Early on Wednesday, St. Matthew’s secretary rang the Snyders, apologizing profusely for disturbing them at that hour. Pastor Jagucki had been called away on church business, and wouldn’t make their appointment later that morning. Lynne was pouring the pie filling into the crust as Eric spoke to Mrs. Kenny, and he was off the phone just as Lynne set the timer. “Well, no Lutheran pastor this morning,” Eric said. “Guess that pie will just be for us.”
“Oh well, I suppose another time.” Lynne sighed, then looked around the kitchen. The flowers from Monday were still fresh, and Eric had swept last night, uncertain as to where they would gather. Then Lynne smiled. “Actually, I was looking forward to meeting him, but that does mean more pie for us.”
Eric stepped to where she stood, then stroked her face. “Well, it could. Or I could call Sam, see what he’s up to today.”
Lynne laughed. “Oh you’re tricky. Go on, I’ll make a pot of coffee, and we can celebrate, oh, I don’t know, an early St. Patrick’s Day.”
Eric chuckled, then kissed her cheek. “I think Sam’s already bought the corned beef. Do you remember if Renee has to work that day?”
“I barely remember my name, thank you.” Lynne started the coffee, then leaned against the counter, grinning. Then she caressed her belly. “Someone’s taken all my brain cells. I’m surprised I made the pie without reaching for the recipe.”
“The day you need a recipe for pie is the day I’ll start to worry.” Eric stepped to the phone. “Shall I tell him to come in an hour?”
“Oh, he can come over now, if he’s free. I’m gonna sit on the sofa. You men can tend to the rest.”
Eric chuckled as Lynne headed out of the kitchen. By the time she reached the couch, she heard her husband offering the invite, which seemed to be eagerly accepted.
That morning Lynne didn’t do more than sip decaf, then nibble on pie. The men carried the conversation, which centered on Eric’s introduction with the Lutheran pastor. Sam didn’t know him personally, but had seen him around town. Marek Jagucki had been leading the Lutheran worship for nine months now, and even did a service in German. Eric and Lynne were stunned by that, although Eric noted the pastor’s fluency in English, and not only American English. Sam laughed, then went for more pie. When he returned, he stared at Lynne. “What’s wrong? You’ve hardly touched yours.”
She shrugged. “I don’t feel that hungry, although earlier, I thought I’d make a pig of myself in front of the pastor, which wouldn’t have been a good first impression.”
Eric grasped her hand. “Honey, are you okay?”
Lynne nodded, then sighed. “I don’t know. I feel a little tired, well, more tired than usual. Maybe I’ll take a nap and leave you two to chat.”
Eric stood, then helped her from the sofa. “Well, that’s a good idea. You might’ve been excited for our guest, but a nap now wouldn’t hurt either.”
“And what am I?” Sam asked in mock indignation.
“Family,” Lynne smiled. “You know my kitchen as well as I do.”
Sam chuckled as the couple took the stairs. Eric came down a few minutes later, then sat on the couch. He gazed at Lynne’s half-eaten pie, then picked up her plate, finishing the slice. Sam smiled, then sighed. “She’s nearly due, you know. She’s got this look I’ve seen plenty of times. Frannie always seemed exhausted right before, and I always wondered how in the world she was gonna have enough strength to have the baby, but she always did.”
Eric nodded. “How’re they doing?”
“Oh fine, I mean, okay.” Sam sat up, then spoke quietly. “Between you and me, I wouldn’t be surprised if Fran calls to tell us she’s, well….”
“In the family way,” Eric grinned.
Sam rolled his eyes. “She’s in her mid-forties, bless her. But I guess if God wants them to have another baby, so be it. Louie won’t be able to complain, because I’ll tell you, one immaculate conception is all this world’s getting.”
“Well, if she does, tell her I’d be happy to do another painting. She was so beautiful that day, I’ll never forget it.”
Sam smiled. “Frannie’s the best looking out of us Aherns. Sally’s grown two or three inches since you saw her last, looks like she’s nineteen instead of fifteen. And Helene, my goodness, she’s just like Fran, big wide eyes and….”
Sam’s voice trailed off, then he cleared his throat. He gazed at his empty plate, then picked up his coffee cup, but it too was depleted. “More joe?” he asked Eric.
“Yeah, thanks.”
Sam nodded, then stood, retrieving Eric’s mug as well as his own. Then Sam headed into the kitchen, whistling an unknown tune as he went.
By the time Lynne woke, Sam was gone. She was surprised he hadn’t taken pie with him, but Eric said that while he had pressed, Sam had refused. The men had made innocuous small talk after Sam had returned with their refilled coffee cups, but Eric didn’t note to Lynne the conversation’s distinct change. As she got out of bed, Eric only mentioned that Renee did have Saturday off, Sunday too. The Aherns would bring corned beef and cabbage for Saturday night’s meal, and maybe some shamrock-shaped sugar cookies. Eric laughed, as Lynne used the bathroom. “I think Sam’s got a sweet tooth too, any excuse to make dessert.”
“We’ll probably still have pie then, did you mention that?” Lynne called.
“I did, and he didn’t seem bothered in the least.” Eric loitered outside the mostly closed bathroom door. It was just past one o’clock; Lynne had slept soundly, but he assumed she would now be hungry for lunch. “Shall I cut you another slice, or do you want something more savory first?”
She didn’t answer, but the toilet was flushed, then the faucet ran. Eric stepped back from the door, but Lynne didn’t immediately come out. He waited a few seconds, then approached the door. “Honey, you okay?”
“Eric, come in here please.”
He opened the door, then looked at his wife, who stood shaking. Then he gazed at the floor, where a large puddle waited. “Lynne, are you….”
“My water just broke, right after I washed my hands. When I was peeing, I felt something, I think it was a contraction.” Lynne’s voice had trembled, but now she smiled, glancing at the floor, then back to Eric. “I think you better call Dr. Salters, then Renee, then Sam.”
Avoiding the puddle, Eric stepped close to his wife, stroking her face. “Oh Lynne, oh honey!”
She nodded, tears falling down her cheeks. “I think that’s why I wasn’t hungry this morning. Or….” She giggled. “Maybe last night was our last time.”
They had made a slow and gentle love right before falling asleep. Eric nodded, then smiled. “Maybe it was. But it was very good. Hopefully it’ll last us until May.”
“Oh my goodness, don’t say it that way.” She giggled, then winced. “Oh Eric, that one hurt!”
Now he laughed. “Well, you knew it wasn’t gonna be a walk in the park. Here, let’s get you back into bed and….”
She shook her head, but did step over the puddle. “I do not wanna get back into bed. That’s one of the reasons I wanted to have this baby here. As soon as a woman comes into the labor ward, she’s shaved, then made to lie in bed for hours on end. I wanna take a walk Eric, it’s a beautiful day outside.”
“A walk, are you crazy?”
She smiled, gripping his hand. “I’m having a baby, not dying. Let’s call Dr. Salters, then the Aherns. Then you take me for one last walk around the garden. I won’t be getting out there for a few days once this baby joins us.”
Eric nodded, then kissed her. Lynne responded with vigor, then she pulled away, chuckling. “Too late for that now,” she whispered. “But Eric, I love you so much, I love….”
He set a finger to her lips, then nuzzled against her brow. Then he helped her into dry clothes for one last walk for two around their garden.
Dr. Salters arrived a few hours later, by which time Lynne was having regular contractions. She checked Lynne, finding she was a third of the way dilated,
which pleased the Snyders, but also gave Eric pause. “Renee won’t be off till eight tonight,” he said. “Will that be too late?”
The doctor smiled. “Probably not. I wouldn’t expect this baby before tomorrow at the earliest. As long as Renee’s here for the rest of the week, there shouldn’t be any trouble.”
The doctor advised Lynne to remain in bed, and that she would stop by in another couple of hours. Once Lynne’s contractions were five minutes apart, the doctor would stay, but by then, Renee would in attendance as well. Eric wasn’t so sure, but Lynne smiled, patting his hand, or squeezing it if in the middle of a contraction. “It’ll be fine honey. My mother was in labor for two days with me. Hopefully this baby won’t take that long, but she’s not gonna be born before Renee gets here, I can assure you of that.”
Eric walked the doctor to the kitchen door, then headed right back up the stairs. “Hey,” he said to Lynne. “You’re supposed to be in bed!”
Lynne was standing at her dresser, brushing her hair. “I am not gonna lie down for the next several hours. Labor will progress more quickly if I’m up and around.”
“The doctor said you needed to be in bed honey.”
Lynne smirked. “Well, if she wants me in bed, she’ll have to tie me down. Now, I want you to help me downstairs. There were plenty of daffodils out there, and I want a vase of them where I can see them when I have this baby.”
Eric threw up his hands. “For God’s sake Lynne, you need to take it easy!”
She approached him, stroking his face. “Now, what kind of bohemian are you? Don’t you want your first child to enter this world to the scent of freshly cut daffodils? Goodness Eric, we probably conceived this baby in the studio. All the more reason to bring some of the outdoors inside.”
“Who are you and what’ve you done with my wife?” His voice was soft but teasing.
“I’m the wife of a brilliant painter, if case you’ve forgotten. I may not be having this baby in our bed, but I’m gonna have spring as close as I can get it. Eric, this was why I didn’t wanna deliver in the hospital. I wanted as natural of a setting as possible.”
“You’re crazy, you know that?”
“I get it from you.” Lynne giggled. “But don’t tell Renee, or she’ll throw a fit. Now, downstairs we go. You cut the daffs while I get some pie.”
They had reached the landing, but Eric stopped abruptly. “You want pie? I thought you weren’t supposed to eat anything now that labor’s started.”
“There’s some very healing properties in that pie, if I remember correctly,” she smiled. “Besides, I’ll probably be in labor for hours still. Sam’s bringing soup, isn’t that what he told you?”
“Well yes, but….”
“Once he’s here, he’ll be spooning soup into me, which also has special propensities. But in the meantime, I’m craving pie. I knew I made it for a reason.”
Lynne started down the stairs, pausing as she reached the last step. Eric was right behind her as a contraction hit, but it was minor. After it was over, she shooed him outside, telling him their baby was waiting on the daffodils.
Sam arrived at four, a steaming pot of vegetable beef soup in tow. He gently chastised Lynne for being out of bed, then laughed as she had a long contraction. After that, she was walked upstairs by Eric, who returned to where Sam stirred the soup. “Well, I think that one did it. She’s lying down in the nursery, says she might take a little nap, if she can.”
“Good. Babies should be born in hospitals, if you ask me.” Sam turned the flame to low, then put the lid on the pot. “Renee said she’d try to get someone to come in early. If she can, she’ll call. Otherwise I’ll go get her at eight.”
Eric nodded, looking at the clock. “Dr. Salters said she’d be back around now, but if Lynne’s asleep, I’m not sure if she’ll be able to check her.”
As Eric said that, Sam coughed. Eric laughed. “What, too much information?”
“A little,” Sam said.
“Are you gonna stay for the duration?”
“Well, I was, but hmmm….” Sam looked at the phone. “You called the New Yorkers, right?”
“I did. Laurie said he’s gonna look into the next possible flight. Not sure if Stanford’ll be with him, but….”
“He’s gonna fly?” Sam had lifted the lid to stir the soup. Instead he placed the lid back on the pot, then stared at Eric. “Are you serious?”
Eric smiled. “He is, and Lynne was happy to hear it. Of course, I’m thinking Laurie means the next available flight once she’s had the baby. But my guess is he’ll be here in time for corned beef, which might be his actual plan.”
Sam rolled his eyes, then cracked his knuckles. “Eric, I don’t mind staying, I mean, you might need, well, you will need the extra body. But I just don’t know, I mean, I’m not sure.”
Eric stepped toward Sam, leaving a foot between them. “Lynne understands. She wants you here because you and Renee are family, and we don’t have too much of that. That’s why she doesn’t mind if Laurie comes sooner rather than later. If he’s willing to brave the skies and a crying baby, what the hell?”
Eric laughed, then patted Sam’s shoulder. “Lynne’s a little, well, wary, for you and Renee. We don’t wanna, you know, make this an imposition.”
Eric said that slowly, then cleared his throat. “Whatever you wanna do Sam is fine with us. We both wanna share this as much as you and Renee wanna take part. Don’t feel you have to be here continuously. You did that for me, and I’ll never forget it, I mean that. This with Lynne’s a little different and….”
Suddenly Sam grasped Eric. The embrace was reciprocated, then Sam stepped back. “I’d love to be here when that baby makes his or her appearance. I might be outside, unless it’s the middle of the night, but Eric, it’d be an honor.”
Eric smiled, then pumped Sam’s outstretched hand. The men embraced again, but it was halted by a loud shriek. Eric tore up the stairs as Lynne let out another scream, making Sam chuckle. A knock on the kitchen door caught Sam’s attention, and he opened it to Dr. Salters. “You’re just in time,” Sam smiled, as Lynne’s loud groan resonated throughout the house.
Chapter 54