by Ashton Lee
“I suppose you’re right. It’s just that I keep wondering where we went wrong with her. What did we do to make her so mad at us?”
Paul gave a sigh of frustration as the cars in front of him continued to crawl along. There was no point in honking, and passing was dangerous, if not impossible, on the winding, two-lane parkway. They were pretty much stuck until they got to the exit for Cherico. “It’s a good thing we got an early start. This funeral procession is going nowhere fast. As for as Elise is concerned, I don’t necessarily think she’s mad at us, but I also see no reason to continue all this speculation. We hardly ever get to see her, and that’s apparently the way she wants it. Let’s just be glad we’re getting together with her and the rest of the family for Thanksgiving. What could be better than that?”
That brought a smile to Susan’s voice at last. “Maura Beth and I get along so well. We speak every week about how she’s doing. She never leaves out a detail. I can’t wait to become a grandmother, and I’m sure Jeremy will be just as good a father as you’ve been.”
“She and Jeremy are a good match,” Paul added. “I’ve thought so from the beginning.”
Susan leaned in, lowering her voice as if someone or some unseen force of nature might be listening in to disapprove. “I would never say this to Elise, of course, but sometimes I feel like Maura Beth acts like the one who’s really our daughter. The daughter-in-law thing doesn’t always work out, you know. Your mother and I never got along until the day she died, as you well know.”
“Don’t remind me,” Paul said in a monotone. “I was always caught in the crossfire big-time.”
Susan winced as all the unpleasant memories flooded in from the beginning of her marriage forward. “Anyway, I promise you, I’ll do everything I can to stay on an even keel when we get to Connie’s.”
“Let’s just enjoy all the delicious food,” Paul said. “We don’t have to speculate about that, and I’m sure everything will turn out all right if we just give it half a chance. Is it a deal?”
“Deal. But I’ll call Connie on my cell and let her know we might be running a little late.”
* * *
Down in Cherico at the lodge, Jeremy, Alex, and Elise were sitting in front of the fireplace discussing an outline for Fatherhood for Dummies—the title they had all agreed upon. A few minutes earlier, Connie had put a pot of fresh coffee for the men and hot cocoa for her niece on the coffee table, making herself scarce after lighting a couple of pumpkin spice candles on the window sills overlooking the lake.
Just the day before, Elise had practically jumped through the phone when Jeremy had called her up and told her about his fatherhood project. Then he had forged ahead from there.
“Would you like to get in on this with me? I know you could help me in so many different ways.”
Elise didn’t have to be asked twice, but there would be a price to pay in inviting her to the party. It was an understatement to say that she was dominating the discussion there on the sofa, while both Alex and Jeremy tried their best to take notes. It was as if the idea had been hers from the very beginning, an off-the-wall extension of her familiar curriculum interests.
“If we’re going to do this right,” she was saying to them at the moment, “we can’t omit any common mistakes that men make. Jer, you need to ask Maura Beth to tell you everything you did that rubbed her the wrong way. Reassure her that you won’t get your feelings hurt. You won’t, will you?”
Jeremy drew himself up, looking as manly as possible. “Of course not. She and I have been pretty open with each other all along.”
“That’s going to be important,” Elise said. “We want the book to be humorous, but we want it to come from the truth.”
“I think we’ve got that covered.” Jeremy wanted to say more but decided to bite his tongue. He was determined to make this collaboration between himself and his sister work, so he changed the subject somewhat.
“Have you heard anything more from that small press you queried in Denver about our book? What was the name of it?”
“Saterstrom Press,” Elise said. “They’ve published a couple of supplementary texts by some of my cohorts at the U of Evansville. My query positioned our book as something that might fit well into a sociology course.”
“I think it would,” Alex said. “The entire discipline of sociology could use a little levity now and then.”
“But if they do show any interest,” Elise continued, “they’ll want to see several sample chapters, so we need to get going on this. We have to have our strongest material right up front to entice them further.”
Jeremy and Alex exchanged glances while sipping their coffee, and Jeremy said, “Leesie, I don’t think we should rush through this. Can you squeeze all this into the rest of your sabbatical and still take care of your baby girl?”
Even before he had uttered the last word of his question, Jeremy knew he had said the wrong thing to his sister at the wrong time, and a slight wince crept into his face as he prepared for incoming shrapnel.
“Jer, I knew I could count on you to bring up the subject of what a woman can and cannot accomplish. No one ever sets a limit on what a man can handle. Men can have it all. It’s been that way since the beginning of time.” Elise folded her arms above her baby bump and affixed a pout to her face.
“I didn’t mean it that way.”
Alex intervened quickly, feeling slightly uncomfortable. “If I could say something here, Elise. It seems to me your brother is just taking into account the birth of your child. I’m sure he doesn’t want to assume to rate your priorities. From my point of view, that’s something that only you can determine.”
Elise’s face softened as she turned toward him. “That’s absolutely right. I take full responsibility for my life. I always have.”
“Then we’ll agree that you’ll work with us on the project as long as you want,” Alex told her.
Elise eyed her brother intently. “Jer, you shouldn’t have even brought up the issue. Alex has the right attitude.” She gestured toward him graciously, and Alex gave her a grateful nod in return.
Steeling himself and swallowing hard, Jeremy said, “Enough said. Let’s call a truce, shall we? We aren’t going to be able to discuss this project rationally if we’re at each other’s throats all the time. I’m sure we all want this book to be the best it can be. I realize that what I’m about to say sounds like a pun, but can’t we all be on the same page?”
Finally, there was much-needed, gentle laughter among the three of them, and Elise said, “Well, perhaps I’ve been coming on a little strong with you guys. It’s just that I’ve had to fight for so many things in my career for so long. Someone always seems to be defining me.”
“Well, you certainly don’t have to fight with us,” Jeremy told her emphatically. “Right, Alex?”
“Absolutely. I’m very interested in seeing what the three of us can cobble together and also what my class turns out this semester because of your unique input, Elise.”
Elise gave him a pleasant glance. “That’s a nice compliment, Alex. I appreciate it, and I’m working hard on my presentation.”
Jeremy put down his coffee cup and looked his sister straight in the eye. “Leesie, if I were you, I’d be thinking of what you’re going to say to Mom and Dad when they arrive in a few more hours. Believe me, we aren’t your problem. Have you even given it a thought?”
“Of course I have. I’m simply going to tell them the truth. I’ve talked it over with Aunt Connie quite a bit now, and she thinks that’s the best approach. What else is there to say, really? If they can’t handle it, then so be it. It’s not like we’ve all been a part of each other’s lives since I graduated from college.”
“I hope it turns out well, for your sake,” Jeremy said. “I just want you to know that I’m here to support you, and so is Maurie. We really appreciate Aunt Connie inviting us over for Thanksgiving. Frankly, Maurie just wasn’t up for cooking a huge meal, and neither was I.”
/>
Elise’s tone suddenly brightened. That, of course, was the privilege of a pregnant woman at any time. Ditto, her tone going to the dark side. “By the way, Alex, what are your plans for Thanksgiving?”
“I . . . I didn’t have any actually.”
“Then you must spend it here at the lodge with all of us. I’m sure Aunt Connie won’t mind. She plans on fixing tons of food tomorrow. In fact, she’s already started on her sweet potato casserole as we speak. One more place at the table won’t be any trouble at all.”
Alex’s smile seemed almost shy and boyish. “Are you sure?”
“Don’t worry about it. You must come.”
“Then I will. Thanks. Mom and Dad are gone now, and I don’t have any relatives living down here in Mississippi. I was just going to make do thawing out something in the freezer and watching some football in my apartment.”
Elise continued to probe, while Jeremy looked on, somewhat bewildered. He had never seen his sister get so chummy so quickly with a member of the opposite sex. “You can watch football here on that flat-screen on the other side of the room. Dad and Uncle Doug will be doing that with their drinks for certain. Did you say where you were from, by the way? I can’t recall.”
“Missouri. Caruthersville. It’s in the Bootheel. Somewhat Southern, we like to say. But with enough of its own characteristics to distinguish it.”
“People say that about Evansville, Indiana, where I teach. Part Southern, part Midwest.”
“I’ve never been there.”
Jeremy sat back and listened with a smile. What was it about Alex that was bringing out the best in his sister? Maybe it was as simple as not having a history of arguing with her all the time as a sibling. Or was there possibly something else going on? Wouldn’t that be a kick in the head?
Two hours later, Jeremy and Alex were in the midst of a final review of their collaborative notes, reading them out loud to Elise, whose role was to verify their accuracy. Or, as she was often wont to do, add observations of her own, pro or con. Fortunately, for the progress of the project, Elise was content to give her nod of approval to everything that had been discussed. She seemed to be particularly fond of Alex’s reminiscences, and he seemed to be bursting with appreciative smiles. This first important session had been officially put to bed.
“If you’ll excuse me, then,” Jeremy said, rising from the sofa. “I’ve got to run to the men’s room real quick.”
It was just a minute or so later in Jeremy’s absence that Susan and Paul burst through the front door without knocking, each one holding a bottle of Merlot. They had never stood on ceremony before and had no intention of doing so now. As a result, they were treated to the sight of their very pregnant daughter across the room wearing a red maternity tee and jeans while standing beside a man they had never seen before.
It was a nonplussed Susan who spoke first after a very audible gasp. “My goodness, Elise, just look at you! Tell me that’s not a baby bump.”
Elise turned toward the door, her expression as surprised as her mother’s. “And hello to you, too, Mom . . . and Dad!”
Somehow, Susan found the words. “Never mind that. Is that really someone else on the way? We had no idea.” Before Elise could reply, the awkward questions tumbled out one after another. “Is that your husband next to you? Why have you kept us in the dark all this time? You see, Paul, I told you something else was going on down here.”
Alex went crimson in the face but said nothing.
“Shall I bring in the luggage?” Paul said, unable to think of anything else.
Susan shook her head emphatically. “That can wait.”
“This isn’t what it looks like,” Elise told them. “Well, it is, and it isn’t.”
Then, as if in a well-rehearsed play, Jeremy entered from stage right while Connie entered from stage left, both freezing in their tracks.
“Welcome. We’re so glad you’re here,” Connie managed, finally. “You said you thought you’d be running a little late.”
Jeremy moved to his parents quickly with warm hugs. “Welcome to Cherico, Mom and Dad. We’re all happy to see you.”
“Good to see you, too, son,” Paul said, but he was craning his neck, and his eyes were still trained on his daughter. “Where’s your uncle Doug?”
“He’s coming in now,” Connie said, taking her turn at embracing her in-laws. “I just saw him at the boathouse through the kitchen window. He’s been out on the lake on The Verdict all afternoon. I’m sure he hasn’t caught a thing—he almost never does this time of year. He just likes to drift, unless the weather gets too iffy.”
“Enough of the daily fishing report, Connie,” Susan said, pointing toward her daughter all the while. “Will someone please explain what’s going on here? You’re all acting like this is business as usual.”
Elise approached her parents slowly, almost as if she were in the midst of a walk down the aisle. Then she kissed them both on the cheek with a smile and gestured toward the fireplace sofa. “I think we should all sit down for this first. I have a lot to say to both of you.”
“Thanks for the wine. Here, I’ll take those bottles, and then I’ll make a fresh pot of coffee for everyone,” Connie said, heading toward the kitchen. “This may take a little while.”
“You knew about this all along and said nothing, Connie?” Susan added. “Instead, you lied to us?”
“It’s complicated,” Connie said, turning at the door. “Let Elise explain everything to you.”
“She wasn’t the only one who knew,” Jeremy said as Connie left the room. “Both Maurie and I knew.”
Susan reluctantly headed for the sofa with Paul in tow. “By the way, where is Maura Beth?”
“At the library next door, of course,” Jeremy said. “She’ll be off in another thirty minutes or so. I’ll text her that you’re here. She’s been counting the days until your arrival. You have no idea how much she’s been looking forward to Thanksgiving. Just one big, happy family and all that, you know.”
Elise’s voice was full of pleading now. “If everyone will just take a seat. I’ll be happy to explain everything.”
Susan remained agitated as she found her spot on the sofa between her husband and her daughter. “Working on a book about small-town life, indeed.”
“But she is helping me work on a book, Mom,” Jeremy said, pulling up a chair. “She and I and Alex just finished up our first brainstorming session on a book about fatherhood a few minutes ago. It’s sort of a humorous look at how men handle their wives’ pregnancies and sociological changes.”
“Who on earth is Alex?” Susan said.
“I am,” Alex said, raising his hand and feeling like he was somehow confessing to a crime. “I’m Alex Brandon, and I teach history at Cherico High. That’s how I became friends with your son and how I met your daughter. The three of us are working on various projects together.”
“Mom, Dad . . . if you’ll just let me explain. This is all about me and no one else,” Elise said, the impatience growing in her voice.
Finally, everyone got settled in—except Alex, who chose to remain standing—and Elise had their full attention. “First, Mom and Dad, please don’t blame Aunt Connie or Uncle Doug for this. Once they agreed to let me stay here until the baby was born, I can assure you that Aunt Connie has been on me constantly to level with you. She’s insisted all along you had the right to know what I’ve chosen to do. It’s strictly my fault that I’ve been putting if off the way I have.”
This time, it was Paul who spoke up. “Better late than never.”
“Yes, well, as you can see, I chose to get pregnant. But Alex over there had nothing to do with it. He’s just a friend, and yes, the three of us really are working on a book together.”
Alex managed a sheepish grin and waved his hand.
Elise took a breath that seemed to suck up all the air in the room and continued. “The truth is, I decided that I’d reached the stage in my life that I wanted more than teaching
, as fulfilling as that is for me. I decided that I wanted to have a baby. But on my own terms. I didn’t want a husband. I didn’t want to get married, either. You’ve both known how I’ve felt about that for a long time now. I just wanted a shot at raising a child who would make this world a better place.”
Tension was still gripping the room, and Elise allowed everyone time to digest what she had said so far before continuing. “So . . . I went to a sperm bank up in Evansville, chose a donor, and here I am in my third trimester expecting sometime in January. Now you know everything.”
“You say you chose a donor. Do you know who the father is?” Paul said. There was no hostility in his tone. Instead, he came off like a professor asking a question of one of his former psychology students.
“No, that’s not allowed. I just know that he is of Italian ancestry and is college educated. I was allowed to shop . . . so to speak.”
Susan sounded far less comfortable with everything. “Just like at the supermarket. So we’ll never know who the father is? You’ll have this baby without this man’s support? Ever?”
“Yes.”
Susan and Paul seemed to be having a conversation without speaking. It was all there in the movement of their eyes. Then, Susan broke the silence. “I don’t know what to say, Elise.”
“You could say you’re happy for me, Mom. You could say you hope my baby will be healthy. I’m sure you hope that for Maura Beth and Jeremy.”
“Our babies will be first cousins, no matter what,” Jeremy added, intently catching the gaze of his parents.
“Yes, they will,” Paul said, easing the tension somewhat. “I know we’ll be praying for two healthy grandchildren, right, Susan?”
“Uh . . . of course,” she said, gathering herself at last.
Elise leaned in against her mother with the biggest smile she could manage. “Mom, I’m having a little girl, so you’re getting one of each. A boy from Jeremy and Maura Beth, and a girl from me. And wait for the kicker. I’m going to name her Susan Constance Celice McShay after you and Aunt Connie. How about that? She’ll have four names.”
