Chapter Eight
After the doctor’s phone call, Colin endeavored to be more involved in Beverly’s pregnancy. He started to help her up when she looked like she couldn’t move off a chair or the couch. When she got up during the night, he always sat up and turned the lamp on, so she wouldn’t feel like she needed to move around in the dark. He even put together the glider without a single complaint.
They started childbirth classes the next week, and as he began to understand exactly what she was about to go through, he wanted to scream. He didn’t want the baby she carried, and it could actually threaten her life? No way was he going to put up with that.
After the first class, he took her to a small pizza place in Healy, determined to make it a positive experience for her. She’d gone through most of her pregnancy with no help from him at all, and he felt terrible about it.
“What kind of pizza do you want?”
She studied the menu. “I want taco pizza.”
“I don’t think they offer that, sweetheart. What else sounds good?”
“Taco pizza.” She frowned, pushing the menu away. She wanted what she wanted. And at seven and a half months pregnant, she should be able to get it.
Colin stood up and walked over to where he could see the cook standing, whispering something to the man. He got a nod in response and walked back to the table. “We’re having taco pizza.”
“Have I ever told you that you’re the best husband I’ve ever had?”
“I’m so glad I stack up nicely against all the other husbands you’ve had. Dozens, I assume?”
“Oh, definitely dozens. And I’ve had babies with every one of them!”
“I’m sure.” He took her hand and put it to his lips. “If you have to be uncomfortable carrying my baby, the least I can do is make sure you get to eat whatever you want to eat while you’re growing her.”
*****
Beverly got down to the serious business of buying baby clothes at the end of March. She only had about a month to go, and she knew she would need some good clothes. The hard part would be buying winter clothes in the summer, and she knew that her baby was going to need some cold weather clothes to make it through an Alaskan summer.
She started with the clearance online, and had several boxes of clothing shipped to her. She got the first four sizes the baby would need, knowing she might have to move some of it. She worried less about Colin asking her and Sara to leave after the baby was born than she had in the beginning, but she still had it in the back of her mind that it could happen.
One day in mid-April, after the childbirth classes were over, Colin found her in the baby’s room, arranging clothes by size in the closet. “You know you’re only having one baby, right?” he teased. “That little girl is going to have to wear everything twice, and then pass it on. She has more clothes than you’d need for triplets!”
“That’s what you think! Do you know how many outfits a baby can go through in a day? They spit up a lot, and they have blow-outs. Do you know what a blow-out is?”
He shook his head. “I don’t want to know.”
She started to tell him, but thought better of it. He already didn’t want the baby, so why would she tell him stories that would make it even worse? “Trust me, we want lots of clothes.”
“I’ll take your word for it.” He caught her to him, tilting her chin up for his kiss. “How are you feeling today?”
“Very, very round. I swear the only thing holding me together is my clothing.” She leaned her head against his shoulder. “I had no idea I’d be so uncomfortable toward the end. I need a massage, a pedicure, and maybe a long hot bath. Do you have any idea what I’d do for a bathtub right about now?”
He frowned, hating that she was living in discomfort, even though it was temporary. “I’ll see what I can do.”
She shrugged his comment off as she went back to work, finishing up supper for them both. As tired as she was they still needed to eat, and she wasn’t about to start eating beans and canned beef stew, which she knew was all he would feed her.
*****
When Colin left for work the following morning, he told Beverly to pack a bag for both of them. “Comfortable clothes. We’re not going anywhere fancy, but we will be gone for two nights.”
She gave him a strange look, because he hadn’t mentioned anything about taking a trip, but she wasn’t about to argue. She’d had enough of the four walls in that little cabin anyway. She was ready for something else.
When he got home from work that evening, he took the suitcase she’d packed to the car. “You ready?”
“How far are we going?”
“Fairbanks. I have a surprise.”
“Let me use the bathroom first! My pregnant bladder will make us stop over and over again otherwise!” She rushed into the bathroom. When she was out he’d put the suitcase in the back of her SUV.
“I’m going to drive your car. I think it will be easier for you to get in and out of it than for you to get in and out of the truck.” He was doing his best to make the weekend as perfect for her as he could.
As they drove, she watched the scenery, thinking about how very blessed little Sara would be to grow up in a place that was so beautiful. She loved the idea of her baby living in a place like Alaska, with the minimal pollution, beautiful scenery, and elemental values.
On the way to Fairbanks, he stopped at Santa’s House. She grinned at him. “You don’t mind?”
He shook his head. “How could I mind? I know you want to get an ornament for Sara.”
Beverly leaned over and kissed his cheek. “You always pick out the best fudge. Would you get some for me?”
Colin grinned at her. “You just don’t want to be on your feet any longer than necessary, so you want me to do it for you.”
“That might be a little bit true…”
He laughed. “I’m onto you, woman!”
“Isn’t that what got me in the shape I’m in?” She blew him a kiss as she slid out of the SUV and walked toward the store. Her movements were slow, because she was hurting. The weight of the baby was too much for her.
He hurried ahead of her and opened the door, bowing gallantly, which made her laugh. He was in jeans and a huge parka, and he was acting like the fanciest of gentlemen. “Thank you, kind sir!”
“Anytime, milady!” He went to the back of the store and exercised his fudge choosing skills, while she picked out a special ornament for the baby. They hadn’t been to Santa’s House since she’d announced she was pregnant, and the joy it brought her to see the little shop again, made him feel guilty.
She didn’t spend long, quickly choosing what she wanted and paying for it. She couldn’t be on her feet long with the way she was feeling. She had started sitting a lot as she cooked, chopping vegetables at the table.
Ten minutes later, they were again on their way, this time going to wherever he’d chosen to take her for the weekend. “Why are you being all secretive and stuff?” she asked, wondering if he would tell her what was going on.
“Because the love of my life is pregnant and uncomfortable. She deserves to be treated like a queen.” He didn’t take his eyes off the road as he pulled off the highway and into a hotel’s parking lot. “You wait here. I’m going to find out which room we’re in, so you don’t have to get out more than once.”
As he hurried away from the car, she grinned at him. He really was going all out to make this a special weekend. It was just what she needed to keep from losing her mind. She’d heard the term babymoon, and wondered if this was it.
He was back out a few minutes later, and drove her to a side building. “I asked for a room on the end, so you wouldn’t have to walk so far.”
“You’re my hero!”
“If I was really feeling heroic, I’d just carry you, but I have a feeling, you’d protest.”
“You’d break your back carrying both of us. It’s all I can do to carry her around. I hope she comes soon.” She rubbed at the foot kicking her in the side, trying to silently tell the baby to stop her nonsense.
“Wait…soon? When exactly are you due?”
His question gave her the giggles, though she wasn’t certain why. “Don’t you think you should have asked that a few months ago?”
“Maybe! When are you due?” He was panicking a little, thinking about how far from her doctor they were, being there in the city.
“The doctor estimates May first.”
“So the baby will be here May first?”
“Well, that’s her due date. It will be around then. Maybe a week or two before or after.” Didn’t he know that babies didn’t come on their due dates?
He stared at her, aghast. “So you’re telling me I brought you hours from your doctor, and you could go into labor any second?”
She shrugged. “Why is that so shocking?”
“I just thought you had more time before she came. What if you go into labor here? How would I get you back in time?”
“There are hospitals in Fairbanks. If I go into labor, you can take me to one. There’s a good chance it won’t be my doctor delivering the baby even if we’re at home. There are three doctors on call, and it could be any one of them when I delivered.”
He groaned. “I’m not liking this at all. I want you to be seen by whomever you feel comfortable with, not some random doctor you don’t know.”
“I trust the other doctors, because Dr. Yung does. I promise, I’m going to be all right.”
“I’m going to be right there with you, holding your hand. I promise I will!”
“Thank you!” She was a bit amused by his adamancy, but she said nothing. She was feeling more every day like their marriage just might work. She didn’t want to get her hopes up too high, but he seemed more comfortable with the idea of the baby every day.
Beverly got out of the car and began the long, slow walk into the hotel. He got the suitcase and moved in front of her, making sure he opened the door, so she could sit right away. “I thought we could go out for crepes again tonight. We haven’t been since right after we married.”
She grinned. “I’d love that! What are we doing tomorrow?”
“You’re having a spa day. I’m not sure what I’m doing yet. I might stay here in the hotel room, watch television, and sleep.”
“A spa day? Really? Did you tell them I’m pregnant?”
“I did. I wasn’t sure if a massage was safe for a pregnant woman, so they’re getting you something called a prenatal massage.”
She launched herself at him where he was sitting on the bed, and he let himself be knocked completely over. Pressing kisses all over his face, she said, “You’re the best husband in this whole hotel room!”
“Your praises always leave me feeling like I’m lacking somehow. I need to up my game.”
She giggled, sitting up. “Let’s go get crepes. I’m going to have the ham and cheese again, and I’m going to have a dessert crepe. The doctor wants me to gain a few pounds.”
“What? Are you unhealthy? Is that baby risking your life?”
“No, I’m fine. I’m just a bit under the weight I should be at this stage of my pregnancy. I’ve always been a little underweight. I’m eating like crazy, and I plan to devour some fudge later.”
“I don’t like that the doctor thinks you’re too small. Should I hire someone to do the housework until the baby is born?”
Beverly shook her head. “No, you shouldn’t. I only have two weeks left. It’s going to be fine!”
“I hope so!” He got up and took her hand, pulling her toward the SUV. “Do you need to use the bathroom before we go?”
She nodded emphatically. “Pregnancy bladder! You shouldn’t even have to ask!”
Colin watched her disappear into the bathroom with a bemused smile. She was taking the pregnancy and everything that went with it, with a positive attitude. He loved it. Before she came out, he hurried out to move the SUV to right in front of the door, and then he called her. “I’m waiting right in front of the door so you don’t have to walk as far.”
“Sounds good to me!” Beverly hurried out to the car—as fast as she could hurry in her condition. “Let’s eat!”
He drove the short distance to the restaurant, and left her at the door to go order for them both, while he parked the SUV. He was doing his best to make her walk as little as possible.
When he joined her after finding a parking spot, she was sitting at one of the tables, waiting for her food. “Good, here’s our number. You can go get it for me. I think I’m sitting here until I have to move. And I’d better be fed first.” She took a swig out of her water bottle, watching him over the top of it.
“No problem. You’re going to be relaxed by the end of this weekend if it kills me.”
“Don’t die!” Her words were earnest but her eyes were sparkling with laughter.
“I’ll do my very best. I don’t want you to have to drive home by yourself. You’d have to tie my body to the roof of the car!”
“And that would just be weird, wouldn’t it?” Beverly frowned at him. “How would I get you up there? I don’t know if you’ve noticed but I’m eight-and-a-half months pregnant, and that’s awfully pregnant to be lifting random men to the top of my car.”
“I’m not a random man! I’m your husband!”
“That doesn’t make you any less random in my eyes!”
He heard their number called and got up to get their food. “Am I still random now that I’m the man who is holding your food hostage?”
She frowned at him. “You’d starve your pregnant wife and daughter just because she called you random? You’re very random at times!”
Colin laughed, shaking his head. “Fine, I’ll feed you, but you’re better be thinking about how much you love and appreciate me!”
“I never think of anything else. You are my sun, moon, stars, and random husband, whom I love a little more every decade.”
He groaned. “Again with the compliments that bite me to the quick!”
“Isn’t it supposed to be cut me to the quick?”
“Now you’re threatening to cut me? What have I gotten myself into?”
She rolled her eyes. “I heard from Dr. Lachele today. She told me that we need to call her as soon as the baby is born, and get her a picture right away. She said she keeps a scrapbook of all her Matchrimony munchkins, and that Sara will be her favorite until the next one is born.”
“I think her attitude is rubbing off on you. Her favorite for a short while. Just like I’m your favorite husband who drove you to Fairbanks today.”
Beverly looked at him with wide eyes. “You don’t want to be my favorite? I guess you can be my least favorite, but that seems a little mean to me.”
Colin shook his head. “I’m going to trade you in for a wife who’s nice to me.”
“Nice to you? If I was nice to you, you wouldn’t know what to do with me!”
“That might just be true.” He sighed. “Eat your crepes, wife. You need your energy for your massage, pedicure, and hair appointment tomorrow.”
“Hair? My hair hasn’t been cut since I got here. I get a real hair cut? By someone who isn’t named Bob and doesn’t have a barber pole in front of his shop?”
“Hey, Bob’s a good guy! We’ve been friends for years!”
She patted his hand with one hand even as she forked up a bite of crepe with the other. “I needed a weekend away. Thank you for making it happen for me.”
“Haven’t you realized yet that there’s nothing I won’t do for you?” He turned his hand over to capture hers, using it to bring her hand to his lips.
She smiled, leaning her head onto his shoulder. He was good to her, even though she’d disappointed him with the baby. She was just glad he was moving on and not upset with her any longer. She prayed every day that when he saw their little girl, he’d realize how much he wanted her.
Someone stopped at the table beside them. “Colin? I thought you were still working at Denali, wrangling bears and tourists.”
Colin got to his feet with a grin. “Jim! It’s good to see you. Are you still trying to force kids to like history?”
“I sure am. And loving it!”
“This is my wife, Beverly. And this is an old buddy of mine from high school, Jim.”
Beverly got to her feet, offering her hand to shake. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Jim glanced at her belly. “I guess maybe you’re joining the world of fatherhood with the rest of us. Took you long enough! I didn’t think you’d ever have kids!”
Colin kept his smile carefully in place. “I didn’t either. Life changes you.”
“So does the love of a good woman.” Jim clapped Colin on the back. “Stay happy, my friend. I’m about to run these crepes home to my wife. She’s not pregnant, but she is hungry, so I feed her.”
“I’m glad we ran into you.” Colin needed to hear the other man’s perspective. It was good for him.
“Me too!” With a wave, Jim was gone.