Circle of Secrets

by Lauren Tisdale

  She sighed but reluctantly agreed to wait. “You call me when she dilates more. Don’t wait until she’s ready to push either. Please?”

  He chuckled. “I promise, love. I’ll call you. It may not even be tonight. If she hasn’t progressed by morning, I’ll come home so you can leave.”

  She nodded and lay back down, sighing. “Okay, that sounds good. I love you and tell them I love them both and that I’m so happy.”

  “I sure will, love. Now go get some rest.”

  “Okay, good night.” Helen placed the phone back on the cradle and lowered herself back into bed. At first it was hard to focus on sleep knowing another grandchild was on the way, but eventually she drifted back off to sleep.

  It was around eight in the morning when she felt Tyson touch her shoulder which startled her awake. Blinking her eyes a few times to wake herself she slowly sat up.

  “Did she have the baby?”

  He smiled and shook his head. “Not yet. I let your dad know everything. Get dressed and get to the hospital, I know that’s where you want to be. I’ll stay here in case he needs anything.”

  “But you haven’t slept.”

  “Yes, I have actually. I slept a good five hours, you never felt me crawl into bed?”

  She looked confused and shook her head no. “No, I didn’t. When did you get home?”

  “A little after two this morning. I feel fine, and I can catch a nap later if need be. Your dad is getting around a little better now. Don’t worry, love.”

  “Thank you Tyson. Really,” she said before kissing him on the lips in a sweet morning kiss. Rising from the bed she went into the bathroom to get ready to go to the hospital and wait for her newest grandchild to enter the world. She was so happy for Abigail and Brent. Their second child was soon to arrive and her arms craved a baby to hold.

  She could just feel that sweet child in her arms as she rocked it to sleep as she had all her other grandchildren. Becoming a mother was the greatest gift she’d ever experienced even though her first experience had turned into heartbreak and grief. Refusing to dwell on the past and to move forward, she smiled as she pulled into the hospital parking lot. She couldn’t wait to see how things were going, and said a prayer during the elevator ride up that the baby and mother would be okay.

  “I’m looking for Mrs. Morrison’s room,” she told the nurse who looked on a chart and gave her the room number. Walking down the hall and stopping at a brown door that had the number 307 on it, she gave a knock and waited to hear ‘come in’ before entering. As she entered, there lay Abigail, sweating and exhausted as Brent held her hand and helped her to breathe.

  “Contraction…Hey Mom!” he said with a smile as Abigail squinted her eyes tight and breathed through the pain. Once it subsided she dropped her head back on the pillow and took shallow breaths.

  “You’re right on time, it shouldn’t be much longer. We had a standstill early this morning where she wasn’t progressing. They contemplated a C-section but then things started to move along. We’re almost at the pushing part,” he said as he went over to his mother to give her a quick hug then returned to his seat next to his wife, wiping the sweat from her forehead with a cold rag.

  “Breathe baby, you’re doing great.”

  “Oh, Abby,” Helen said softly as she took her daughter-in-law’s other hand and held it gently. “You’re doing so good. I am so happy for you both.”

  Abigail gave a weak smile and nodded, placing her hands on her belly and taking deep breaths. “I’m so…I’m so ready to be done,” she said before letting out a breath and taking another, closing her eyes and trying to focus through the pain. It all brought back so many memories for her.

  ~1969~

  “Daddy! Momma! I…I need you!” Helen shouted from her bedroom as she stood there clutching her dresser. Warm liquid had trailed down her leg when she stood that morning, making her think she’d had an accident, but she realized it was more than that very quickly. Once the pain began, she realized she was in labor and that her water had broken. Her mother entered her room and took in the sight of Helen, examining her for some sort of explanation.

  “My…my water. I think it broke,” she said as a sharp pain began in her belly, tightening her swollen stomach and making it hard. She was going to have this baby, and she was going to have it soon. Her mother rushed to her side and took her hand, and hugged her waist as she helped her toward the door to head downstairs.

  “Joe! Joe! It’s time!” She yelled for her husband as they slowly went downstairs. He came from his study as he nodded and insisted that he call the doctor to let him know. Her mother retrieved her overnight bag from the closet and headed for the door as Joseph called the doctor. The doctor who would deliver Helen’s child was one of Joseph’s closest friends, the only one he’d trust enough to do such a thing. As her mother helped her to the car, her father closed and locked up the house, rushed over to the driver’s seat and slid in. Anne sat in the back with Helen and tried to help her breathe through the contractions. “he-he-he-hoooo. Breathe with me Helen, focus. Come on baby, you can do it.” Her mother encouraged her as her father drove down the highway to the hospital in town. Living in the country had its disadvantages when it came to emergencies.

  After twenty minutes of breathing, moaning and groaning through the pain, they reached their destination. Her father rushed inside as he left the car parked in the emergency entrance. Anne watched him speak to a nurse who brought out a wheelchair for Helen. She held her mother’s hand as fear enveloped her, knowing she was about to become a mother and do this alone, without Tommy by her side. He’d never see their child grow up, never be a husband. Her heart still ached for him, for the family she almost had. Her father was talking to his friend, Dr. Cliff Parker, who would be delivering her child. A petite nurse with a warm smile helped her into the labor and delivery room, helping her to lie on the bed after getting dressed in a hospital gown. Helen held her mother’s hand tightly as she sobbed, feeling so many emotions. So many things were happening. It was all so overwhelming, so much to take in.

  “There, there honey. We’ll get you taken care of, everything will be alright,” the sweet brunette nurse said. Her name tag read Evelyn. The first part of her name was Eve, which meant life, and that’s what she was bringing into the world, Life. Just as Helen began thinking about the woman’s name, she remembered she hadn’t really chosen any names yet, worrying that this was a bad sign or an omen. She tried to calm herself as the nurse started her IV and gathered supplies for her delivery. Another contraction hit her as Dr. Parker and her father entered the room. He requested that Evelyn join him in the hall. She began reporting Helen’s dilation and stats to him. The door closed and Helen could no longer hear their conversation. Evelyn’s face saddened as he began to speak to her with a serious look. Helen continued to watch the doctor and Evelyn as her father spoke to Anne in the corner of the room. Evelyn’s face turned to horror as she shook her head almost angrily. She looked back at Helen and then back at the doctor before turning and walking away as if she couldn’t bear something. Helen was distracted by the confrontation outside her door before the doctor came in and seemed distracted. What was going on? Was her baby okay? All he did was sit at the foot of her bed as her legs were spread wide in stirrups, ready to push.

  “Okay Miss Burrows, I need you to push. Are you ready?”

  She clamped her mouth together and nodded with a whimper, the contractions were intense. “Yes, I’m ready.” Helen wanted to ask the doctor what was wrong, but she was distracted by the contractions and wanted to meet her child. The gift of life that she and Tommy created.

  “Are we ready to push, Abigail?” Helen blinked and looked up to see a nurse had entered the room. She stood and was about to leave the room when Brent spoke up.

  “Mom, would you like to stay?”

  It would be the first time she was in the same room when one of her grandchildren were born. All of the others had been born out-of-state, or wh
ile she was waiting in the waiting room. Grace had C-sections so they couldn’t be there. Abigail and Brent were out of town for a vacation when she gave birth to Jaxon.

  “Mrs. Morrison, is that okay with you?” She nodded and then Abigail answered the nurse.

  “Yes, that’s okay.” In Helen’s state of shock she hadn’t realized they were both technically Mrs. Morrison. She let out a small laugh and smiled, nodded as a tear began to form in her eye.

  “Of course I’d love to be here for you both. What do I do?” The nurse smiled a warm smile that reminded her of that nurse named Evelyn so many years ago and explained to her on what she needed to do. Abigail was in the position to push as Helen went around to the other side and helped hold her leg. Every push Abigail made, Helen’s job was to push her on her foot to help provide some resistance. The nurse checked her patient and went to get the doctor. He came in and made his way and positioned himself in front of Abigail.

  “Okay Abby, I need a big push, okay? One, two, three, four…nine, ten. And breathe,” he said as he helped her to focus. Brent wiped her forehead as she rested and waited for the next instructions to push. The doctor smiled. “I see a head, you ready? Give me another one.” He began to count again as she strained and squinted her eyes closed as she pushed and a small yell escaped her mouth as she pushed.

  Brent was cheering her on, talking in her ear. “Come on baby, you are doing so good. Almost done baby, push. Okay breathe. Shhh, it’s okay.”

  Helen could tell Abigail was in severe pain as she laid her head back weakly and panted, obviously exhausted from pushing. Helen touched her forehead and moved her hair out of the way, the sweat making strands of her hair wet.

  “Abby, look at me.” She whimpered and continued to breathe heavy as she looked at Helen and grimaced.

  “Miss Helen, it’s so hard. God, I can’t do this!”

  Helen smiled reassuringly and nodded. “Yes, yes you can, dear. Focus on something for me. I want you to visualize yourself holding that precious child and seeing it smile at you.”

  Abigail closed her eyes and must have done what Helen said. Brent continued to run his fingers through her long dirty blonde hair. When she opened her eyes, the deepest blue-colored hues looked back at Helen as she nodded and smiled.

  “Okay, I can do this. Let’s do this.” She looked at the doctor and nodded. He began to count as Abigail visibly bore down and pushed hard, obviously giving it everything she had. Giving it her all. The room seemed silent as they all held their breaths while she pushed hard.

  Brent seemed to be straining for her and Helen held her hand and foot as she pushed against Abigail to help her push.

  A loud wail came from the doctor’s hands as Abigail let out a sigh and fell back on the bed, catching her breath. Her cheeks were flushed red, she had sweat on her forehead and tears in her eyes as she held her arms out.

  The nurse took the baby and went to clean and check it and Helen felt a tear roll down her cheek. She was so happy she could be there for them both. Abigail was an only child and had lost her mother to a car accident when she was nineteen. Her father had died when she was very young. She’d always felt a connection with Abigail and treated her just as she were her own daughter. It was the same with Grace. She’d always wanted a daughter.

  Brent chuckled with tears in his eyes as he placed his forehead against Abby’s and smiled. “We did it baby. You did it.”

  The nurse came back with a bundle wrapped up with and wearing a small pink cap. She smiled as she handed the baby to Abigail who took the little girl into her arms and cooed.

  “A girl…it’s a girl,” Abby said to Brent as they smiled at one another.

  Helen looked at the small face of her newest granddaughter. The tiny baby yawned and suckled on her finger, seeming content as she was warm and in her mother’s arms. All three of them had tears of joy in their eyes.

  “I better go call your dad. He’ll be so thrilled!”

  Brent gave his mother a hug and thanked her for being there.

  She touched his cheek, smiled and nodded. “Of course, where else would I be?” As she left the room, the tears began to fall more freely as she wiped them away fast. She headed to her car to make the call to Tyson and couldn’t help thinking of the child she had given birth to in 1969.

  Using her car phone she dialed the house phone, waiting for Tyson to pick up.

  “Hello?”

  “Tyson, we have a baby girl! Seven pounds ten ounces, 20 inches long. She’s beautiful. Brown hair, hazel eyes. She’s perfect!”

  “Aww, that’s great love. How is Abigail?”

  “She’s doing wonderful, too. Brent is overjoyed.”

  “Tell them I said congratulations, will you? I’ll let your dad know. Oh, I’m so happy. A little girl, huh? I guess your dad lost that bet,” he said with a chuckle as she shook her head and agreed.

  “Seems like it,” she said with a small laugh.

  “I’ll let you get back, call me if there are any new developments. If your dad feels up to it, we may be over there soon.”

  “Okay Ty. Thank you. I’ll call you later.” She smiled and hung up the phone, wiping the tears from her eyes. It was time to rejoice. She gathered herself, exited her car and set the alarm again as she made her way back to the hospital room. As she entered, Abigail and Brent looked towards the door as Abigail held the small baby in her arms.

  “Your dad is so happy and sends his love. He and Grandpa will try to come a bit later.”

  “Okay. Thank you, Mom. We picked a name.”

  “Oh? Did you? What is that precious little girl’s name?”

  Brent smiled and gave one last look at Abigail who nodded for him to go on. “Olivia Jane Burrows.”

  Helen smiled as the tears began to form again in her eyes. She touched her chest and shook her head. “Oh, Brent. Abby,” was all she could say. Jane was her middle name, and she felt so honored for Olivia to share it. Her son wrapped her in a hug as they cried together.

  Chapter Six

  The phone rang on Thursday night after dinner. The caller ID said it was Lyndsay. Marissa smiled and picked up the phone.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey girl! I was calling to see if you were busy tomorrow?”

  She thought for a minute before answering. Tomorrow was Sophia’s last day of school. She really had nothing to do except get things ready for the water park on Saturday. “Nothing, actually. Why?”

  “Well, I have a half-day at the office tomorrow. We’re going to start closing early on Fridays. Wanna go grab lunch?”

  “Sure, that sounds great. Should I call Chantelle and see if she wants to join us?”

  “Of course! She’s been so busy working, she needs to get out.”

  Marissa laughed and nodded. They all had been great friends ever since Lyndsay had come into her life and met Chantelle. Her two best girlfriends. When they were together laughter was prevalent. “I’ll see if she’s not busy. You know Chantelle. Work, work, work.”

  “Sounds great. Lunch at the new place on Kings Drive? I’m dying to try it out. I’ve heard great things about it!”

  “Oh, yes I did hear about that. That sounds good. Call me and I’ll meet you there. I’ll let you know about Chantelle soon.”

  “Okay, talk to you later.”

  After they hung up she called Chantelle to see if she’d like to join them. As she waited for Chantelle to answer the phone she drummed her nails on the table.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey. It’s Marissa. Did I catch you at a bad time?”

  “Of course not. What’s up honey?”

  “I was calling to see if you were free tomorrow for a lunch date with Lyndsay and me?”

  “I know I have an appointment with a family at lunch or right after, one second, let me check.” Marissa could hear her rummaging through papers and could just picture her desk, cluttered and full of scattered files. She smiled and shook her head. That woman was a workaholic, but the things s
he did to help families was astounding. “It’s after lunch, I actually have a lunch break tomorrow. I need it. Yes, I would love to. Where are we meeting?”

  “That new place on Kings Drive. It’s Italian, forgot the name.”

  “Mama Rizzo’s?”

  “That’s it! Yes. Have you been?”

  “A coworker brought back a plate for me once, really good.”

  “Great, I guess we’ll see you tomorrow?”

  “Sure will. Kiss Soph for me. Love you guys.”

  “Love you, too! Have a great night.” Once she was off the phone, she heard Sophia come in from school.

  Sophia gave her mother a hug as Marissa asked how her day was. She plopped on the sofa and looked over, shaking her head. “One more day. I can’t wait.”

  Marissa chuckled and nodded. “Yes, one more day. Nanny said hi and she loves you. Sends kisses, too,” she said as she kissed her daughter’s forehead.

  “You talked to Nanny? I miss her.”

  Marissa nodded. “She’s just been busy with work, baby.”

  They snuggled on the sofa for a while before Marissa made another call to Lyndsay confirming that Chantelle would be joining them. She needed the girls’ time with them. Something had been weighing on her mind since two days ago. An invitation to dinner with her doctor. She still had no idea what she would do. Should she go alone, or not go at all? Should she take Sophia or not? They would no doubt be thrilled to hear the news, especially Lyndsay, who insisted that Marissa ask him out.

  The next day came faster than expected. After she saw Sophia off to school, she picked up around the house and made some coffee before she sat on the porch swing. Her lunch date was coming up soon so she decided to grab a shower and get ready. Laying her clothes out on her bed, she headed for the shower, letting her long wavy chocolate hair down from its clip as she tested the waters. Once it was at the right temperature she stepped into the tub and closed the shower curtain. As the water flowed over her body she dipped her head back and closed her eyes. Showers always relaxed her and gave her a bit of serenity. After she was dried off she wrapped the towel around her hair and began to dress in her casual jeans, sleeveless blouse and ballet flats. It was spring outside, approaching summer. The heat was rising slowly. It was always easier to French braid her hair rather than leave it down when she was outside. A lot cooler, too.