by Leanne Banks
Jilly chuckled and raced toward their mother. She embraced her. “I’ve missed you, Mommy.”
“I’ve missed you, too,” Tinsley said. She opened her arms to Temple and Vivian. “Please let me hug you.”
Temple and Vivian walked into their mother’s loving arms. Vivian’s heart overflowed with emotion. She’d never thought this kind of reunion was possible.
“Vivian,” her mother said. “You must tell me who got you knocked up. I’ll make sure he will pay.”
“Oh, Mom, I’m vitamin deficient. Really,” Vivian said. “I tested yesterday. I need to beef up my vitamins.”
“Really?” her mother said skeptically. “You look tired and bloated to me.”
“Well, thank you very much,” Vivian said. “You look like you’ve had a little too much filler.”
Her mother lifted her chin in disapproval. “That’s entirely inappropriate.”
“As is your comment about me looking bloated,” Vivian said.
Her mother pursed her lips. “Well, perhaps it was. Shall we have some tea, lemonade or bourbon or all of that?”
“All of that sounds good to me,” Temple said.
Chapter Twelve
After a full day with her mother on site, Vivian brushed her teeth and sank down onto her bed. Her stomach was churning. She supposed this was what she should expect for the next few months. As she rested her head on her pillow, she wondered how she would tell Benjamin.
A knock sounded on her door. “Yes?” Vivian said but didn’t rise.
Temple stepped inside her room. “I know you’re pregnant.”
“No. I’m not.”
“Yes, you are. But I want you to know that I will be here for you. Even through birthing and delivery, as long you promise to get an epidural.”
“Well, thank you very much,” Vivian said, opening her arms to her sister. “Just so you know, I am in a full state of denial with Mom.”
“Good luck, and I’ll fib with you until the bloody end,” Temple said, squeezing her tight. “Have you told Benjamin?”
“Not yet,” Vivian said.
“It will all be okay,” Temple said and stroked Vivian’s forehead.
“How can you be sure?” Vivian asked.
“You picked an excellent man,” Temple said.
“But what if he doesn’t really love me?”
Temple chuckled. “He did a long, long time ago.”
“I hope that’s at least partly true,” Vivian said, but she needed to see Benjamin. She needed to tell him. “I’ve tried calling him, but he hasn’t returned my call yet. I don’t want to appear desperate.”
“Well, this is pretty important. Knowing you, you told him, ‘Get in touch with me when you can,’ which doesn’t sound like the topic is pressing.”
Pretty close, Vivian thought. “I’ll wait until tonight. Maybe there’s something big going on at the bar, or he’s buying a new business. He mentioned something about that lately.”
“Don’t wait too long,” Temple said and dropped a kiss on Vivian’s forehead. “Sleep well. You need it.”
Vivian waited and debated calling that night. Instead, she decided to try to sleep. When she awakened in the morning, though, and struggled with nausea, she knew it was time to talk to Benjamin. Today she would go into town.
* * *
Benjamin had barely been able to return to the bar for more than thirty minutes during the last couple of days. His sister had been on suicide watch, and he’d known he needed to stay with her as much as possible. She’d run out of her medicine and had hoped she could manage on her own. She’d done the same thing several times prior. He wished she could find and accept the help she needed. The side effects of her medication sometimes made her quit it altogether.
Despite the fact that it was midday, he was so tired he could barely put one foot in front of the other. In his office, he studied spreadsheets and order forms.
A knock sounded at the door. He lifted his head. “Yes? Come on in.”
Vivian appeared in the doorway with a questioning look on her face. “Everything okay?”
“Not really,” he said and rubbed his hand over his face. “I’m sorry I haven’t called you back. I’ve been tied up.”
She gave a slow nod. “New business you’re purchasing?”
“No. Not that.” He sighed. A long silence followed. “I can’t talk about it.”
“Oh,” she said. “Okay. Well, I need to talk to you.”
He closed his laptop. “That’s fine. You want to close the door behind you?”
“Yes. I think that’s a good idea,” she said, pushing the door shut and standing in front of his desk.
“You want to sit down?”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “Not really.”
Benjamin felt a strange twist in his gut. What was going on? “Okay. I’m all ears.”
She bit her lip. “Well. I’m pregnant.”
Benjamin stared at her for several seconds, unable to comprehend her words. “Excuse me?”
“I’m. Pregnant.”
Benjamin blinked and glanced down. “Wow. I—uh—I—”
“It caught me by surprise, too,” she said. “I didn’t think I was particularly fertile because—” She broke off and shook her head. “Well, I just didn’t. But I really thought you should know.”
“Yes, I should,” he said, his mind reeling. How had this happened? He’d used protection. What if this baby also suffered from mental health? He should reveal that to Vivian.
“I thought I should tell you,” she said and turned as if she planned to leave.
“Wait,” he said, standing. His integrity rose inside him. “I’ll be here for you and for the baby.”
Her face seemed to fall. “That’s good to know,” she said in an ultrapolite voice. “I guess I’ll see you later.”
Benjamin frowned as she left his office. He was still whirling from the news. How had this happened? Of course he knew how it had happened, and he had enjoyed every minute. But...
His mind still slamming from one prospect to another, he raced from the office and caught up with Vivian as she walked toward her car. “Hey,” he called and took her hand. “Wait up.”
She turned to look at him. “What?”
“We should get married. If we’re going to have a baby, you and I should get married.”
She stared at him for a long moment and bit her lip. “Is that a proposal?”
“Yeah,” he said and smiled, feeling elated at the prospect. “Yeah, I guess it is.”
“You think we should get married,” she said. “I have no interest in a should marriage. I’ve already had a bad marriage. I don’t want another one,” she said, pulled her hand from his and walked away.
“Wait,” he said. “How do you know it would be bad?”
“I don’t know much, but starting out with a big should isn’t good. Thanks for the offer, but no thanks,” she said and walked to her car.
Benjamin stared after her, knowing in his gut that he had done everything wrong. He wasn’t sure how to fix it. He wondered if he possibly could fix it. His prospects sure didn’t look good at the moment.
* * *
Vivian’s mother had to leave the following day. Thank goodness. Her mother frowned at her.
“Are you sure you’re not pregnant? You look a bit green,” her mother said.
“No chance,” Vivian said, nibbling on a muffin she didn’t want.
“Are you sure you haven’t been exposed?” her mother asked with a slight smirk.
“Oh, Mother,” Vivian said.
Temple entered the room with a yawn. “We may as well be in a convent. No need to worry about us.”
“Hmm,” her mother
said. “Well, I must say the lodge is much nicer than I remembered. I think I’ll pass along recommendations to some of my friends.”
“Oh, please. Don’t feel obligated,” Vivian said.
“I’m okay if you do,” Temple said.
Jilly poured a cup of coffee and offered it to her mother. “Do what makes you feel whole,” she said. “Nothing more. Nothing less.”
Their mother stared at Jilly. “I’m not sure how I gave birth to you or how you have any DNA from your father or me, but I’m very glad that you’re here and I’ve gotten the opportunity to see you. I want all of you to come to Richmond to visit.”
“Absolutely,” Jilly said.
“That sounds lovely,” Vivian said.
“And you can come here anytime you like,” Jilly said.
“Thank you for visiting, Mother,” Vivian said and brushed her mother’s cheek with a light kiss.
Temple did the same.
Jilly flung her arms around their mother and pressed her pink lips against her mother’s cheek. “Thanks for coming, Mommy.”
Their mother blinked. “Well, you’re very welcome. I’ll be in touch, darlings. Ta-ta,” she said and started for the door. “Oh, would one of you bring my luggage to my car? It’s a bit much for me.”
Jilly eagerly stepped forward for the task.
For the rest of the day, Vivian was torn between worrying about Jilly’s hopes for a wonderful relationship with their mother and her own pregnancy. Temple had asked about Vivian’s trip into town, but Vivian had waved her aside. She hadn’t known what she’d expected from Benjamin, but she knew she hadn’t gotten what she’d hoped.
She spent the day sitting on the screened-in porch and updating the website, and Benjamin appeared in the late afternoon. “Hey, there,” he said. “I really messed up yesterday, didn’t I?”
“You were caught off guard. I was, too,” she said, feeling her muscles tighten into hard knots.
“You’re being kind,” he said, stepping in front of her, his hands shoved in his pockets. “I talked about marriage, but I didn’t talk about our feelings for each other.”
She took a quick, sharp breath and closed her eyes. Vivian couldn’t think about feelings. Her feelings overwhelmed her. She shrugged. “It’s okay. It’s—”
He sank down beside her and took her hands. “It’s not okay,” he said. “We’ve been drawn to each other. This baby happened for a reason. This baby happened because we love each other, because we want a future together.”
His words blindsided her, and she searched his face. Love? “What are you saying? What are you feeling?”
“I love you,” he confessed. “I think I’ve loved you for a long time. Longer than I would admit to myself.”
She bit her lip. “Are you sure?”
He nodded. “Yes, I’m—” His cell phone rang and he glanced at it. He swore. “I have to take this. I’m really sorry.”
He rose from the couch and stepped away.
She couldn’t hear what he was saying and felt frustrated by the interruption. What could be so important?
A moment later, he reentered the porch. “I’m sorry. I had to take that.”
“What was that?” she asked. “What was so important that you couldn’t share it with me? How can we get married if you are going to keep things from me? Important things?”
He took a deep breath. “I gave my word to my sister. I need to talk to her about this.”
“Sister?” she echoed.
“Yeah. Sister,” he said. “Give me a day. It’s important.”
“I hope she’s okay,” Vivian said.
“I’m always hoping for that,” he said. He paused a half beat, then pressed a hard kiss against her mouth. “Don’t count me out.”
Her heart was slamming against her chest. How could she?
* * *
The following day, she awakened and lost her cookies. This whole pregnancy was getting real as each day passed. She needed to toughen up. She had months to go. Oh, wait. And years after that.
Fighting off anxiety attacks, she took deep breaths and drank decaf tea. Sipping a cup, she sat on the porch. Jilly sat down beside her. “I can tell you’re upset. How can I help you?”
Vivian looked at her sweet bleach-blonde sister, dressed in yoga capris and a tank top, and felt love swell in her heart. “I’m good. It just makes me happy that you are here. But if you need to leave, I’ll understand. This isn’t a sure deal.”
Jilly laughed. “Most of my deals haven’t been sure, but now I have a roof over my head, and I get to be with my sisters. My life couldn’t be much better.”
“I need to warn you that Mom can be a little inconsistent,” Vivian said. “I don’t know how to say this because your relationship with her may be different.”
Jilly nodded earnestly. “She’s a bit of a wench, isn’t she? I wonder what made her that way.”
Vivian tilted her head to one side. “I never thought about it that way. I just don’t want you to be hurt.”
Jilly smiled. “That’s one of the nicest things someone has said to me in a long time.”
Vivian smiled, too. “I’m so glad we’ve reconnected. I just really want you to be careful.”
“I will be okay. She has rejected me several times before. I’m stronger because of it,” Jilly said.
“I can see that,” Vivian said, seeing a spark of strength in her sister’s eyes. Maybe she could trust Jilly to set her own boundaries.
“But I’m concerned about you,” Jilly said. “I sense something has changed about you.”
“Your sense is correct,” Vivian said. “But I’d rather talk about it at a different time. Is that okay?”
“You’ve made me even more curious, but I guess I’ll have to wait. I’m wondering if Mommy was right about you being pregnant,” Jilly said.
“Can we talk about something else?” Vivian asked.
* * *
Later that night, her cell phone rang. She hadn’t found the energy to shower, so she just lay on her back on the bed with her eyes half-closed.
Not looking at the caller ID, she automatically said, “Vivian Jackson. Hello.”
“Hello to you,” Benjamin said.
Vivian’s eyes flew open, and she sat up in her bed. “Hello,” she repeated. Then she stuttered, “H-how are things?”
“Could be better. Could be worse,” he said. “Any chance you can come to the county hospital?”
Vivian blinked. “Umm. Sure. When?”
“Now,” he said.
She swallowed over her surprise. “Now?”
“Yeah, Eliza may need to be moved to another facility,” he said.
“Oh, no. Has she been injured?” she asked.
“It’s complicated,” he said. “Can you come?”
“Yes,” she said without pausing. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
She got up, brushed her teeth and rubbed the dark makeup from under her eyes. Her mother would be horrified. Thank goodness her mother wasn’t here.
Walking out her door, she ran into both of her sisters.
Temple, dressed in jammies and carrying a brownie, looked at her. “Where are you going?”
“Benjamin called. He wants me to meet him at the county hospital.”
“Oh, no,” Jilly said, also wearing her jammies. “Is he okay?”
“I think he is. Mostly,” Vivian said.
Temple frowned. “Then what’s wrong?”
Vivian hesitated. “Please don’t spread it around, but I think it’s about his sister, Eliza.”
“Oh,” Jilly said. “Please call us and let us know. She seemed nice and talented.”
“Drive safely,” Temple said. “Should I drive for you?”
>
“I’m good,” Vivian said and shrugged. “Just think good thoughts.”
Heading out the door, she got into her car and drove to the county hospital, worrying and wondering all the way. She pulled into the parking lot, went to the front desk and asked for Eliza Hunter.
The attendant seemed a bit reluctant to release any information. “And who are you?” she asked.
“Vivian Jackson,” she said.
The attendant gave a slow nod. “She’s on the fourth floor. You’ll have to check in at the desk.”
“Thank you,” Vivian said, wondering and worrying even more as she walked into the elevator and punched the button for the fourth floor.
The elevator door opened, and she walked to the desk. “I’m here to see Eliza Hunter,” she said.
“Just a moment, please,” the attendant said and turned away from her.
Vivian waited. And waited.
“Ms. Hunter’s brother will be out to meet you,” she said.
A few seconds later, Benjamin appeared.
“What’s going on?” Vivian asked.
“It’s complicated, but Eliza wants to explain,” he said.
Vivian frowned. “Eliza? Why can’t you explain?”
He shrugged. “I made a promise. This is a big moment for her.”
Vivian took a deep breath. “Okay. I hope she’s well.”
“We’re working on it,” he said and led her down the hallway. They entered a room where Eliza lay in a bed with her arms tied to the rails.
She glanced up weakly. “Hi, there,” she said.
“Hi,” Vivian said, moving quickly to the side of the bed. “Are you okay?”
“I will be,” Eliza said. “I stopped taking my medication. I keep hoping I won’t need it.” She bit her lip. “And then I get depressed. Very depressed.”
“I’m so sorry,” Vivian said and reached out to touch Eliza.
Eliza glanced up at Benjamin. “I think you got a good one,” she said, then turned to Vivian. “I’m bipolar. I didn’t want Benjamin to tell you or anyone, but I think, maybe, it’s time for me to stop being so secretive.”
“Oh, Eliza, I’m so sorry,” Vivian said. “You shouldn’t suffer this alone! It’s terrible for you and anyone you love,” she said. “But your disease is like diabetes. You need daily treatment. You need a support group.” She shrugged. “I’m sorry you have struggled with this, and maybe you’ll always struggle in a way, but you must accept assistance for yourself and Benjamin.”
