While Lovejoy and April were chatting on the stairs arrived Elizabeth.
"They phoned from the hospital, they will release Alexander tomorrow, so the funeral could be the day after, I will talk to the vicar" said Lovejoy
"Thank you" April was playing with her hair, really she was tearing some hair from her head.
"Where is Jane?" asked the doctor taking her briefcase from the car.
"She is in her room, do you know the way?"
"Yes, I know..." said Elizabeth climbing the stairs.
Elizabeth step inside the room, Jane was half sleeping with her hands limp on her belly.
"Jane, how are you?"
Jane gasped, trying to put herself in a sitting position, but her head span.
"More or less..." said Jane, breathing deeply.
Elizabeth put a hand on Jane shoulder.
"Jane, give me your wrist, I will check your pulse." said Elizabeth taking her clock, Jane gave her the wrist.
"80, a bit high... I take your blood pressure now." said Elizabeth with the cuff in her hands.
"85-50... Jane, it's a bit too low. Do you feel any dizziness?"
"I've been always dizzy since Alex's death..."
"I think a good part is playing by the shock." said Elizabeth
Then Elizabeth put down bed-covers and pull on Jane's nightgown, she put a hand on the middle of the belly. She pressed a little, then she took a tape.
"Do you have any contractions? Or strange discharge? Your bump is a little tense, now I will check the heartbeat.
There was a moment of total silence, Jane kept her breath to hear the sound of that little heart.
"The heartbeat is strong..." said Elizabeth. Jane at those words started to cry, but they were tears of joy, the only thing perfect in that moment was her child, she was carrying a healthy child.
"I am afraid of having a miscarriage..." said Jane with both her hands of the belly.
"Stay calm, Jane, you can't lose it, it is healthy and it has a strong heartbeat, don't worry about the lack of movements in case, you are stressed and it can feel your stress at this stage of pregnancy. So you need to rest, no stress please, until the funeral and you have to take it easy until the birth. I give you some vitamins for your pressure and on next visit I want a blood work, I am afraid that you are a little anemic. Are you eating properly?"
"No, I can eat really a little of food." replied Jane blushing.
"Another thing, if you need anything not from a doctor, but from a friend I will be here."
Jane was touched by this sentence and she said: "Thank you Elizabeth"
That night arrived also Lady Alice Felsham, Alexander's mother. She used to live in Caribbean with her new husband. She was in her late fifties, or maybe early 60, she was tall, very tiny and with a very beautiful skin.
She was more beautiful than Alyssa and Amelia.
She wore a long black dress, black sunglasses, a hat with a veil and a pair of silky gloves.
"She is my mother Lovejoy." said harshly Apri.
"She is very similar to Alexander.."
"Yes, really. I come inside to greet her, then I want to have a chat with Elizabeth, about Jane."
Alice Felsham step into the living room and she bumped against Eric who was napping on the carpet.
"Who are you?" asked
"I am Eric Catchpole, at your service." replied Eric jumping immediately on his feet.
Tinker was out at the pub, he needed his regular dose of Alcool to work.
"What a terrible loss girls, what a terrible one" told Alice to her daughters, they were both sitting on the sofa.
"Hi mother..." said April.
"April? I believe you somewhere in Africa or in Russia."
"No, I am doing an internship in Cambridge, I'm living there." said April.
"Why are you dressed like that?" asked Alice looking at her youngest daughter.
"Am I dressing wrong?"
"You are wearing unsuitable clothes, where are you coming from?"
"Mother I've been at work until 6 o'clock this morning, I went home to take the overnight bag then I was back here. I work, you not, so please, don't judge me. But you've always judged me... Another think? I am on period, so I am in pain and I want only to have a lie down and another funny task? I have to study for an exam, so please, leave me alone."
"I want to see Jane." said Alice
"She is resting, her blood pressure was very low and the doctor put her on rest for today."
"I can wait until tomorrow. Now, where is my room. Mrs Wilson..."
Mrs Wilson was in the kitchen doing nothing really. She arrived quite soon.
"Milady?"
"My room please..."
Mrs Wilson sent the Felsham women to their room, with the promise of a tray with something to eat a bit later.
Elizabeth was in the kitchen chatting with April.
"So, what about Jane?" asked April pouring a little of red wine in two glasses.
"Nothing bad for the baby, it is active and its heartbeat is strong, she needs rest, she needs to calm down her nerves, I didn't performed a complete examination because it could have been very painful. She is too tense.
"Bed rest?"
"Not total, I think tomorrow she can stay on the sofa, she mustn't stay on her feet for long time but she can have a normal life, but very quiet, so no car, no stairs."
"Thank you Elizabeth."
"I am very sorry about your brother."
"Thank you."
"Are you well April? You look very tired."
"It's 48 hours that I don't sleep."
"Well, in case of bleeding or contractions call me."
Lovejoy went in Jane's room.
"Jane, you mother-in-law is here."
"What?"
"Alice"
"Oh my God, I can't face her right now."
"She is in her room."
"Oh, thank God. She is a very kind woman, she is kinder than Alyssa and Amelia, but she is a bit judgmental." said Jane relaxing against the pillows.
"What did Elizabeth say?" asked Lovejoy sitting close to her.
"Nothing special, I heard the heartbeat. It is healthy." said Jane.
Lovejoy smile and put his hand on Jane's belly, he stroked gently the curve of the belly.
"And what about you?"
"Lovejoy, we all know what I am, I am a dowager lady. Or better a pregnant dowager lady"
"Jane, they phoned from Glasgow, the funeral could be the day after tomorrow."
"Ok... could you please talk to the vicar? I am too weak to do that."
Lovejoy looked into her eyes, he felt for her the deepest feeling he'd ever felt. He loved her. He decided in that moment that he would use all his free time to take care of her and of her child. He couldn't let her down. He really wanted a future with her, maybe more children,he wanted her to become his wife.
"Jane, do you want something to eat?" asked Lovejoy.
"Maybe a little of soup with some toast?" said Jane licking her bottom lip.
"Are you hungry?"
"A little, please don't bring me a gallon of soup, but I can face a couple of spoons of it."
Jane ate precisely three spoon of soup and drink half a glass of water and ate a little piece of toast, better than a little quarter of toast and a sip of tea.
April was in the kitchen downstairs, she was trying to study, but her cramps and the tiredness didn't let her focus the attention on the medical article she read.
Alyssa and Amelia were in their room they both slept by 10 o'clock.
Alice was in her room too, she held a old picture, a family picture. It was taken in 1979, the day when Alexander and Jane arrived from their honeymoon. She missed her husband that day and that picture was the first one with Jane and the last one with Philip. She was silently suffering, she didn't say her husband that she was going in England because of the death of her only son.
She didn't like very much Jane. She'd never loved April, she was born by a mistake, she failed to count fertile days and so April. Maybe that moment was the more suitable to change these things. She sank her face in her pillow and cried all her tears.
Jane too found that old picture on the bottom of her drawer in her room, she recalled very well that day. They were all happy.
Lovejoy went into the kitchen by 11 o'clock.
"So, doctor Felsham, do you want to go to sleep?"
"Yes, but where?"
"I think Jane is still awake, you can ask her. Tonight I'll sleep on the sofa with Eric and Tink, I don't think your mother likes if I sleep with Jane."
April smiled and then she started to climb the stairs.
Jane was really still awake, she was reading a book.
"Jane, where I can sleep tonight?" asked April
"I don't fell enough well to sleep alone, do you like to sleep with me?"
"Don't you mind?"
"Not at all, I need somebody by me."
"How are you Jane?"
"Like on the roller coaster. Really, one moment I am not happy but quite positive, on the other I am gloomy, sad and I want to cry."
"I am very sorry for you."
"And you?" asked Jane, looked directly at April's eyes.
"I nothing, I am heartless, and the sight of mother downstairs earlier made my heart died in a permanent way."
"I don't think you are without heart, April. I know you, and you aren't. But now you are tired."
April didn't want say that she was so tired that she barely walk up the stairs. She really needed a lie down and some hours of good sleep.
"I have a shower first. You should have been already asleep."
"I can't..." said Jane
"Jane, do you like to take a bath. It can be good for you."
Jane staid in the tub for hours, she looked at her belly from the water, the small bump was round, tender, she started to relax finally, after two days of emotional twist.
Both April and Jane slept deeply that night. Jane fell asleep with April's hand on her belly.
Another morning started.
"I think we have to break them the news, because if they see Jane, the bump will be quite visible. " tell Lovejoy to Tinker while they were drinking tea in the kitchen.
"Do you love her, Lovejoy?" asked Tinker, he was a smart man and he knew that Lovejoy loved Jane.
"I do, Tinker, really, I've loved her since that night with that fancy purple dress" said Lovejoy.
"Good morning, gentlemen" said April
"April, how's Jane?"
"She is still asleep. I let her sleep. She is tired."
April helped Mrs Wilson, she could have been a better housekeeper. She was a good organizer and she phoned relatives and the Hospital in Glasgow.
"Lovejoy, I want to ask you one thing, do you know if Jane did any ultrasound?"
"Yes, she did one last week. Why?"
"Medical curiosity." replied Aprill.
April took the sheet of dark paper and said "I think Jane is expecting a young lady."
Lovejoy was happy, he couldn't have stood a boy copy and paste of Alexander.
"April, Tinker and I were thinking that maybe we have to tell them that Jane is pregnant."
"I don't know" said April "It's Jane's uterus and baby, not mine."
Jane woke up at half past 10, she was better. Her mind was more relaxed and she was ready to face her mother and sisters in law.
"Good morning Janey, how are you?" asked Lovejoy
"Better. Can I go downstairs today?"
"Yes, but I'll carry you, you can't climb the stairs."
Jane put on a little of make up, a loose sweater and a pair of old work trousers.
"Here we are madame" said Lovejoy putting Jane on the sofa in the drawing room.
"Are you well with your back here?"
"Yes, I am well. Can you bring me some tea?"
"Anything else?"
"No, thank you." said Jane.
Alice went into the drawing room with a bunch of papers and letters.
"Jane, I didn't know you were up. How do you feel? I am very sorry for Alexander, it is a terrible loss to you too."
"More or less, how are you, lady Felsham? I am sorry too for you, he was your only son."
"You can imagine. How is the baby?"
"How do you know about the baby?" asked Jane very scared by that question.
"Jane, calm down. Alexander phoned me the night in which you said him that you were expecting."
"He was very hard about the baby. Sometimes I think it could have been better if I had had an abortion."
"Jane, do you know what I told him?"
"No. We never had the chance to talk quietly after the test." said Jane
"However, I said him that a baby is a blessing and that he was behaving like a selfish boy. I want to talk to you, I want to know how you were."
"I have morning sickness for a lot of weeks. Now I am better. But all this situation is wearing me out. We went to Glasgow, we came back, I am useless." said Jane, she felt a knot in her throat.
"Shh, Jane, don't say silly things. May I hug you?"
"You are welcome." said Jane.
Jane cried against Alice's shoulder, but her heart was happy. Her mother-in-law was happy about her pregnancy and about her becoming grandmother.
"Have you seen April this morning? I have to talk with her."
"She was going to Cambridge for some errands. I am in a semi bed rest, I can't drive."
"I am really happy for this baby. It is a new beginning. When I knew about Alexander I was worried about you and about the baby. Are you eating enough?"
"No, not really. I'm not gaining enough weight. In fact both my doctor and April are a bit concerned."
"Who is this Mr Lovejoy?"
"He is my business partner, he is a good man, he is helping me. We work together."
"You are still a decorator?"
"Yes, I am. I know you didn't like this fact."
"But you are good in this job."
Alice looked at Jane with kind eyes, her daughter-in-law was a strong woman, she'd always been.
Amelia and Alyssa arrived downstairs together.
"Jane, finally you are up." said Alyssa
"Yes, I am up."
Jane moved a little on the sofa and her sweater tighten a little against her stomach.
"Jane, are you expecting?" asked Amelia pointing out the rounded belly under the sweater.
"Yes, I am almost 21 weeks pregnant." replied Jane, with a hand over her bump.
"You are pregnant? But did you know that Alexander had never wanted any child?" asked sharply Alyssa.
Jane was trying to remain calm, to count to 100 before open her mouth.
"I didn't know, but it happened. And now it's a bit later to regret about it." said Jane pointing out her belly.
"And who is the father? Alexander or your friend Lovejoy?" asked Alyssa again
"It is Alexander's"
"You are selfish, you are only a selfish no one. You have a name only thank to Alexander. You wanted him stuck with you with a child." told Amelia to Jane, who began to shake.
Jane breathed deeply, she rose slowly from the sofa, she ran to the kitchen. Tears in her eyes and a terrible pain in her chest.
"You are selfish, both of you. Out of this house, immediately. Go to anhotel. It's not a suggestion. I am shame of you!" barked Alice against her daughters. "If she lose the baby, it will be only your fault!"
Jane sank in a chair, she put her feet on another one. She felt terribly, her stomach in knot her hands were shaking, her head was spinning.
Tinker and Alice stepped at the same time in the kitchen, Jane was in the middle of the kitchen shaking.
"Jane, have a sip of water" said Alice hugging Jane.
"What's happened Milady?" asked Tinker
"Nothing, my daughters behaved like stupid children. Can you prepare some tea, mr.."
"Tinker..."
"Jane, are you better?"
"Yes, a little, I am sorry, I am too emotional."
"You are a strong woman Jane. Really. You are the strongest in all this situation and you are thousand times better than my daughters. They are going to sleep in hotel tonight."
"I don't if I am strong or not, I only know that this situation is the worst in all my life and I don't wish it to anybody."
Alice kissed Jane forehead and put a hand on her rounded belly.
"It is moving."
"Yes, it's always moved when I am upset, or I am stressed."
"Now you are not only upset, you are worn out." said Alice glancing at tinker.
Alice cooked lunch and she ate with Jane.
"Jane, are you sure you've eaten enough?" asked Alice a bit concerned about her daughter-in-law, she cooked some meat with vegetables and Jane ate a forkful of vegetables as well a forkful of meat.
"Yes, I am sure, I am not hungry really." said Jane.
"I know, it's difficult."
"I have a permanent knot in my throat. And I am always tired, I am really tired.
Jane came back on the sofa and she fell asleep, she woke up when April and Lovejoy stepped in the living room.
"Jane, how are you?" asked April knelt near the sofa and a hand on Jane's forehead.
"More or less. You mother kicked out Alyssa and Amelia, and she wants to talk to you."
"I spoke to the vicar. The funeral will be tomorrow." said Lovejoy.
"Time?"
"11 o'clock. We've already called all the relatives and the friends."
"Well, thank you..."
"Jane, you know, if you need I'll be there." said Lovejoy kissing her forehead.
That night she fell asleep in Lovejoy's lap, he put her carefully on the bed. He watched her, that strong and beautiful woman, with reddish hair, blue eyes, and a growing baby in her womb, a girl.
He came back downstairs.
"Is Jane sleeping?" asked Alice pouring some brandy in the tumblers.
"Yes, she is sleeping, she was exhausted poor thing." said Lovejoy
"I can imagine." said Alice "And April is tired too."
Alice put a blanket on April, she was asleep on the sofa.