about an hour, we will come down," she said when he told her they were at the hospital.
"We aren't sure yet that it's the real thing. Hate to see you come out in a storm for a false alarm."
"Does Mary think it's a false alarm?"
"She doesn't seem to."
"Right. See you in an hour."
He called Charlotte and left a message when he got no answer. He went to the nurse's station and they took him into the birthing room. Mary was not there. The nurse informed him that she was in the shower and would be out shortly. He stood by the window, tapping his foot nervously and watching as sheets of rain swept across the parking lot.
Mary came into the room, accompanied by the nurse. She was wearing a hospital gown. In her hand, she held a tangle of wires that emanated from under the gown.The nurse helped her into bed, and raised her to a near sitting position.
"I assume this is your husband?" the nurse asked.
"Yes, this is Alvin."
The nurse nodded and smiled at him. She slipped Mary's gown up to above her belly and attached the wires to the fetal monitor.
"Everything is looking fine right now," she said. She tucked the gown back in place and swabbed Mary's arm. While she inserted an IV, she explained to Alvin that it would be used both to keep her hydrated and to administer pain medication as it was needed. And maybe blood, Alvin thought, but then pushed that notion aside.
The nurse helped Mary put her feet into the stirrups and bent down between her legs. In a moment, she looked up at Alvin, nodded, then patted Mary's hand. "Your baby's on it's way. The doctor will be here in a little while to talk to you."
As the nurse lowered her legs from the stirrups, Mary felt a sudden rush of wetness. "Well, that makes it official," the nurse smiled, "Your water has broken."
When she had cleaned Mary up and left them alone, Alvin pulled a chair next to the bed and sat down, taking Mary's hand. With every contraction, she squeezed it tight.
"How long was Bonnie in labor with your girls?" Mary asked Alvin after one particularly agonizing contraction.
"Charlotte was an easy birth, she was out in just a little more than three hours. Jennifer was an ordeal."
"How much of an ordeal?"
Alvin looked out the window. "Boy, it's still coming down hard."
Doctor Fournier came in before Mary could press him further.
"How are we doing?" she asked, checking the monitors.
"He's doing just fine," Mary said, shooting Alvin a look, "I'm in agony."
The doctor laughed. She placed her hand on Mary's belly and stood silently for a minute. Then she raised Mary's legs back into the stirrups and examined her.
"Alright, try to relax if you can, it's going to be a while."
Mary puffed out a deep breath and lay back. "It's not so bad to be an only child, is it?" she asked.
Alvin laughed. "Well, our child is going to have a niece or nephew pretty much the same age. Almost like a twin."
"Good point," Mary replied, before moaning from another contraction.
Jennifer and Danni arrived and joined them. They were better at keeping Mary distracted with small talk than Alvin had been, but still, she could not concentrate on conversation as the time between her contractions shortened.
"So have you decided on names?" Jennifer asked.
"Yes, we have," Mary replied, between groans.
"We have?" Alvin asked.
"Yeah."
"I guess we have," he shrugged.
Dr. Fournier came back and added some pain medication to Mary's IV, and things became a little easier after a while.
The sky grew dark, illuminated by an occasional flash of lightning. Alvin checked the time. It had been four hours since they had left the house. Danni went out to the waiting room and brought him a bag of chips and a can of soda from the vending machines.
At eleven o'clock, Dr. Fournier came in and examined Mary once more. "You are at ten centimeters, dear."
"So, this shit is almost over?" Mary groaned.
"Well, it could still be a couple of hours."
"Jeezum fucking crow."
Alvin did a double take. "What did you just say, honey?" he asked with a grin.
Mary glared at him. "You and your dumb, dumb dick," she muttered.
Alvin's phone buzzed. It was Charlotte, returning his call. He promised to call her back when the baby was close and hung up.
Just after midnight, Mary knew the time was near. The contractions no longer felt separate, each one seemed to flow into the next. Jennifer rang the call button, and Dr. Fournier rushed in, followed by a different nurse than the one who had been there earlier.
"Let's deliver this baby," the doctor said as she moved into position. Alvin wrapped his arm around Mary's shoulders and took her hand in his. Danni sat close to her on the other side of the bed and held her other hand. Jennifer called Charlotte and put her on speaker phone.
"Breathe, sweetheart, breathe," Alvin said, as Mary began to push. Her legs were cramping, her back was aching terribly, but she pushed and pushed again.
Danni patted Mary's face with a cool, damp cloth. "You're doing great, honey," she told her.
"The baby is crowning," the doctor said, "Keep pushing, almost there."
The final rumbles of thunder were fading in the distance when Mary bore down one last time, squeezing Alvin's hand so tightly that he thought it might break, and Hannah Jean Faulkner entered the world, whole and healthy and surrounded by love.
***
Alvin could not drink another cup of coffee. His stomach was churning, and the caffeine was not working anyway, he could hardly keep his eyes open. He tried to focus on the television, hanging from its wire rack on the waiting room wall. Some numbie was selling knives, a big set of them, twenty, thirty frickin' knives. You only need one damn knife if it's a good one, he thought.
He stood up, stretched his back and looked around for the remote control. He suspected the big guy from Northport was sitting on it, and he'd been asleep for at least an hour.
He wandered over to the magazine rack and browsed through it for the third time. He'd looked though the Time already, although it was two months old, and the Field and Stream and the Sports Illustrated. He had even flipped through People, despite not knowing who any of the people in it were. He was seriously considering taking one of the Highlights from the bottom rack, maybe play Find The Hidden Pictures or see if Goofus and Gallant had anything to say about maternity waiting rooms, when the door opened and Charlotte stuck her head out.
"Come on in, Daddy," she said, looking happy but exhausted.
"Thought we'd be here all night," Alvin said.
"Poor you," Charlotte rolled her eyes.
Alvin entered the birthing room for the second time in a month. Jennifer sat up in bed, her eyes bleary, a tangle of damp hair hanging across her face. Mary stood on her right, stroking her head, while Danni sat to the left, leaning shoulder to shoulder against her wife.
Alvin stepped forward. "There's somebody here wants to meet you, Daddy," Jennifer said in a hoarse voice. She struggled to lift the tiny bundle in her arms, so Mary took it from her, and gently handed it to Alvin.
He looked down into a pair of deep brown eyes.
"Daddy, meet your granddaughter, Bonita Maria Ortega-Faulkner."
"Bonita?" he asked, looking up at her.
"For Mom, and it's the Portuguese word for beautiful. Maria for Danni's Mom." She touched Mary's hand. "And for Mary."
Alvin nodded, an impressed expression on his face. "I'd say you done a wicked good job of naming." He kissed the baby's head. "Hello, Miss Bonita," he said. He kissed her again, then sat down on the edge of the bed. Danni took Bonita from his arms. He turned to Jennifer, leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
"Your mother would be proud of you," he said, "I am very proud of you."
Mary could hear the weariness in Alvin's voice. She was suddenly aware of his age. She stood and rested her hand on his shoulder.
"Well, we have our own little one to get back to," she said. Alvin nodded, kissed Jennifer again, then rose from the bed. Danni stood, cradling Bonita in front of her. Alvin touched the baby's face and then Danni's. He kissed Danni and then Charlotte, and Mary took his hand and led him from the room.
They walked out of the hospital into a still, cool night.
"What time is it?" Alvin asked.
Mary looked at her phone. "Almost five."
"Jeezum crow, no wonder I'm so tired."
Mary took his arm. "Remember the promise you made me when you proposed?"
"That we would have a baby?"
"No, the other one."
Alvin unlocked the car, and opened Mary's door. "Oh, to live a long time?"
"Right," she said as she got in, "You need to take it more seriously now than ever."
He leaned in and kissed her. "I'll do the best I can," he said.
"See that you do. You promised."
They drove through the silent town and down the dark country road. There was a dim light on in the living room when they arrived, and Diana's car was still in the driveway.
"Oh, Jen asked that you check on the stock when he got home," Mary said as they got out of the car.
"You didn't tell her I'm too old for that sort of work?"
"You are not as funny as you think you are, honey."
Diana was asleep in Alvin's recliner. Hannah slept in her bassinet on the couch beside her. Mary gently shook Diana's arm until she awakened.
"Boy or girl?" she asked as soon as she sat up.
"A girl. Bonita."
"Everything alright?"
"Everything is fine," Alvin said, "Thank you for staying with Hannah."
"Yes, thank you," Mary said as Diana gathered her things. "By the way, how is Rachel settling in up at UMO?"
"Seems to be doing fine," Diana replied, "I'm hoping that college will bring her out of her shell."
"I'll walk Diana out and then check on the critters," Alvin said. He escorted his sister to the car. She gave him a hug and a kiss. "Good night, grandpa," she said with a grin.
"Grandpa," he muttered as she drove away, "Jeezum crow."
He walked out to the pasture and opened the gate. A shape moved toward him in the dark. He recognized Virgil, and patted the donkey's side as it came up to him.
"Keeping an eye on things?" Alvin said, "Because I might need a hand these days."
He checked in the barn. The alpacas were all asleep. When he came out of the barn, he looked to the east, where a line of light had appeared on the horizon. He thought about standing with Mary on the top of Cadillac Mountain, watching the sun rise. I made promises, I need to keep them, he told himself.
The house was quiet when Alvin entered. He walked to the foot of the stairs and heard Mary's voice, speaking softly from the bedroom. She's talking to the baby, he thought, smiling. Wearily, he walked up the steps. It was dark in the upper hall, only a faint light glowed from the nursery door. He looked in and saw Mary, sitting in the rocking chair. Her robe was open, and Hannah was at her breast.
"My sweet little girl," she muttered, in a voice barely audible to Alvin. "Mama loves you, sweetie. Your Daddy loves you."
She began to hum quietly.
"That's a song my mama sang to me when I was little." She kissed her baby's head and began to softly sing.
"Come along with me to our little corner of the world
Dream a little dream, in our little corner of the world
We always knew, that we'd find someone like you,
So welcome to our little corner of the world."
She looked up and saw Alvin in the doorway.
"She's gone back to sleep," Mary whispered. She slowly rose and laid Hannah down in her crib. Alvin joined her there, and they stood together, looking down at their daughter.
After a moment, Alvin kissed Mary's cheek. "You look exhausted, love," she said in a quiet voice, "let's get ready for bed."
Alvin took one more look at Hannah while Mary left the room. Lucky little girl, he thought, you sure look like your mama. He turned and switched off the lamp, then went to the bathroom to clean up and undress.
When he entered the bedroom, Mary was already under the covers. He slipped in beside her and she snuggled close to him, leaning forward and kissing him goodnight. She rested her head on his shoulder as he reached over and turned off the light. She looked up at the ceiling, where the painted stars glowed brightly.
"We're pregnant ladies," Jennifer said, "We can do anything we want."
Alvin looked at the kitchen table, covered with the wadded foil from what looked like dozens of chocolate hearts. He looked at Mary, but she could not answer, her mouth was too stuffed with chocolate.
"Well, alright," he said, "but tomorrow is Valentine's Day. What if someone was planning on buying his wife and daughters candy? I mean, now it's like if you own fifty pairs of shoes, and I think I'm doing something special and I buy you another pair of shoes."
"That a really crappy analogy, honey," Mary said after swallowing her chocolate. Jennifer tapped her on the arm.
"Listen, Mary, is it just me, or does being pregnant make you really horny all the time?"
"Oh, yeah," Mary nodded.
Alvin put his hands up. "I don't need to hear this."
Mary laughed. "Baby, you don't like hearing about how horny I am?"
"You, fine." He jerked his thumb at Jennifer, "Her, no."
He went upstairs and washed up in the bathroom. When he came back down, Jennifer had rolled all the foil wrappers into a ball.
"Daddy, grab the wastebasket from under the sink."
He fetched the basket and held it up in front of his face. Jennifer leaned back in her chair and tossed a perfect finger roll.
"All net," Alvin said, putting the wastebasket back under the sink.
"Do you ever miss it? Basketball?" Mary asked.
"Yeah, we both do. In fact, that's something I wanted to talk to you about, daddy."
Alvin pulled out a chair and sat down at the table.
"There's that spot out at the edge of the woods that is granite ledge about a foot down," Jennifer said, "Nothing's going to grow worth a shit there. So we were thinking that come spring, when it gets dry enough, we might put in a half court."
"That sounds like a great idea," Mary said, but Alvin frowned and scratched his head.
"Something to think about," he shrugged.
"When I started playing," Jennifer told Mary, "we had a hoop up on the barn above the door. And in the winter, Daddy would take me to the YMCA to practice there."
"It was a lot of fun, right up till she started beating me regularly at one on one," Alvin said.
Jennifer laughed as she pushed her chair back from the table. "Well, think about it, okay?"
"I will, sweetheart."
"Cool. Well, I've got work to do." Jennifer got up and left the house.
Mary looked at Alvin and squinted. "You didn't seem any too happy about her basketball court idea," she said.
Alvin looked at his hands for a minute. "Well," he said, "the thing is, I don't like the idea of the expense at this time. The farm ain't in the black yet."
"So, tell her that."
"Well, you know..."
"That you hate to say no to her?"
Alvin shrugged and said nothing.
"Alvin, this is frustrating for me," Mary said, sitting back and crossing her arms. "I have a business degree from one of the country's top universities, and my husband and his sister run a business and shut me out of it."
"But this is about Jennifer..."
"No, it is not Alvin, it's about Diana. She thinks I'm some kind of threat to her, like I'm going to squeeze her out."
"Well, you can see how she might be afraid of that."
Mary leaned forward and put her hands on his arm.
"I do understand that. But the thing is Alvin, we are going to have a baby. We...you...have to put that at the top of our concerns. I think that if I could take an active part in the business, the wharf, the farm, the whole thing, I could make it more profitable. I'm not talking about having an equal share, but as your wife, I should at least be fully informed and be allowed to offer my advice and opinions."
"You've got a hell of a point there," Alvin nodded.
"Alright. So, think about what you want to do about it."
"Alright, sweetheart. But something else I want to think about right now."
"What's that, love?"
"That thing about you being horny all the time."
"It's a common reaction in early pregnancy."
He put his hand on her thigh and squeezed. "Well, then, let's see if can't attend to that."
"Oh, god no, not now," she said, moving his hand away, "I'm too bloated from all that chocolate."
***
Mary stood in the hall and stared at the nursery door. Someone, Alvin, or perhaps Jennifer or Rachel, had closed it on the day she miscarried her first pregnancy, and she had not opened it in all the months since.
Her hand trembled as she rested it on the doorknob. She drew in a breath, hesitated for a moment, then turned it.
The room was dark and she felt afraid to step into it until she had reached inside the doorway and flipped on the light.
It looked just as it had. She stepped inside, thinking back to watching Alvin paint the walls and ceiling. She looked at the parade of silhouetted circus animals he had stenciled all the way around the room.
She crossed the room to the crib. She had been so moved when Alvin brought it in, and when he told her that three generations of his family had slept in it. The cartoon stickers on the headboard caught her eye. She reached down and ran her fingers over the image of Jiminy Cricket. What was the song he sang? She searched her memory until it came to her, then she turned and left the nursery, switching off the light, but leaving the door open.
She crossed the hall and entered the bedroom. She turned off the light and looked up at the ceiling. All the little fluorescent stars that Alvin had painted on the ceiling glowed above her. She felt a bit silly, she had not seen the movie since she was a little girl, but she could remember the voice so clearly.
When you wish upon a star, your dreams come true
Please, she thought, looking up at the stars her love had created for her, please let this dream come true.
She went downstairs, where Alvin was waiting for her in the kitchen. He was leaning against the counter when she entered.
"I was starting to wonder about you," he said, reaching behind his back. When he brought his hand forward again, it held a bouquet of pink and red roses.
"Happy Valentine's Day, sweetheart," he said as he handed it to her. Mary took it and buried her face in the blooms, inhaling their sweet aroma. She stepped into Alvin's arms, put one hand on his face and kissed him.
"I love you, Alvin."
"I love you too, baby. Now let's get going."
Alvin helped her into her coat. "Let's just hope your ex-husband isn't lurking around this year," he said, taking his own coat down from it's peg.
"You're going to bring that up every year, aren't you," Mary laughed.
"Well, sure, it will be a family legend sort of thing."
"Including the part where you and Tim were going to throw him in the ocean?"
Alvin frowned. "You aren't supposed to know that part."
"Oh honey," she said, kissing his cheek, "I know all your secrets."
They drove down the coast to Camden in a light snowfall. Alvin had made reservations at Caroline's on the waterfront, where they were shown to a seat near the fireplace. Mary looked out the window at the twinkling harbor lights.
"This is cozy," she said, smiling at Alvin.
Alvin ordered prime rib, while Mary asked for the braised duck breast.
"If you want to get a beer or something, go ahead," Mary said, "Don't refrain because I have to."
Alvin shrugged. "I'm fine with water."
"You're a sweet man," she said, taking his hand.
"So, Mary...let me ask you something."
"Yes, love?"
"The, uh, the last time, we decided not to learn the baby's sex. Do you still think that?"
"Yes," she nodded, "I don't want to know."
"Alright, well, maybe we could talk about names."
Mary frowned. "Alvin, I'm not sure how to put this..."
"Just say what you want to say, sweetheart."
Mary gazed out the window for a minute before speaking. "I'm scared, Alvin. I don't want to lose another baby."
"No, honey, of course not..."
"I just think that, well, the less I imagine the baby, the easier it will be if...if something happens. Does that sound heartless?"
"No, it sounds sensible."
"So, we'll talk about names when the time comes, okay?"
Alvin frowned, but nodded. "I think you might change your mind about that, but I'll say no more about it. If you do change your mind, you can let me know."
Their food came and they ate, basking in the warmth of the fire.
"How's your duck?" Alvin asked.
"It's delicious," Mary said, "but I really wish I could have a glass of Merlot or something to go with it. How's your prime rib?"
"Just how I like it," he said.
When Mary finished eating, she put down her fork and slipped off her right shoe. She stretched her leg until her toes touched Alvin's calf. He looked up from his plate in surprise as she ran her foot along the inside of his leg.
"So, we were going to have a discussion about hormonal effects in early pregnancy..." Mary said, scooting forward in her chair, and extending her leg between Alvin's thighs.
"About what?" he asked, dropping his fork.
"About how fucking horny I am," she whispered, pressing her toes against his crotch.
"Jeezum crow, Mary, I guess you are."
He dropped his hand under the table and slid it up her leg. He gently caressed her knee. "So, maybe we'll skip dessert."
"Oh no, we won't," she said, sitting up straight and dropping her foot to the floor. "I've been looking forward to their toffee pudding."
Alvin laughed. "Alright, baby. You want to split one?"
"Nope, I want my own."
"Well, alright then." He reached across the table and took her hand. "I had a thought, sweetheart. What would you think about getting a room down here and driving home in the morning?"
Mary smiled and nodded. "That sounds like fun."
"You know, that sort of thing is going to be harder to do with a kid running around."
Mary's expression turned serious. "Alvin, please, let's not be one of those couples that lose our erotic interest in each other once they have children."
He lifted her hand and kissed it. "I promise, but you have to know, if you aren't mindful, it starts to just slip away without you noticing."
"I forget sometimes that you've been through all this before."
"I do too, baby. Sometimes I forget I did anything before I met you."
Mary rolled her eyes. "There you go, so sincere and so corny at the same time."
"Well, ain't it Valentine's Day?"
After they finished their desserts, they walked up Bay Street to the center of town, leaving their car in the restaurant parking lot. The snow had stopped, but it was bitterly cold. Alvin wrapped his arm around Mary's waist and held her close as they strolled along the quiet street.
They entered the lobby of the Lord Camden Inn and approached the front desk.
"We'd like a room for the night, if one's available," Alvin said to the clerk.
The clerk looked up at them, and Mary thought she saw a slight smirk on his face.
"Very good, yes, we can accommodate you. Do you have any luggage?"
"No, we don't," Mary said in a low voice, trying to sound as lascivious as possible. Alvin stifled a laugh and paid the clerk. As they started up the stairs, he looked back over his shoulder, caught the man's eye, then slid his hand down Mary's back and squeezed her ass.
"You are so bad," she giggled as they mounted the stairs.
"You're the one talking like Marilyn Monroe to the friggin' desk clerk."
"Ooh, did I sound like Marilyn?" She turned and took his hand, walking backwards and pulling him toward their room. "Did you like that?"
"You're sexier than her," he said as they reached the room.
He backed her against the door. She started to speak but he stopped her with a kiss, reaching behind her to cup both sides of her ass in his hands. She gripped his back and returned his kiss, thrusting her tongue into his mouth.
Alvin heard a door open and took a step back. An elderly woman in a pink bathrobe and bunny slippers came out of her room, flopping down the the hall with her ice bucket. He smiled and nodded to her, then reached around Mary and unlocked the door.
Mary turned as soon as the door closed and took hold of the waist of Alvin's pants. She walked him toward the bed, then sat down on it, pulling him down beside her. She leaned over him and kissed him.
"Do you know what I want?" she asked.
"No, sweetheart, tell me."
"I really, really want you to go down on me," she whispered.
"That seems doable."
Mary laughed. "Well, good."
She rose up on her knees, unzipped her dress and pulled it over her head. Alvin sat up, put his hands on her hips and kissed her stomach. He hooked his fingers in her panties and slipped them down her thighs, then leaned forward and kissed her again, in the soft tangle of her pubic hair. She tugged her underpants off and tossed them aside. She straddled Alvin's lap. His cock was straining against the fabric of his slacks. She rubbed herself against it, laughing when he moaned in response.
"I never gave you a lap dance," she said, gyrating her hips and grinding down on him, "How do you like it?"
"It's a bit stimulating, you might say."
She gently pushed him down on his back and crawled forward on her knees. When she reached his chest, he wrapped his arms around her hips and pulled her forward, raising his head between her legs.
Mary leaned backwards until her hands touched the mattress. She tilted her pelvis forward, and pressed herself against Alvin's face. She felt his lips on her labia, and then his tongue slipping between them. He lapped at her pussy, flicking his tongue against her clit. She squeezed her thighs tightly around his head and rode his tongue as she would his cock. Her breathing turned into a ragged pant and her arms began to tremble. She felt lightheaded. Her elbows buckled, and she fell backwards, laughing and gasping. Rolling on to her side, she tugged at Alvin's belt buckle.
Alvin rolled with her, still holding on to her ass. He lowered his head back between her thighs and resumed licking her, while she opened his pants and slipped her hand inside. She pulled his cock free and wrapped her lips around it. Alvin responded to the sensation of her warm month engulfing him by increasing the fervor with which he worked his lips and tongue on her clit. Mary's hips began to buck, and she felt a wave of intense pleasure wash over her. She lifted her head from Alvin's cock and gasped for breath, nearly hyperventilating as a second wave surged through her like an electric current.
Mary arched her back, but Alvin wrapped his arms around her and refused to let her pull away. He rolled on to his back, carrying her with him. She came a third time, grinding down on his face.
Alvin pushed her hips upward, gasping for air. Mary stroked his cock while catching her own breath. When she had regained enough strength, she rose up on her knees, turned around and straddled Alvin's hips, and sat down on his cock. She guided it inside her, then placed her hands on Alvin's chest and began to slowly ride him.
"You told the truth about that hormone thing," Alvin said, in a voice that was not much more than a grunt. Mary grinned at him and sat up straight, placing her hands on her hips. She gyrated on his cock, chuckling as she watched his mouth open wide in a long moan.
"You like that, baby?"
"Hell, yes," he said. He put his hands on top of hers and began to thrust his hips forward. Mary moved with him, bouncing with each motion. She felt another climax coming on, and she dropped on to Alvin's chest. He wrapped his arms tightly around her waist and pounded his loins against her. Mary's orgasm rolled over her, and Alvin followed right behind, draining himself into her.
"I love when you come inside me, " Mary murmured as they cuddled in the afterglow of their lovemaking.
"Well, you know that's how you got in your current situation, right?" Alvin replied.
Mary laughed. "Do they have room service here?"
"I imagine so, but it's after eleven, it's probably closed. You ain't hungry again already, are you?"
"I'd really like some ice cream," she shrugged.
Without a word, Alvin stood up, pulled up his pants and stepped into his shoes.
"What are you doing?" Mary asked.
"There's a Rite Aid just up the street, I can get you ice cream there."
"Really? Alvin, you are so sweet."
He kissed her, put on his coat and went out.
Rite Aid was closed. Alvin headed back toward the Inn, but at Bay Street, he turned and walked down to Caroline's, where they had left the car. The Shop and Save ain't but a mile or so down the road, he thought.
But the Shop and Save was closed as well. The gas station at the town line was open, but didn't have ice cream. Finally, the Shell station in Rockport was open, and had a small selection of Ben and Jerry's. He bought a pint of Cherry Garcia and one of Chunky Monkey. He left the building, then remembered to go back in and get a pair of plastic spoons.
Mary was asleep when he returned to the room. He kicked off his shoes and sat down in the chair next to the bed. He peeled the top off the Cherry Garcia and watched her sleep while he ate it.
***
The scent of lilacs was heavy, almost cloying, as Mary stepped out on to the front porch. She remembered how it had pervaded the house on the morning when she had seen blood pooling in the shower, when she had lost her unborn child.
It was a beautiful day. The sky was a cloudless blue, the trees were green with fresh leaves and across the road, a large stand of forsythia blazed bright yellow. Everything in the world around her looked so right. Still, she fought off a wave of melancholy as she walked down the long driveway to the mailbox.
As she sorted the mail, she looked up and saw Jennifer walking toward her between the furrows of the cornfield.
"Hey," Jennifer called as she approached, "Have you been getting nose bleeds?"
"No," Mary said, "But I'm getting the worst goddamn heartburn."
"Yeah, I've got that, too."
Mary looked Jennifer over. "Holy cow, your boobs are getting huge."
"I know, right?" She held out the front of her shirt and looked down inside it. "I gained, like, two bra sizes."
"Mine haven't gotten all that much bigger."
"Any mail for us?" Jennifer asked.
Mary handed her a catalogue and an envelope. Jennifer looked at them. "A seed catalogue after I already planted and a credit card bill I already paid."
"Listen," Mary said, "I don't really know what to do with myself now that I'm not working. If you need any help with anything, let me know."
"It's good you took an early maternity leave, though, considering, you know, last time."
"Yes, but it's only been a week and I'm bored. So, if I can do anything..."
Jennifer shrugged. "I haven't had to cut back my work any yet. Danni and my Dad have both said that they would take on some things, and I have made a deal with Theo to do the weeding once school is out."
"What's the deal?"
"That if he weeds, he gets to feed the animals."
Mary laughed. "The boy drives a hard bargain."
"Alright, well, I need to go pee for the tenth time today, I'll talk to you later."
"Okay, Jen, see you, honey." As Jennifer walked away, Mary called after her, "Hey, what happened to putting up your basketball court?"
"Oh," Jennifer replied over her shoulder, "My Dad said wait until next year."
Mary shook her head and chuckled. She slipped the mail into the pocket of her sweater and began to walk along the stone wall that separated the farm from the road. As she strolled, she looked out across the fields of corn and tomatoes and at the grazing pasture and the rigging tangled with vines of hops. Every stone in these walls came from these fields, she thought. Decades before, Alvin's ancestors had dug them all from the earth, clearing their land and constructing the walls. The thought made her feel a deep connection to the place. "Not just Alvin's ancestors" she muttered aloud, while patting her belly, "Your ancestors, baby."
She stepped over the mounded rows of soil to the fence of the alpaca pasture. A pair of the wooly creatures, one white, the other rusty brown, watched her for a moment, then went back to their foraging. Most of the rest were lolling in the shade of the barn. When he neared the gate, Virgil, the donkey, sauntered over to greet her. He reached his head over the top rail, and Mary stroked his mane and scratched him under his chin.
"You know I brought you a treat, don't you, sweet boy?" she said. She took an apple from the pocket of her sweater and held it out to him. He grabbed it in his teeth and gobbled it down. Mary patted his neck and continued her walk.
She entered the cool shade of the grove, pulling her sweater up around herself. Standing in the middle of the clearing, she looked around, closed her eyes and recalled her wedding day. Her family was there, and all of Alvin's. Friends from work and from the town had surrounded them. She remembered the smell of lilacs on that day as well.
Stepping out of the grove, she walked along the edge of the woods. The Queen Anne's lace was high in the margin between the field and the trees, and she ran her hand through it as she walked. When she reached the path that led down to the stream, she turned into the shade of the towering pines. She barely noticed the cloud of blackflies that swarmed around her, idly brushing them from her face.
As she nearly the stream, she heard a splash. She stopped and peered past the trees. Sunlight glittered through the brush. She ducked under the low hanging branches, carefully avoiding the scattered clumps of undergrowth. She was deathly afraid of ticks. When she was a few steps from the water, she heard splashing again, this time, several splashes in succession. A streak of motion on the opposite bank caught her eye, and she leaned further forward just in time to see a long, sleek otter slide down the muddy bank into the stream. As she watched, two more otters climbed out of the water and scampered up the bank. She laughed out loud as they turned and took their turns on the slide. When they reached the water, their heads popped up above the surface and all three otters looked right at her.
Mary smiled and stepped back to the path. She rubbed her belly. Look, baby, she said to herself, you will grow up in a place where you watch otters play. You will see deer and foxes and eagles. Your daddy will teach you how to tell all these kinds of trees apart and he will teach you the names of a hundred different birds. And we will love you and love you and love you.
She continued down the path until she reached the beaver pond. The spring rains and winter snow runoff had caused it to swell over its banks, and the water nearly reached her bench. There was just enough room for her to sidle over to it and sit down.
Shielding her eyes, she gazed across the glistening water. A heron stood on a log near the far bank, its head jerking from side to side, searching for prey. She scowled at it, wishing it would fly away. Be rational, she told herself; its just a bird, it has to eat. But she was not in a mood to be tolerant of any creature that preyed on smaller things. Closer by, a pair of mallards swam past her, and their quiet grace lifted her spirits again.
Mary had realized that morning that her pregnancy had passed the point at which her first had come to it's tragic termination. She had hesitated to mention the milestone to Alvin, fearful that to speak of it aloud might be some sort of jinx. But now, she thought of all the life around her. The alpacas in their pastures and the corn stalks that seemed a little taller every day. The creatures in the woods and the birds on the pond. The tiny fish flitting about in the water only inches from her feet. Even the nettlesome swarming flies.Nothing is more powerful than life, she thought, and I have life inside me. I am the hub of the universe. She stood up and touched her belly with both hands. "We can do this,baby," she said aloud, "You and I, we can do this."
***
The asphalt shimmered from the heat, but just on general principles, Alvin refused to turn on the air conditioning in his car, even though the temperature had topped ninety degrees. He had lugged the air conditioner from Mary's apartment up the stairs to cool their bedroom for her, and she kept the a/c blasting on full cool when she was in the car, but it gave him the sniffles. Besides, the sea breeze had kicked in and would soon begin to cool things off.
He finished the last of his Coke as he turned on to Puddledock Road. It was warm and flat, and he grimaced as he swallowed it, then burped loudly. Glancing over at the pond, he saw Jennifer, lying on her back at the end of the dock, dangling her feet in the water.
He pulled into the driveway, but rather than go on to the house, he stopped halfway and got out of the car. Walking toward the pond, he felt the heat of the sun on his head. She must be baking down there, he thought.
Jennifer looked up when he stepped on to the dock.
"Oh, hi, Daddy," she smiled.
"Baby, ain't you roasting out here?" He dropped to one knee beside her.
Jennifer shook her head. "It's not so bad. The water's cool and the hard surface makes my back hurt less."
She struggled to sit up. Alvin put his hands under her shoulders and lifted her to a seated position.
"Thanks, Daddy. This kid is really going to owe me."
"Your mother used to say that about you and your sister."
Jennifer sighed. "I was a big baby, too, wasn't I?"
"You were a behemoth. Almost nine pounds. Your mother had to get stitches."
"Jeezum. Don't tell me that!" She picked up her water bottle and took a long drink.
"You talked to Mary today?" Alvin asked.
"Yeah, a while ago. I wish I was doing as well as her."
"Well, she's taking it easy, while you are working. I worry that you might push yourself too hard."
"She's got to take it easy, after the last time. But, I still feel a little jealous."
"Maybe you should have timed it a mite better, so's not to be pregnant until after you finished harvesting."
"Yeah, I thought about that, like the day after I got pregnant. On the other hand, the baby will come just as the slow season begins, so that's good."
Alvin watched the water ripple as Jennifer's feet slowly paddled back and forth. He stood, slipped off his own shoes and socks and rolled up his pant legs. He sat down next to her and plunged his feet into the cool pond.
"Oh, yes, that feels wicked good."
Jennifer grunted, then took her father's hand and placed it on her swollen belly. "Feel that?"
Alvin waited a minute, then felt the slightest bump under his hand. He broke into a broad smile.
"I think the last time I felt a baby kick it was you."
She rested her head on his shoulder, "So, Daddy," she said, "When's the last time anybody asked you how you are doing?"
"I'm doing just fine," he said, rubbing her back.
"Are you sure? You seems a little, I don't know, distant...like something's bothering you."
"Well..." he looked out at the pond, gathering his thoughts. "There is something that has been on my mind."
"Tell me, Daddy."
"I'm forty eight years old and about to father a child. Jen, do you realize that I will be in my sixties when he or she graduates from high school?"
"Yeah, Dad, that's not hard math."
"Now, don't be a wiseacre, I'm serious here."
"Daddy, you'll probably live to ninety."
"Neither of my parents did."
"Grandpa's death was an accident, that doesn't count."
"You think I can't have an accident?"
"I think it's unlikely."
"You never even knew him, my father. He was gone before you were born."
"As much as people say that you are like him, I think we would have got along pretty good."
"Oh, he'd have thought you were a pisser."
Jennifer offered him her water bottle. He took a drink and handed it back. They sat in silence for a while, watching a water bug dance across the surface of the pond.
"I'd ask a favor," Alvin said.
Jennifer wrapped her arm around his. "Anything, Daddy."
"If anything should happen to me..."
"Oh, jeezum, nothing's going to happen to you."
"...if anything should..."
"Don't even say it. I know what you are going to ask."
"I suppose you do."
"Danni and I, all of us, will watch over Mary and your baby if lightning should strike you, or a giant kraken yanks you off the dock or something."
"I know you will, but sometimes things need saying. Favors need asking."
"Alright, but it never occurred to me that I should ask the same of you."
'Well, I will take it that we have a pact between us." He kissed her head and stood up. She held up her hands and he took them, pulling her to her feet. He picked up his shoes and socks and walked up the grassy slope with his daughter. He kissed her again as she turned toward her house, and he continued across the field. Mary was sitting on the shady porch steps, waiting for him.
"Hey, sweetheart," she said as he reached the dooryard, "I am so hot, I couldn't make dinner."
"That's alright, why don't we go into town? Maybe sit out on the deck at the High Tide and catch the sea breeze?
"I like that. Give me a few minutes to freshen up and change."
They went into the house and Mary went upstairs, while Alvin washed his face and hands at the kitchen sink. When he finished, he went up to the bedroom and put on a fresh shirt. He looked into the bathroom. Mary was standing at the sink, brushing her hair. Alvin leaned in the doorway and watched her. She looked up and caught his gaze in the mirror.
"So what do you think about having such a big fat wife?" she asked.
"I'd love you no matter what. And you ain't big and fat, so if that was a trick question, I'm not falling into your trap."
Mary laughed and rubbed her belly.
"I felt Jen's baby kick, just now, down to the dock," He told her.
"Ours kicks now and then. If she starts up again, I'll let you know."
"She?"
Mary shrugged. "I just have a feeling."
"What happened to not personalizing the baby, in case...you know."
She turned and kissed him. "I'm not afraid any more. Everything is going to be fine. Now, I want a big plate of nachos."
"Did you eat any lunch?" he asked as they went down the stairs.
"Oh, yeah, I had a peanut butter and mayonnaise sandwich."
Alvin shuddered.
"What? It was good. I can make you one for your lunch tomorrow."
"That's alright, darlin'. Let's just go get some nachos."
The High Tides' deck was crowded, but they managed to find a table on the rail, where they enjoyed the full benefit of the cool breeze blowing off the harbor.
They ordered a pitcher of ice tea and a large plate of nachos. "When I can eat shellfish again," Mary said, "I am going to completely pig out on lobsters."
"Ill tell you, Miss Mary, you have done a wicked fine job of turning yourself into a Mainer."
"Oh yeah, I've acclimated pretty well. I didn't even freak out last week when the coyote was in the yard."
"You freaked out a little bit."
"I did not. I was just worried about the alpacas."
"Virgil would have took care of him. Besides, I think he was more interested in the chickens."
Mary grew serious. "You know, it's interesting how your two daughters grew up in the same place, with the same parents, roughly the same experiences, and they turned out so different."
"I don't think they are that different," Alvin laughed, "A couple of foul mouthed troublemakers."
"Now, don't joke," she said, "One's going to law school, the other is farming. It's interesting to me, because I have been thinking a lot about what it will be like for our child to grow up here."
"Hard tellin', not knowin'," Alvin said, "I mean, this place is changing, seems pretty fast to me. Three, four new restaurants just since you moved here. There's that dollar store just opened by McDonalds. And there's a whole bunch of condos going up out the Searsmont Road. This is like to be a real city by the time our child is grown."
"I don't think it will really change, Alvin. Just be bigger and more of what it is."
"Like I said, hard tellin', not knowin'."
It was growing dark by the time they finished eating. As they were getting in the car, Mary said, "I'm still a little hungry."
"Jeezum crow," Alvin muttered. He turned left out of the parking lot, instead of right, toward home.
"Where are we going?" Mary asked, but Alvin was already turning in at the wharf. He stopped next to the diner and got out of the car.
"Be right back," he said. He unlocked the diner door and went inside. Mary got out of the car and stood in the driveway, raising her arms and letting the breeze flow over her.
Alvin came back and handed her a popsicle. "You like cherry, right?" he asked.
"Oh, thank you, baby." She unwrapped her popsicle and began to suck on it. "This probably gives you ideas, doesn't it?"
"It don't take much to give me those ideas where you're concerned." He began licking his own popsicle and held out his hand. Mary took it and they strolled down the driveway into the boatyard.
Alvin led her to the launch. The tide was three quarters full and the water came nearly to the top of the sloped ramp.
Mary watched as Alvin removed his shoes and socks. "What the hell are you doing?" she asked as he unbuckled his belt and began to lower his pants.
"Cooling off," he said. He tossed his shoes and pants up to the top of the ramp and waded knee deep into the water.
Mary hesitated a moment, then took off her own shoes and pushed down her stretch pants. She stepped forward and tested the water with her toes. It was warmer than she had expected. She waded in up to her ankles, and then her knees. As the water grew deeper, it felt cooler. Alvin took off his shirt, balled it up and threw it up the ramp. Mary nearly slipped as she walked toward him, but he grabbed her hand and pulled her to him. He took her in his arms and kissed her.
"Feels refreshing, don't it?" he asked.
"It feels great," she said. She turned and waded in a little deeper.
"The bottom of your shirt is getting wet," Alvin warned her. She pulled it over her head and handed it to him. He tossed it with his own.
Mary held out her hand and Alvin took it. They slowly descended the ramp, the water rising to their hips, then above Mary's full belly.
"Baby's first swim," she laughed. As she waded deeper, the water gave buoyancy to her belly, and she could feel the muscles in her abdomen loosen and relax. "Oh, Alvin," she said, "this feels like heaven."
Alvin moved behind her and put his hands on her hips. "Lean back, honey."
Mary leaned against him. He kissed the side of her face.
"Pick up your feet," he told her.
Mary hesitated.
"Trust me."
She lifted her feet and he slipped his hands under her, taking her weight as she rose and began to float. She spread her arms out straight from her sides and slowly kicked her feet.
"Don't let go of me," she whispered.
"Never."
She closed her eyes. It was if she were floating in space, with only the touch of Alvin's hands tethering her to Earth. Inside her, she felt the baby stir. She opened her eyes and looked up at the night sky.
When you wish upon a star...
"Alvin, let me down," she said in a quiet voice. He took several steps backward, guiding her into shallower water, then lowered her down until her feet touched bottom. The water gently caressed her breasts.
"Feel," she said when she had found her balance. She took him by the wrists and guided his hands to her belly.
Alvin closed his eyes and bowed his head. The only sound was the rhythmic lapping of the waves. He felt a motion against his hands, so slight at first that he thought he had imagined it, but then stronger, unmistakable.
"Hello baby," he whispered.
Mary turned and reached her arms over his shoulders. His silhouette was barely visible in the darkness, but starlight twinkled in his eyes. They kissed, then gathered their clothes and walked up to the diner. Alvin unlocked the door and they went inside, where they dried themselves off with paper towels from the bathroom.
"Grab a couple more of those popsicles," Mary said as they left.
Mary leaned over and let her head lay outside the car window, enjoying the feeling of the wind as it brushed her face and rippled her hair.
"What are you thinking about, Miss Mary?" Alvin asked.
"Danni told me a Jewish saying," Mary said, pulling her head back inside, "That when someone saves a life they save an entire world."
"I've heard that," Alvin nodded.
"I wonder then, when he create a life, aren't we creating an entire world?"
"I believe we are, sweetheart," he smiled, "I believe we are."
***
Mary looked out the window at the thunderheads looming on the horizon.
"The sky looks like it's bruised," she said as she sat down at the kitchen table. She winced and arched her back.
"You alright, honey?" Alvin asked, "You having another contraction already?"
"Yeah, but it's more in my back," she said, frowning.
Alvin put a plate of spaghetti in front of her, and sat down.
"Maybe after supper I can give you a back rub, see if that helps."
"That would be lovely, thank you."
"Looks to be a hell of a storm coming," Alvin said between mouthfuls of spaghetti. "I'll take a look and make sure that the livestock is all battened down."
"I'm sure Jennifer has it taken care of."
Alvin laughed. "I get a kick out of her out there, waddling around, doing all her chores. The girl's a scrapper."
"I wish I could be more active," Mary frowned.
"We just have to be cautious, honey."
"I know, but..." She sat up straight, a look of pain on her face.
Alvin looked at her with concern, his fork dangling strands of pasta.
"Alvin, how long apart were those contractions?" she asked.
"Five minutes, maybe?"
Mary nodded. "I think maybe you ought to get the go bag, honey."
"It's almost two weeks early."
"I don't think the baby has a calendar, sweetheart."
Alvin got up from the table and fetched the pre-packed suitcase from the bedroom. Mary was by the door, leaning on the kitchen counter when he came back downstairs.
"You ready?" he asked.
"Just a minute," she said, grimacing. She blew out a deep breath, then said, "Let's go."
"Jeezum crow, I hope we beat the rain," Alvin said as he helped Mary into the car.
Mary called the doctor, and then her mother as Alvin sped toward town.
"Mom, I think it's time," she said.
"Oh, dear. It's early, is everything all right?"
"I think so, we will call you as soon as we have any news."
"Alright, sweetheart, I love you both."
"Thank you, Mom, love you, too."
There was a tremendous crack of thunder as Mary hung up the phone. She chuckled to herself. Someday Alvin is going to tell our child a tall tale about the terrible storm on the night they were born, she thought.
They pulled into the hospital parking lot just as the first fat drops of rain hit the pavement. Alvin rushed in to get a wheelchair, but Mary just got out of the car and walked inside.
"Jeezum crow, Mary, sit down," he said, pushing the chair toward her. She did not feel that she needed it but sat anyway. He wants to feel like he's doing something, she thought. He wheeled her to the Birth Center.
"Call the girls and let them know," Mary said as the nurse took her into triage.
Alvin went into the waiting room and called Jennifer. She answered on the first ring.
"Danni will be home in about an hour, we will come down," she said when he told her they were at the hospital.
"We aren't sure yet that it's the real thing. Hate to see you come out in a storm for a false alarm."
"Does Mary think it's a false alarm?"
"She doesn't seem to."
"Right. See you in an hour."
He called Charlotte and left a message when he got no answer. He went to the nurse's station and they took him into the birthing room. Mary was not there. The nurse informed him that she was in the shower and would be out shortly. He stood by the window, tapping his foot nervously and watching as sheets of rain swept across the parking lot.
Mary came into the room, accompanied by the nurse. She was wearing a hospital gown. In her hand, she held a tangle of wires that emanated from under the gown.The nurse helped her into bed, and raised her to a near sitting position.
"I assume this is your husband?" the nurse asked.
"Yes, this is Alvin."
The nurse nodded and smiled at him. She slipped Mary's gown up to above her belly and attached the wires to the fetal monitor.
"Everything is looking fine right now," she said. She tucked the gown back in place and swabbed Mary's arm. While she inserted an IV, she explained to Alvin that it would be used both to keep her hydrated and to administer pain medication as it was needed. And maybe blood, Alvin thought, but then pushed that notion aside.
The nurse helped Mary put her feet into the stirrups and bent down between her legs. In a moment, she looked up at Alvin, nodded, then patted Mary's hand. "Your baby's on it's way. The doctor will be here in a little while to talk to you."
As the nurse lowered her legs from the stirrups, Mary felt a sudden rush of wetness. "Well, that makes it official," the nurse smiled, "Your water has broken."
When she had cleaned Mary up and left them alone, Alvin pulled a chair next to the bed and sat down, taking Mary's hand. With every contraction, she squeezed it tight.
"How long was Bonnie in labor with your girls?" Mary asked Alvin after one particularly agonizing contraction.
"Charlotte was an easy birth, she was out in just a little more than three hours. Jennifer was an ordeal."
"How much of an ordeal?"
Alvin looked out the window. "Boy, it's still coming down hard."
Doctor Fournier came in before Mary could press him further.
"How are we doing?" she asked, checking the monitors.
"He's doing just fine," Mary said, shooting Alvin a look, "I'm in agony."
The doctor laughed. She placed her hand on Mary's belly and stood silently for a minute. Then she raised Mary's legs back into the stirrups and examined her.
"Alright, try to relax if you can, it's going to be a while."
Mary puffed out a deep breath and lay back. "It's not so bad to be an only child, is it?" she asked.
Alvin laughed. "Well, our child is going to have a niece or nephew pretty much the same age. Almost like a twin."
"Good point," Mary replied, before moaning from another contraction.
Jennifer and Danni arrived and joined them. They were better at keeping Mary distracted with small talk than Alvin had been, but still, she could not concentrate on conversation as the time between her contractions shortened.
"So have you decided on names?" Jennifer asked.
"Yes, we have," Mary replied, between groans.
"We have?" Alvin asked.
"Yeah."
"I guess we have," he shrugged.
Dr. Fournier came back and added some pain medication to Mary's IV, and things became a little easier after a while.
The sky grew dark, illuminated by an occasional flash of lightning. Alvin checked the time. It had been four hours since they had left the house. Danni went out to the waiting room and brought him a bag of chips and a can of soda from the vending machines.
At eleven o'clock, Dr. Fournier came in and examined Mary once more. "You are at ten centimeters, dear."
"So, this shit is almost over?" Mary groaned.
"Well, it could still be a couple of hours."
"Jeezum fucking crow."
Alvin did a double take. "What did you just say, honey?" he asked with a grin.
Mary glared at him. "You and your dumb, dumb dick," she muttered.
Alvin's phone buzzed. It was Charlotte, returning his call. He promised to call her back when the baby was close and hung up.
Just after midnight, Mary knew the time was near. The contractions no longer felt separate, each one seemed to flow into the next. Jennifer rang the call button, and Dr. Fournier rushed in, followed by a different nurse than the one who had been there earlier.
"Let's deliver this baby," the doctor said as she moved into position. Alvin wrapped his arm around Mary's shoulders and took her hand in his. Danni sat close to her on the other side of the bed and held her other hand. Jennifer called Charlotte and put her on speaker phone.
"Breathe, sweetheart, breathe," Alvin said, as Mary began to push. Her legs were cramping, her back was aching terribly, but she pushed and pushed again.
Danni patted Mary's face with a cool, damp cloth. "You're doing great, honey," she told her.
"The baby is crowning," the doctor said, "Keep pushing, almost there."
The final rumbles of thunder were fading in the distance when Mary bore down one last time, squeezing Alvin's hand so tightly that he thought it might break, and Hannah Jean Faulkner entered the world, whole and healthy and surrounded by love.
***
Alvin could not drink another cup of coffee. His stomach was churning, and the caffeine was not working anyway, he could hardly keep his eyes open. He tried to focus on the television, hanging from its wire rack on the waiting room wall. Some numbie was selling knives, a big set of them, twenty, thirty frickin' knives. You only need one damn knife if it's a good one, he thought.
He stood up, stretched his back and looked around for the remote control. He suspected the big guy from Northport was sitting on it, and he'd been asleep for at least an hour.
He wandered over to the magazine rack and browsed through it for the third time. He'd looked though the Time already, although it was two months old, and the Field and Stream and the Sports Illustrated. He had even flipped through People, despite not knowing who any of the people in it were. He was seriously considering taking one of the Highlights from the bottom rack, maybe play Find The Hidden Pictures or see if Goofus and Gallant had anything to say about maternity waiting rooms, when the door opened and Charlotte stuck her head out.
"Come on in, Daddy," she said, looking happy but exhausted.
"Thought we'd be here all night," Alvin said.
"Poor you," Charlotte rolled her eyes.
Alvin entered the birthing room for the second time in a month. Jennifer sat up in bed, her eyes bleary, a tangle of damp hair hanging across her face. Mary stood on her right, stroking her head, while Danni sat to the left, leaning shoulder to shoulder against her wife.
Alvin stepped forward. "There's somebody here wants to meet you, Daddy," Jennifer said in a hoarse voice. She struggled to lift the tiny bundle in her arms, so Mary took it from her, and gently handed it to Alvin.
He looked down into a pair of deep brown eyes.
"Daddy, meet your granddaughter, Bonita Maria Ortega-Faulkner."
"Bonita?" he asked, looking up at her.
"For Mom, and it's the Portuguese word for beautiful. Maria for Danni's Mom." She touched Mary's hand. "And for Mary."
Alvin nodded, an impressed expression on his face. "I'd say you done a wicked good job of naming." He kissed the baby's head. "Hello, Miss Bonita," he said. He kissed her again, then sat down on the edge of the bed. Danni took Bonita from his arms. He turned to Jennifer, leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
"Your mother would be proud of you," he said, "I am very proud of you."
Mary could hear the weariness in Alvin's voice. She was suddenly aware of his age. She stood and rested her hand on his shoulder.
"Well, we have our own little one to get back to," she said. Alvin nodded, kissed Jennifer again, then rose from the bed. Danni stood, cradling Bonita in front of her. Alvin touched the baby's face and then Danni's. He kissed Danni and then Charlotte, and Mary took his hand and led him from the room.
They walked out of the hospital into a still, cool night.
"What time is it?" Alvin asked.
Mary looked at her phone. "Almost five."
"Jeezum crow, no wonder I'm so tired."
Mary took his arm. "Remember the promise you made me when you proposed?"
"That we would have a baby?"
"No, the other one."
Alvin unlocked the car, and opened Mary's door. "Oh, to live a long time?"
"Right," she said as she got in, "You need to take it more seriously now than ever."
He leaned in and kissed her. "I'll do the best I can," he said.
"See that you do. You promised."
They drove through the silent town and down the dark country road. There was a dim light on in the living room when they arrived, and Diana's car was still in the driveway.
"Oh, Jen asked that you check on the stock when he got home," Mary said as they got out of the car.
"You didn't tell her I'm too old for that sort of work?"
"You are not as funny as you think you are, honey."
Diana was asleep in Alvin's recliner. Hannah slept in her bassinet on the couch beside her. Mary gently shook Diana's arm until she awakened.
"Boy or girl?" she asked as soon as she sat up.
"A girl. Bonita."
"Everything alright?"
"Everything is fine," Alvin said, "Thank you for staying with Hannah."
"Yes, thank you," Mary said as Diana gathered her things. "By the way, how is Rachel settling in up at UMO?"
"Seems to be doing fine," Diana replied, "I'm hoping that college will bring her out of her shell."
"I'll walk Diana out and then check on the critters," Alvin said. He escorted his sister to the car. She gave him a hug and a kiss. "Good night, grandpa," she said with a grin.
"Grandpa," he muttered as she drove away, "Jeezum crow."
He walked out to the pasture and opened the gate. A shape moved toward him in the dark. He recognized Virgil, and patted the donkey's side as it came up to him.
"Keeping an eye on things?" Alvin said, "Because I might need a hand these days."
He checked in the barn. The alpacas were all asleep. When he came out of the barn, he looked to the east, where a line of light had appeared on the horizon. He thought about standing with Mary on the top of Cadillac Mountain, watching the sun rise. I made promises, I need to keep them, he told himself.
The house was quiet when Alvin entered. He walked to the foot of the stairs and heard Mary's voice, speaking softly from the bedroom. She's talking to the baby, he thought, smiling. Wearily, he walked up the steps. It was dark in the upper hall, only a faint light glowed from the nursery door. He looked in and saw Mary, sitting in the rocking chair. Her robe was open, and Hannah was at her breast.
"My sweet little girl," she muttered, in a voice barely audible to Alvin. "Mama loves you, sweetie. Your Daddy loves you."
She began to hum quietly.
"That's a song my mama sang to me when I was little." She kissed her baby's head and began to softly sing.
"Come along with me to our little corner of the world
Dream a little dream, in our little corner of the world
We always knew, that we'd find someone like you,
So welcome to our little corner of the world."
She looked up and saw Alvin in the doorway.
"She's gone back to sleep," Mary whispered. She slowly rose and laid Hannah down in her crib. Alvin joined her there, and they stood together, looking down at their daughter.
After a moment, Alvin kissed Mary's cheek. "You look exhausted, love," she said in a quiet voice, "let's get ready for bed."
Alvin took one more look at Hannah while Mary left the room. Lucky little girl, he thought, you sure look like your mama. He turned and switched off the lamp, then went to the bathroom to clean up and undress.
When he entered the bedroom, Mary was already under the covers. He slipped in beside her and she snuggled close to him, leaning forward and kissing him goodnight. She rested her head on his shoulder as he reached over and turned off the light. She looked up at the ceiling, where the painted stars glowed brightly.