how much she knows.
“She’s resting.”
Margaret nods. “That’s just what I want Laura to do. Poor thing is fatigued from caring for her newborn around the clock. I told her I’d watch the little darling while she takes a nap.”
“I’m going to get her now,” says Laura. “Then I’ll take her to Margaret’s room and—”
“Can I help you?” I offer, wondering why I have this need to assist everyone today. Not that it’s so unusual, but I sense I’m overworking it a bit. Maybe it’s simply my excuse to avoid something else—such as my husband. Well, whatever it is, I just keep going with it. Aunt Elizabeth to the rescue.
“Oh, that’s okay,” says Laura. “It’s not—”
“Why not?” injects Margaret. “Let Elizabeth accompany you to your room, and she can deliver your baby to me. That way you’ll get even more rest. And, as I recall, Elizabeth is quite good with babies.”
I smile at her. “Thanks.”
“I remember one Christmas that no one could soothe little Jennifer the way you did.”
“She was so colicky.”
Margaret tells me her room number, and I go with Laura back to her room. She’s still protesting, but when we get there, we see a frustrated teen baby-sitter and a somewhat fussy and, as it turns out, hungry baby. I can tell Laura is relieved for any extra help right now. I wait while she nurses and burps the baby. Then I step in and take charge, gently removing the baby from her arms.
“Just give me the diaper bag, and Margaret and I will see that she gets changed. In the meantime, don’t waste a minute. Do what you need to, then get yourself a nice, long nap. We’ll bring Amy back when she needs you.”
“You’re really okay with—”
“Trust us, Laura. We’re almost family now.”
She smiles. “Thanks.”
I escort the much calmer baby down the hallway and try not to get too worried when she spits up all over my sleeve. Good thing DKNY is washable. Suzette’s outfit would’ve been toast.
“Elizabeth?”
Of course I recognize his voice instantly, but stubbornly I continue walking as if I didn’t hear him, until he calls again.
“What are you doing with that baby?” Phil asks with a completely bewildered expression. “I mean, whose is it? And where are you going?”
Without looking him in the eyes, I say, “This is Jenny’s little niece-in-law-to-be. Her name is Amy, and I’m taking her to Margaret’s room so poor Laura can have a nap.” Then I glance up athim, and I suppose my expression is a bit less than loving and kind.
“Is that okay with you?”
“Well, uh, sure. I thought I might take a short hike, get some fresh air and exercise, enjoy the great outdoors.”
I feel my eyes rolling slightly. “Yeah, why not? Gotta stay in shape.”
He doesn’t miss the sarcastic edge to my tone. “What’s wrong with that?”
Thank goodness little Amy is starting to squirm, giving me an excuse to end this conversation. “Look, Phil, I need to get Amy settled. I suppose I’ll see you later.”
“But what about—”
Just then Amy lets out a loud squeal that cuts him off.
Good girl
, I’m thinking. “Sorry, I need to go,” I say as I turn and walk away. I try to walk as if I’m not angry, but I know the sharp clicking sound of my heels is a dead giveaway. Well, so what? Why shouldn’t I be angry? Twenty-five years, or nearly, and this is the thanks I get from him. And after talking with Suzette and hearing about how Jim is carrying on, I wouldn’t be surprised if Phil hasn’t invited Delia to meet him here. Maybe he has her hidden away in one of those cabins I saw when we first arrived. Maybe they’re having a little tryst this very afternoon. Maybe Phil is actually relieved that I’m giving him the cold shoulder so he doesn’t have to make some lame excuse for getting away from me. Even so, he’s sure putting on a good act right now, as if he’s trying to make me feel like the guilty party.
Chapter 8
M ARGARET
W e’re pretty
“She’s resting.”
Margaret nods. “That’s just what I want Laura to do. Poor thing is fatigued from caring for her newborn around the clock. I told her I’d watch the little darling while she takes a nap.”
“I’m going to get her now,” says Laura. “Then I’ll take her to Margaret’s room and—”
“Can I help you?” I offer, wondering why I have this need to assist everyone today. Not that it’s so unusual, but I sense I’m overworking it a bit. Maybe it’s simply my excuse to avoid something else—such as my husband. Well, whatever it is, I just keep going with it. Aunt Elizabeth to the rescue.
“Oh, that’s okay,” says Laura. “It’s not—”
“Why not?” injects Margaret. “Let Elizabeth accompany you to your room, and she can deliver your baby to me. That way you’ll get even more rest. And, as I recall, Elizabeth is quite good with babies.”
I smile at her. “Thanks.”
“I remember one Christmas that no one could soothe little Jennifer the way you did.”
“She was so colicky.”
Margaret tells me her room number, and I go with Laura back to her room. She’s still protesting, but when we get there, we see a frustrated teen baby-sitter and a somewhat fussy and, as it turns out, hungry baby. I can tell Laura is relieved for any extra help right now. I wait while she nurses and burps the baby. Then I step in and take charge, gently removing the baby from her arms.
“Just give me the diaper bag, and Margaret and I will see that she gets changed. In the meantime, don’t waste a minute. Do what you need to, then get yourself a nice, long nap. We’ll bring Amy back when she needs you.”
“You’re really okay with—”
“Trust us, Laura. We’re almost family now.”
She smiles. “Thanks.”
I escort the much calmer baby down the hallway and try not to get too worried when she spits up all over my sleeve. Good thing DKNY is washable. Suzette’s outfit would’ve been toast.
“Elizabeth?”
Of course I recognize his voice instantly, but stubbornly I continue walking as if I didn’t hear him, until he calls again.
“What are you doing with that baby?” Phil asks with a completely bewildered expression. “I mean, whose is it? And where are you going?”
Without looking him in the eyes, I say, “This is Jenny’s little niece-in-law-to-be. Her name is Amy, and I’m taking her to Margaret’s room so poor Laura can have a nap.” Then I glance up athim, and I suppose my expression is a bit less than loving and kind.
“Is that okay with you?”
“Well, uh, sure. I thought I might take a short hike, get some fresh air and exercise, enjoy the great outdoors.”
I feel my eyes rolling slightly. “Yeah, why not? Gotta stay in shape.”
He doesn’t miss the sarcastic edge to my tone. “What’s wrong with that?”
Thank goodness little Amy is starting to squirm, giving me an excuse to end this conversation. “Look, Phil, I need to get Amy settled. I suppose I’ll see you later.”
“But what about—”
Just then Amy lets out a loud squeal that cuts him off.
Good girl
, I’m thinking. “Sorry, I need to go,” I say as I turn and walk away. I try to walk as if I’m not angry, but I know the sharp clicking sound of my heels is a dead giveaway. Well, so what? Why shouldn’t I be angry? Twenty-five years, or nearly, and this is the thanks I get from him. And after talking with Suzette and hearing about how Jim is carrying on, I wouldn’t be surprised if Phil hasn’t invited Delia to meet him here. Maybe he has her hidden away in one of those cabins I saw when we first arrived. Maybe they’re having a little tryst this very afternoon. Maybe Phil is actually relieved that I’m giving him the cold shoulder so he doesn’t have to make some lame excuse for getting away from me. Even so, he’s sure putting on a good act right now, as if he’s trying to make me feel like the guilty party.
Chapter 8
M ARGARET
W e’re pretty
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