"Thank you Darling but you've done all you can do. I prefer to toss my cookies in private. Even though you aren't hovering it feels like you are and that freaks me out."
"OK I'll go but there is one more thing I can do." Chantal leaned down and poked at her mother's tiny baby bump. "Listen up kid, Mummy and I have important things to do today and you will not, I repeat will not ruin these plans! Have I made myself clear?" Jeannette couldn't help but laugh a tiny bit as she watched her daughter leave her in peace. She wasn't sure if she'd just emptied everything remaining in her stomach or if Chantal's directive was heard but she felt the nausea lift five minutes later. She grabbed her silk robe and walked out to the living room just as the ginger ale and a pitcher of chocolate milk arrived. Jeannette was about to say something about the empty pitcher that was picked up but she decided to let it slide.
"I think your orders to the baby worked. When did you and Winston join me last night?"
"At 3:30 I woke up from a bad dream and couldn't go back to sleep. I'll go get Winston and bring him in to my room."
"Winston can stay and hang out until you need him tonight. You were thirsty I see."
"Umm yeah."
"Chantal you know I hate it when you slip in to lazy American lingo."
"Sorry Mummy, yes I was thirsty. Actually I am still thirsty."
"I agree with Sam, you are going to turn in to chocolate milk one of these days and I'll have to talk to you via a straw. Where did you put the crackers?"
"I'll go get them." Chantal came back a few seconds later and handed the sleeve over. Jeannette poured some of the ginger ale in to a glass and took a small sip. She ate half a dozen crackers and then looked over at her daughter who was draining a glass of chocolate milk.
"I suppose you are hungry?"
"Scrambled eggs, bacon and toast sound good to me."
"Order me two pieces of toast, tell them my usual. I'm going to get dressed."
Chantal ordered breakfast adding a request for the requirements for a proper cuppa and reminded them that her mum's usual toast was toasted medium and lightly buttered. Breakfast arrived in fifteen minutes. Jeannette gave the waiter a generous tip and sat down at the dinning room table for six. She sent Chantal to go get her stash of tea from her purse and took a bite of her toast. Jeannette took her time eating, supplementing the toast with more crackers to finish her tea. Chantal took a large glass of chocolate milk in to her room while she got dressed. The glass was empty when she returned so she filled it up again.
"Sweetie I don't understand how you don't spend all day in the bathroom with the amount of liquid in you every day."
"Guess I've got a very large bladder."
"You look very cute dear." Jeannette said of the black shorts and pink T shirt with a tiny black bow on the neckline.
"Thank you Mummy. It's suppose to be hot today, 89 according to the local weather."
"I'm glad I decided on a sundress. I won't have to change for tea afterwards."
Jeannette was wearing a blue floral halter neck dress that showed off her breasts. She noticed that the dress was tighter up top and more of her breasts were showing as the tightness of the top pushed her breasts together better than any under wire bra could. Sam will be pleased she thought. If this pregnancy was like Chantal's her breasts would increase significantly and her baby bump would stay smallish until her eighth month. Jeannette decided to capture her changing body this time and asked Chantal to take a picture that she posed for then one up against the wall to show her minuscule baby bump. She'd get Chantal to help her send the picture to Sam's Blackberry before they went to bed.
Richard was down at the front entrance of the Plaza waiting for them at 9:20 as he had said. As they approached the recording studio Chantal asked if he could stop so she could pick up a litre of chocolate milk. Jeannette rolled her eyes but asked Richard to stop anyway. She accompanied her daughter in to the store and watched with some amusement as the twenty something male clerk looked straight at her breasts the entire time. When they arrived at the studio Jacob's jaw dropped and she replaced it with a finger.
"Sorry about the distraction Jacob. It's hotter than hell out there."
"It's hotter than hell in here too Jeannette. You look wow! I can't believe we are recording Christmas music."
"Thank you and let's start with Santa Claus is Coming to Town."
It took Jeannette three hours to finish laying down the remaining four tracks. She stopped for a fifteen minute break to eat a slice of pizza and then went back to work until the tracks were done. It turned out that Gord was very sick with the flu and had listened to the tracks from the day before. He told Jacob that they were perfect and he'd listen to the remaining tracks when he was awake. He asked Jacob to tell Jeannette that he trusted her judgment because no one knew her voice better than her and that they could do the cover art in a few weeks from Washington. Gord also let her know that she could count on him to be in the audience for the Charity Gala with his wife. Jeannette thanked Jacob for putting up with her and gave him a warm hug.
Chantal had called Mr. Richard to let him know they were almost finished as Jeannette was on the last song so he was waiting outside when they stepped out of the studio. They arrived back at The Plaza around 1:30 and crossed the street to enter FAO Schwarz.
"Sweetie you don't hear this very often from me but you can buy whatever you want. I'd just like you to think twice if you really want it. No limits but remember we took a train here so you can't buy out the store." While Jeannette looked for a large stuffed bear around Winston's size, Chantal was going crazy in the FAO Schweetz Shop filling bags with candy.
"Chantal where are you?" Jeannette yelled.
"In the candy section Mummy."
Dear God, please give me the strength to not flip out when I see all that candy she wants, she thought as she walked towards the candy shop. She met Chantal at the candy counter that was half filled with sweet bags. "Don't worry Mummy I won't eat all of this overnight. That's a very nice bear is he for me?"
"You better believe you aren't eating all that candy overnight Miss Piggy," Jeannette laughed. "I picked Winston out for you so now I've picked a bear for your baby brother or sister."
"He's very cute, a little bit taller than Winston and a bit darker tawny colour. He has very expressive eyes. What are we going to call him?"
"I don't know yet. Are you finished with your sweets?"
"Yes."
Jeannette paid for the candy and bear and the sales girl agreed to hold them behind the counter as they looked around more. Chantal picked up some more Playmobile people and furniture for a nursery for her doll house. She picked out a Barbie, a large selection of clothes for her and a
carrying case. Chantal found a stuffed otter that she just had to have and noticed the time.
"Mummy it's almost three we better get going," she said as they were paying for her new toys.
Jeannette was happy they only had to cross the street as both of their hands were full with bags. As soon as they entered the hotel the bell hop offered to deliver the bags up to their suite. Chantal thanked him and took a ten dollar bill from her purse and handed it to him. Jeannette smiled at her daughter and they walked over to the Palm Court. They studied the menu and both came up with the same tea.
"Mummy can we have the Eloise Tea but with actual tea instead of the pink lemonade?"
"That was exactly what I was thinking. I know you want the Earl Grey tea and I think I'll try the Montebello Apple Spice."
The girl's placed their order and ten minutes later two pots of tea and a three tiered silver platter was placed in the middle of the table. The first tier featured grilled cheese sandwich, cucumber on buttered bread, organic peanut butter and jelly sandwich and strawberry and cream cheese sandwich. The second tier was Jeannette's favourite freshly baked warm scones with double devonshire cream and preserves. The third tier was filled with assorted cookies, chocolate cupcakes, pink Jello, Eloise shortbread cookies and chocolate dipped strawberries. Mother and daughter spent an hour and a half slowly enjoying tea; chatting about the new house and the pool
that Jeannette thought was important given Washington's oppressive heat in the summer. Once Chantal was assured she'd still have room for a swing set she quickly backed the idea.
After tea was finished Jeannette and Chantal went back up to their suite. Chantal went rummaging through the bag filled with candy while Jeannette changed in to an old short floral Laura Ashley skirt and a T shirt. She changed her heels to five inch, peek toe beige Louboutin's and went back out to the living room. Chantal handed her three bags, two contained Jelly Belly's a pear raspberry mix and cherry ones. The other bag was licorice all sorts with lots of the pink and blue jellied candies.
"Thank you Darling, you got my favourites." She opened the bag with the green and red jelly beans and ate a handful before resealing the bag. "That was a nice little sugar rush. Before we go to the Empire State Building I need to go shopping."
"What do you need Mum?"
"New bras, as my dress demonstrated my breasts are getting bigger."
Jeannette decided to go to Victoria's Secret and was not too surprised to discover that she went from a 36D to a 38DD. She found three bras she liked and bought them in every available colour. Chantal had been up the Empire State Building a few times but she always wanted to go every time they were in town. After she looked at the city from every angle she announced that she was finished. She asked a stranger to take a picture of the two of them and thanked the lady. On the elevator down Jeannette heard a gasp and cringed. Seconds later she heard a very loud voice.
"OH MY GOD you're Jeannette Pierce aren't you?
Jeannette tried to ignore the lady pretending she had no idea what or who she was talking about. The lady made her way over and tapped her on shoulder. "You are Jeannette Pierce."
Jeannette turned around and without removing her sunglasses looked at the lady. She quickly went through accents to use and decided a Southern one would work, "Sorry Ma'am but I don't know who ya'll talking about." The woman took a good look at her and sighed. "Sorry thought you were someone famous but while she is rather well endowed your boobs are too big and she's British." Chantal started to giggle.
"What's so funny Clementine?" Jeannette asked. "Nuttin Momma." She replied with a pretty good Southern accent of her own. Neither of them said another word until they were in the limo and then they both started to laugh. Chantal explained what happened to Richard and he chuckled.
"Where do you want to go next Miss Moppet?" Jeannette asked.
"Can we go to a bookstore so I have something to do on the train ride back?"
"There's a Borders at Columbus Circle, it's just on the other side of the park from the hotel." Richard answered.
"Fine by me." Jeannette answered back and rested her head against the back of the seat. "Richard is there anything cool to drink in here?"
"I have a can of Fresca and Sprite."
"I'll take the Fresca please."
Richard opened his small personal cooler and handed it back to Chantal at a stop light. Chantal opened it, took a sip and handed it to her mother. Jeannette sipped it slowly and took out a Tylenol for the headache that she was starting. She finished the drink by the time they arrived at Borders and after an hour of watching Chantal run around the children's section she reeled her daughter in. Chantal had picked out four hundred dollars worth of books that Jeannette paid for without a second thought. She didn't even bother to look at the books. She took a bag and made Chantal carry the other two down to the front of the store. Richard took the bag off Jeannette and one of Chantal's and put it in the trunk. Chantal brought the other bag to him and then climbed in the limo.
"Can we drive through the park Mr. Richard?"
"It's not the shortest route back to the hotel Chantal. It's up to your mother."
"Fine, just don't wake me up if I doze off Chantal."
"Mum, we are back at the hotel." Chantal said while gently pinching her cheeks forty minutes later. She had Mr. Richard drive her straight through the park to the other end then back to the hotel.
Jeannette opened her eyes and sighed. She reached in to her purse and pulled out a hundred dollar bill and folded it in quarters. Richard signaled for a bell hop who unloaded the shopping bags on to a cart. Jeannette pressed the bill in to Richard's hand and thanked him. When Richard looked down at his hand he walked over to her. "Miss Pierce this is..."
"Richard, consider it part of the Fresca fund and it's Jeannette."
"Thank you Mis...Jeannette. Will you be going out for dinner tonight?"
"No, how about meeting us at eleven tomorrow."
"Good night then. I'll see you at eleven."
"Thank you and good night. Chantal?"
"Oh yes thank you for driving me to Borders and through the park."
"You are welcome Chantal."
Chantal looked at the bell hop as he got on the elevator with them and smiled. He was tall with brown hair and blue eyes. "You are cute what is your name?" She asked.
The young man blushed but smiled back, "My name is Edward Miss."
"It's Chantal."
"Pleasure to meet you Miss Chantal. I love books too."
"What's the last book you read?"
"Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire."
"I've read that, well actually my Mum and I read it together. It was so sad when Cedric died."
"Yes it was very sad, I liked Cedric as a character. I bet you love Hermione."
"Yes I do, she's very smart just like me."
Jeannette chuckled softly, "What University are you attending Edward?"
"Columbia, Miss Pierce. I'm in my second year of Political Science and International Relations."
"Really my ..."
"What Chantal was about to say was that I am doing a gala fund raiser at the Kennedy Center with the First Lady. If you leave me your information I'll make sure you get an invitation and I think I can hook you up with a insider's tour of the White House."
"Wow that would be awesome Miss Pierce but with school and work and..."
"Nonsense Edward don't worry about a thing except following the orders I'll be sending you. So will you accept my offer or do I have to speak to your boss right now?"
"Thank you very much I'd be happy to accept your kind offer."
"You can be my date Edward so you feel more comfortable around the grown ups." Chantal stated with a big smile.
"Darling, Edward is a grown up."
"No he's a student they are not grown ups."
Edward started to laugh, "I'm a new grown up Chantal. I left home and had to pay for everything to stay here and go to Columbia that turned me in to a grown up. I work here to pay for school and rent."
They were at the hotel door so Chantal pouted at Edward. "Does that mean you can't be my date?"
Edward looked at Jeannette who just shrugged her shoulders making it his decision. "I'd be honored to be your date Chantal. Where can I put these Miss Pierce?"
"The books can go in Chantal's room and I'll take my bags."
When Jeannette came out Edward was sitting on the couch using a silver sparkle gel pen to write his details on the inside cover of a word search book. She grabbed the hotel pen from the desk and handed it to him. "Please Edward use a real pen. It gives me a migraine trying to read what she writes with those pens." Edward wrote the information again over the silver version and handed it to Jeannette. Thanks Edward this is all the information I'll need. Do not freak out if you get a call from the Secret Service. In fact add your parents phone number to the page.
"This should be interesting." Edward stated wondering what he signed up for.
Jeannette opened her purse and handed him a hundred dollar bill while Chantal ran back in her room to give him a twenty.
"Thank you Miss Pierce this is very generous and thank you Chantal but you don't need to pay me to be your date." Edward handed it back to her.
"Save it to buy me a corsage. I'll let you know what colour my dress is going to be."
Edward laughed and tucked the money in to his pocket. "How old are you Chantal? 8?"
"I'll be six in January."
His jaw dropped and he quickly reset it while Jeannette chuckled. "Common mistake Edward she is wise behind her years and a little tall for her age. She's starting grade one in September."
"Interesting, this will be a very interesting experience." He muttered as he pulled the cart out the door.
"Edward if you want to back out just let me know. I did not intend to force you in to this even though I really didn't give you a choice."
"No I really appreciate the offer and I'm sure I'll be sitting beside a responsible adult the entire time."
"Yes most likely her father. Don't worry by November he'll be fine with this."
"Good night Miss Pierce, good night Chantal."
"Good night Edward." They said in unison.
As soon as the door was closed Jeannette sat down on the couch and motioned her daughter over with her finger. Chantal you were about to say my dad works in the White House that's why I stepped in. You have to be careful Sweetie, we don't want anyone to find out that I'm pregnant or that you are Sam's daughter."
"Sorry Mum I'll try better to remember that."
"Good girl, I'm going to take a nap so don't wake me unless it's important and do not leave the room even to just go downstairs to chat with Edward."
"OK."
Jeannette changed in to her pajamas and crawled in to bed wondering how she'd break the news to Sam that his 5 year old daughter would be going on her first date. "Sweetie, if Sam calls don't mention Edward to him. I need to do that in person when he's in a very good mood."
"OK" Chantal replied and picked up the phone to order some chocolate milk.