A Plan Changes

Friends and colleagues with children told her it would soon happen, and it finally arrives early on Saturday morning: the third trimester burst of energy. Louisa has been in nesting mode for the last few weeks but has lacked the energy to complete her brilliant plans. That has now changed. By mid-morning she has tidied her cottage, thoroughly cleaned the lavatory and kitchen and dusted bookshelves as they haven't been cleaned in years!

Then she is off to the harbour for fish and the grocers for her weekly shopping. Martin is coming to Portwenn for dinner tonight and she feels great! Back at the cottage, she does laundry, a bit of ironing, changes the sheets on her bed and then has a shower, washes her hair and attempts a pedicure. Well, that may have to wait.

When Martin arrives from London a bit worse for wear, Louisa is wearing make-up, a red and white stripe top, and has a red band on her glossy ponytail. The fish is marinating in lemon, pepper and the tiniest bit of olive oil, the peas are shelled and the salad awaits only dressing. Early season berries have been washed, and Louisa will serve them with the biscuits Martin's Aunt Joan dropped off Friday evening.

She greets Martin with a big smile and a nice hug, and he looks warily at her. Who can blame him? The way she behaved at the inn – sullen and cross over a few weddings, jumping down his throat because he didn't want his horrid parents to see the baby, and then being unreasonable by demanding that he commit to set times with the baby. None of this seems very important at the moment.

Even without wine, the meal is wonderful. The food tastes delicious (and Martin confirms it), the one side conversation is fascinating (Martin doesn't have a chance to say much) and she is loving and kind to Martin (still wary though he may be).

Suddenly her energy plummets, and Martin helps her to bed where she remains until 10 on Sunday morning.

Martin brings a pot of tea and toast to her bedroom and rubs her feet as she chokes down a few pieces of toast and a mug of milky tea. She is fading fast, and Martin urges her to rest again. At 2 he gently nudges her saying he must return to London but will stay if she is not feeling well. He wanted to talk with her but understands that she may have done a bit too much yesterday. They will meet again before Martin leaves for Basel – perhaps the weekend after the school term ends. Louisa promises Martin that she will rest and not overdo it again. She wants to talk with him as well.

The day after term ends and two weeks before the baby is due, Louisa and Sally Chadwick are in her office binning files. Most of the teachers are emptying desks and packing cartons as the school is to be painted over the summer. With no children about, it is strangely quiet.

Near noon Tasha Mills pops in and asks Louisa to look at student artwork decorating the lunchroom walls and decide what is to be done with it. When they arrive, the staff is gathered for a surprise luncheon. Most attended the shower given by Pauline Large and Joan Norton, so there are no gifts, but there is ample laughter and goodwill. As they leave Louisa hugs each of them, and they offer reassuring words and kind sentiments.

At the end of the day Sally enters Louisa's office in tears. She is off tomorrow for a long-planned holiday to the beaches of Vietnam and will not see the baby until August. Louisa assures her that she will feel her encouragement across many time zones. Sally hurries off with several large bags of artwork and a backward glance and wave.

Louisa's back aches and her stomach is a little upset, perhaps from the cake. Returning to her packing, her mobile buzzes and she remembers turning off the ringtone during lunch. It is a call from Holly who closed her school last week and is leaving for a brief trip to Italy. She is very evasive about her traveling companion, saying only "he is lovely." Just as well – Louisa is a bit too distracted by her churning stomach.

Wishing Holly a bon voyage, Louisa notices she has missed a call from Gordon Day, and he's left a message. She's heard not a word from him since their lunch in Plymouth, but she hesitates only a minute before pressing "call back."

He answers on the fourth ring and is very agitated: "Oh God, Louisa, thank you for phoning me, I thought you might not." What she did not hear in Gordon's message is that his mother died this morning. He is on his way home to collect the girls and go on to Warwickshire.

Louisa is immediately sympathetic and senses that he wants to talk about his mother. Gordon once told her that his father died of a heart attack when he was 17 and his mother only 41, close to Louisa's age. With little work experience, she took on her husband's insurance agency and made a success of it until she suffered the early dementia that has now caused her death.

As Gordon drives to his home, Louisa hears the sound of London's rush hour traffic in the background. Perhaps it is that din or the emotions of today, but she has a headache and her stomach is now tightening. Pacing about her office, she sips cold tea to settle herself.

It seems Gordon has reached his home as he says: "Blast, some fool has taken my parking. Oh, it's that bloody Cecily. What is she doing here? If she's trying to play happy family, I'll have none of it." Louisa offers that Cecily is probably trying to help. Perhaps Margaret called her imagining how difficult it will be for Gordon to tell the girls their grandmother has died.

"Maybe. I hope you're right. I'm not in the mood for her." Then Gordon surprises her a second time when he says: "Louisa, I wish you were here with me. It would make all of this – all of this – bearable. I'm sorry. I haven't asked about you, about the baby. How are you, Louisa?"

"I'm well, Gordon. The term ended yesterday, and it'll be a few weeks before the baby. Nothing is resolved with Martin. Perhaps after the birth, he can focus only on the baby without having me in the way." Then Louisa has a sharp pain in her side and gasps.

"What was that?"

"Oh, just a bit of an upset stomach. The staff had a lunch for me today and I ate some very sweet cake – not the best for me now. Gordon, go in to your daughters. They'll make you feel better. Be patient with Cecily. If she is there, it's because she wants to help you. I am very sorry and please give my sympathy to Margaret and your entire family. Funerals are very difficult, and I will be thinking of you and hoping for the best."

"You'll be thinking of me, Louisa?"

"Yes, Gordon, I'll be thinking of you."

Louisa makes her way to the staff toilet, but halfway along the hall amniotic fluid trickles from her body creating a wet spot on the floor. She stares at it for a minute before realizing that labour has begun. She must call Grace and Joan. Louisa returns from the toilet with paper which she drops on the fluid and then bends to pick up. It is a bit difficult as her stomach is cramping and she is somewhat lightheaded.

Then she calls Martin.

Continued. . . .