by Carrie Carr
"Fantastic. This pregnancy is so much different. I was sick for most of Lorrie's." She stopped for a moment and gasped.
"Are you all right?"
Jeannie squeezed Lex's hand before straightening up. "That was a strong one." She couldn't help but smile at the look of concern she received. "I'm fine."
Lex wasn't convinced, but decided to stay close, just in case. "If you say so." She was surprised when Jeannie wrapped her arm around hers and tucked her head against her shoulder.
"Actually, I'm scared." Jeannie's voice was so low it was hard to hear. "It seems like things are going too well, you know? I keep waiting for something bad to happen."
"You can't think like that. Everything's going to be fine." Lex shivered as another blast of air gave her a chill. She opened the barn door. "Come on."
Jeannie found a bale of hay and sat while Lex checked the horses. "Lex?"
"Yeah?"
"What if I'm not a good mother?"
Lex rose quickly from where she had been filling one of the water troughs and whacked her head on a board. "Ow." She rubbed the back of her skull and stepped to where Jeannie was perched. "You're going to be a great mom."
"How do you know? You're raising my firstborn, and she doesn't even like me." Tears began to leak from Jeannie's eyes. "What if--"
"Shh." Lex sat beside Jeannie and pulled her into her arms. "You didn't have much of a choice, sweetheart. And for the record, Lorrie loves you. She just didn't know you very well, at first. But y'all get along great, now."
After blowing her nose, Jeannie exhaled and sat up. "Thanks. You're pretty good with emotional, pregnant women, Slim."
"Lots of practice."
Jeannie laughed and picked up Lex's hand. "Rodney and I have talked about it, and we'd like to name you and Amanda as the baby's godparents. And," her voice softened, "we'd also like for you to raise him, should anything happen." When Lex stayed silent, she was afraid she'd said too much. "I mean, you know as well as I do, that life doesn't go smoothly. And I realize your family is growing already, but--"
"Of course we would. And we hope you'd do the same for us. It only seems right for you to take care of Lorrie if we can't." Lex kissed the side of Jeannie's head. "But nothing's going to happen. In another week or so, you're going to bring a healthy son into the world."
"Thanks." Jeannie hugged Lex and started to stand. She felt a strong pain and covered her abdomen with both hands. "Oh!"
Lex's eyes widened when she noticed the wetness on Jeannie's dress. "Is that--?"
"Yeah." Jeannie doubled over. "I don't think he's going to wait. My water broke."
AMANDA KNOCKED SOFTLY on the wooden door. She glanced at her daughter, who stood dutifully by her side. "Is that too heavy?"
"Nope." Lorrie adjusted the stuffed cow in her arms. The black and white toy was so large it hung past her knees, but it was what she picked out at the store as a gift.
The door opened and Rodney appeared. "Well, hello there." He winked to Amanda before squatting in front of Lorrie. "That's some toy you have there."
"Izza moo cow." Lorrie raised it and held it close to his face.
"I see." Rodney stood and beckoned them inside. He closed the door and pointed toward the living room. "You've got great timing. Teddy finished his lunch a few minutes ago."
Lorrie walked next to Amanda, but stayed close to her leg. She saw Jeannie in a large, cushy chair, holding a squirming bundle. Her curiosity got the best of her and she moved to stand close by Jeannie. She pointed at the blanket, which squeaked and moved. "What's dat?"
"This is your bro--cousin, Teddy." Jeannie gave Amanda an apologetic look at the near slip. She moved the blanket so Lorrie could get a better look. "See? He's a baby."
"Bee bee?" Lorrie's brow wrinkled as she considered what Jeannie had told her. She turned to Amanda for confirmation. "Mommy?"
"That's right. A baby. Remember? We went shopping for him?" Amanda sat on the arm of the chair. "He's adorable, sis." She happily accepted him from Jeannie. "Rodney, I think he takes more after you."
"So Jeannie tells me." He sat on the floor close to Lorrie, who immediately sat in his lap. "Do you like the baby?"
She waved the stuffed animal. "Gots moo cow for bee bee." Lorrie was completely comfortable with Rodney, who had always treated her well. "Gots cookies?"
"Lorrie!" Amanda cringed at her daughter's lack of manners. "We'll get cookies at Gramma's."
Lorrie stood and tossed the toy on the floor. "No! Wants cookies."
Amanda handed Teddy to Jeannie. "Lorrie, I told you we'd have cookies later. Now apologize for your behavior."
"No." Lorrie's lower lip jutted out and her eyes narrowed. "Wants cookies."
Amanda bent over enough to get on her daughter's level. "Lorraine Marie Walters," she pointed to the sofa, "Go sit in time out."
Lorrie glared at her for a moment before stomping to the couch and climbing on the far end. She crossed her arms and pouted, but didn't say another word.
Jeannie stifled a chuckle. "She looks like Slim when she does that."
"I know." Amanda straightened and placed her hands on the small of her back. "You should see when they both get into trouble at the same time. I think the terrible twos extend into the threes, and are contagious."
Rodney stood and dusted off his jeans. "Hold on, Amanda." He pushed a cushioned rocker close to her. "This was Jeannie's favorite while she carried Teddy."
"Thanks." Amanda lowered herself into the chair and sighed in relief. "That's much better." She noticed Lorrie looking contrite. "Lorrie, are you going to behave now?"
Lorrie nodded.
"All right." Amanda held out her hands. "Come here, sweetie."
With tears in her eyes, Lorrie scrambled off the sofa and hurried into her mother's arms. "Me sowwy."
Amanda held her close and rocked. "I love you, Lorrie."
Jeannie looked on with a pang of sadness. Although she had given birth to Lorrie, she knew that now, without a doubt, Amanda was her mother.
Chapter Twenty-Five
IT WAS ONLY ten days until Christmas and Lex was ready for the holiday to be over. She usually loved this time of the year, but between Amanda's pregnancy and Lorrie's exuberance, it was more than she was used to. Her partner alternated between giddy happiness and spur-of-the-moment crying jags, keeping Lex continually on edge. And Lorrie was, well, a typical three-year-old. At least that's what Martha assured her. Lex wasn't so certain.
The festive, piped-in music was beginning to grate on Amanda's nerves. She had agreed to go Christmas shopping with Lex, but she didn't take into account that everyone else in the county would be doing the same thing. If one more person shoved her, she was sure Lex would start breaking kneecaps as she had threatened to do earlier. She tightened her grip on Lex's arm and followed her into what she hoped was the final store.
Lex found an empty chair near the women's cologne counter. "If we don't find it here, I'm going to cut out a picture of it and put it in a card." She stopped and waited for Amanda to sit, which she did. "I'm sorry it's taking so long, sweetheart." The perfume hadn't been her first choice for Martha's present, but after she had heard her go on and on about it after seeing the commercial, Lex knew it had been a thinly veiled hint. So, here they were. "I'll be right back."
"Take your time." Amanda sank into the soft leather chair and closed her eyes. Her feet were killing her, and her back complained with every step. She was ready for the baby to arrive. And she was jealous of Jeannie, who was home with her son and planned to have her wedding on Valentine's Day. Amanda thought the whole idea of a big ceremony was silly when they had a newborn to care for. If it were her, she would have gone to City Hall and been done with it.
The exhausted saleswoman checked her watch again. Muriel patted her dyed, platinum-blonde hair, knowing it was no longer in the neat bun she had started with that morning. She didn't think she'd last the two hours until closing time. When she noticed the casually dressed woman pee
ring at the different fragrances, she pasted a smile on her face. She hated browsers. This one looked even poorer than the rest. Her denim shirt was old and worn and her jeans were faded. Even her battered leather jacket looked as if it had seen better days. "Is there something I can help you with?"
Lex raised her eyes. "Uh, yeah. What sizes does that," she tapped the glass over a dainty bottle, "come in?"
"I'm sure I can find you something more affordable. We've got a shelf of suitably priced colognes over by the ladies' shoes." Muriel pointed in that direction. "The fragrances in this cabinet are imported."
"So?" Lex couldn't understand what the woman's problem was. "Don't you want to make a sale? This is exactly what I've been looking for."
Muriel looked down her nose at the stubborn woman. She leaned across the counter and lowered her voice. "Listen to me. If you start to cause a problem, I'll call security."
"What?"
"You heard me. Go to the discount store. It's more in your price range."
Lex checked her clothes. They were pressed and didn't have any holes. She looked at the soles of her boots. No, they were clean. She didn't know why this woman was so hostile, but she was determined to find out. "Lady, I'm not in the mood for your games. Give me the damned perfume." She reached into her inner coat pocket for her wallet.
All Muriel could see was the woman's hand disappearing inside her coat. She panicked, fearing she was about to be robbed. Her hand groped beneath the counter until she felt the alarm button. She pushed it and hoped she'd live long enough to see security take this woman down.
Amanda heard hurried footsteps rush by her, and she opened her eyes in time to see two large men head toward the perfume counter. "Now what?" She struggled to get out of the chair to see what was going on.
Lex saw a commotion out of the corner of her eye and turned her head right before she was tackled and knocked down. "What the--"
"Shut up." The larger of the two guards pinned her to the floor, face down, and wrestled Lex's hands behind her. "Don't try anything stupid." He handcuffed her and flipped her over onto her back. While straddling her hips, he carefully searched her pockets. "Where's your weapon?"
Amanda wanted to yank the security guard off her lover. "What do you think you're doing? Lex, what's going on?"
"How the hell should I know? This big ape attacked me for no reason." Lex rocked her shoulders in an attempt to get more comfortable. His hand brushed her breast. "Hey, watch it!"
The man climbed off her and lifted Lex to her feet by her coat.
"Don't move. The police should be here any minute." He pushed her face against the counter and started to frisk her. His partner stood by and watched the scene silently.
Amanda had seen enough. "Would you please stop? She hasn't done anything wrong."
"She was trying to rob me!" Muriel pointed a shaky finger at Lex. "I saw her reach for a gun."
"That's ridiculous. We came in to buy a present." Amanda bristled when Lex raised her head and the guard slammed her down again. "Stop! You're hurting her!"
The second guard pulled out a notebook. He glanced at the saleswoman's nametag. "Muriel, if you'll give me your statement, we can get the perp out of your hair."
At that moment, two uniformed deputies arrived. Both had their hands on their holstered guns, but relaxed when they noticed Amanda. The first one couldn't believe what he was seeing. "Amanda?"
She almost cried in relief. "Jeremy, thank god. Would you please tell this jackass they've made a mistake, and to let Lex go?"
Jeremy waved off the other deputy and grabbed the big security guard's arm. "Stand down, buddy. Uncuff her."
"I can't do that. She threatened to rob one of our employees." He hitched up his pants. "We've got to process her."
Lex cautiously raised her head. Her cheek ached, and she had a feeling it was going to bruise. "I did not. She was giving me a hard time about buying some damn perfume. I was taking my wallet out to show her my credit card, when this guy body-slammed me."
Everyone turned to Muriel. "She was being difficult." She brushed her shaky hand against her hair in an attempt to calm herself. "I mean, look at her. There's no way someone who looks like her can afford a bottle of our finest fragrance." She looked haughtily at Jeremy. "I want to press charges."
"You've got to be kidding me." Jeremy glared at the guard until he relented and removed the handcuffs from Lex.
Lex stepped away from the counter and rubbed her wrists in an attempt to restore circulation. "Can we go home?" The whole incident had unnerved her. She began to feel calmer when Amanda stepped into her embrace.
Jeremy patted Lex on the back. "I think that can be arranged. Go on, I'll handle this." He waited until she and Amanda were out of earshot, then gestured for the guards to leave. The dirty looks he received from the men didn't faze Jeremy at all. "Lady, you're damned lucky it was me that showed up. Because if it had been my boss, you'd be in deep trouble."
She drew herself up and glared at him. "Why? What's so special about that hooligan?"
"She's my boss's daughter. And she has more money than you'll see in a year." He enjoyed her shocked look. "Now, which one of these was she looking at?" Jeremy knew it wouldn't make up for the embarrassing day Lex had suffered, but it would be fun to tweak this snotty saleswoman. "While you're at it, get your manager over here. I think he needs to be filled in on how you treat customers."
Once outside, it didn't take long for Lex and Amanda to reach the truck. Amanda led her partner to the passenger side. "I'll drive." She brushed her fingers over Lex's cheek, which was still red from her mistreatment. "Are you all right?"
"Yeah." Lex closed her eyes at the gentle touch. "Do we have to tell anyone about this?"
"We'll keep it between us, love. Let me call my grandparent's and see if they'll watch Lorrie for the night. I think we need a little alone time." Amanda waited until Lex got into the truck before she went to the other side and climbed in. Some world-class pampering would be needed tonight. And she would be more than happy to be on the giving end for a change.
FIVE DAYS UNTIL Christmas. The last place Lex wanted to be was in a doctor's waiting room, but here she sat across from another couple. The obstetrician's office was close to the Somerville hospital, and the doctor had been recommended by their primary physician, Dr. Anderson. They liked Dr. Vaughn very much, and she always explained everything to them well. Still, Lex felt uncomfortable around strange pregnant women. Some were with husbands, while others came in alone. She bounced her leg anxiously.
"Would you please calm down?" Amanda put her hand on Lex's thigh. "You'd think you're the one who has to expose herself to the doctor."
"I can't help it. You know how these places get to me."
Amanda sighed. "Maybe I should have come alone."
"No!" Lex blushed when everyone in the room stared at her after her outburst. "Sorry." She leaned closer to Amanda and lowered her voice. "I promised you I'd share as much of this as humanly possible and I meant it. I want to be here." She laced their fingers together and privately vowed to keep her nervousness to herself. Amanda had enough going on without having to worry about her.
"Thank you." Amanda squeezed Lex's hand. While Lex was jittery, Amanda was actually looking forward to the visit. Although she had already had one ultrasound earlier in her term, they were hoping today to be able to find out the baby's sex.
The woman across from them noticed their linked hands. "Is this your first?"
"Yes."
"No."
Amanda shook her head at Lex. "It's my first pregnancy, but our second child."
"I see." The woman looked at Lex. "Did you--"
Lex's eyes almost bugged out of her head. "Me? Hell no!" The thought of going through what Amanda was freaked her out. She jumped slightly when her lover lightly slapped her leg. "Sorry."
"We adopted our daughter." Amanda didn't feel the need to go into all the details.
The lady nodded knowingly. "And this
one? Artificial insemination?"
Lex was relieved when a door opened and a nurse announced Amanda's name. She stood and helped her lover to her feet. The conversation made her twitchy. She hated speaking about their personal life to strangers. A voice inside of her wanted to tell the woman to mind her own damned business, but she figured it would only get her into more trouble.
Amanda linked her arm with Lex's and looked at the other couple. "Artificial insemination? This baby seems real enough to me. Come on, Slim." She led Lex to the door.
Lex smirked and strutted after her. Before going through the door, she turned and gave the woman a wink. The look of surprise she received made the whole trip worthwhile.
The nurse escorted them to an exam room and handed Amanda a cotton gown. "I'm sure you're used to this by now, Ms. Walters. I'll be back in a couple of minutes to take your vitals." She closed the door behind her, leaving Lex and Amanda alone in the chilly room.
"This is one of the parts I wouldn't mind sharing." Amanda handed the gown to Lex so she could undress. "I don't know why they have to make these places so blasted cold." She hurriedly covered up and wrapped her arms around herself.
"Here." Lex helped her onto the table and draped her coat around Amanda's shoulders. "This should help, at least for a few minutes."
Amanda pulled the leather jacket closed in front of her. It was nice and warm, and she could faintly detect Lex's cologne. "Thanks. Have I told you lately that I love you?"
"Yep. But I still love to hear it." She put her arms around Amanda. She turned around when the door opened and the nurse stepped inside. "Do you have to keep it so cold in here?"
The nurse set her chart on the nearby counter. "Of course we do. It keeps us from having to refrigerate our stethoscopes." She placed a digital thermometer into Amanda's ear. It beeped and she checked the reading before writing it on the chart. "I hate to do this to you, but you're going to have to remove the jacket, so I can check your blood pressure."
