28: HM2V: The Spiral Staircase
7:50 am, Madalena Village, Azores, Epicenter Pico No. 23
Sixteen weeks pregnant and just one week into her second trimester, Macy felt the healthy bloom of fertility permeate her physicality. The three bags of ginger chews had nearly been used up, and she began gaining her life back, clawing forth from the 1st trimester abyss of exhaustion and abject illness. Like how Sleeping Beauty must have felt, once her Prince Charming had kissed her, thought Macy to herself, as she gathered new bedsheets from the closet for Maya—a surprise, since she was being upgraded to a "grown-up, big girl twin-sized bed" later tonight.
Matias had promised to bring a new twin-sized bedframe over for Maya and assess the Epicenter Pico No. 23 bedroom walls and foundations, since Macy and Harry were looking to add a new addition (or three?). He did mention that their proposed additions weren't necessary, and said he'd explain why later, once he'd arrived.
3 pm, Madalena Village, Azores, Epicenter Pico No. 23
Harry and Macy heard a knock on the door. "Come in!" Macy opened the door to a bright-eyed Matias, who carted a sturdy bedframe behind him. "Wow, you made that yourself?"
"Yes," Matias said quietly, with the hint of a smile. "Yes I did."
"Thank you, it's really quite impressive, and I know Maya will love it," said Harry, shaking Matias' hand in greeting. "We've been trying to figure out how we'll fit three kids in here, given the whole 'twins' thing and all…"
"I know, I heard, and congratulations again," said Matias. "Macy, how've you been feeling today? Morgana wanted me to ask."
"Much more alive than last month," laughed Macy. "I can finally type journal articles while Maya's asleep taking a nap (she's asleep right now in our bedroom)—and I can do all manner of cleaning before the babies arrive—"
"Excellent, excellent," replied Matias. "Morgana will be glad to hear, she's been more worried this time around due to your early symptoms."
"So—Matias," began Macy, changing the subject, "why didn't you say the proposed additions were necessary?"
"Because of this." Matias walked to a part of the wall directly to the right of the master bedroom entrance, where the outline of a door suddenly appeared, knob, keyhole, and all.
3:10 pm, Madalena Village, Azores, Epicenter Pico No. 23
Harry and Macy stared. "M-Matias," stammered Macy, "how have I never noticed this door before?"
"Consider it a special gift from Dora and Della to you and your family," Matias responded. "They wanted to encourage their future magical generations to settle down on this property and enjoy all the island had to offer. Dora and Della knew that one day, Darcy and Jimmy would resurface as yourselves, Macy and Harry, and that you would start your family here. The condo adjusts itself according to the number of people located within. I'm not exactly sure how they executed it, but they certainly had a knack for charms, that's for sure." He turned the knob, which opened to a dark wrought-iron spiral staircase, not unlike the one backstage at Tessera Nightclub, where Darcy and Jimmy had conversed over many a jazz performance. "Follow me," he said, and the pair did so, not noticing that the bedframe Matias had carried to the door earlier had disappeared, only to make itself reappear upstairs.
3:20 pm, Madalena Village, Azores, Epicenter Pico No. 23, 2nd Floor
Sunlight streamed through the octagonal window and onto the wrought-iron staircase, which Harry and Macy climbed, two at a time, finally reaching the top after Matias. The flooring was a honey-colored sanded and polished bamboo, with an aura of cozy ambiance, reminding Macy of a Spoon & Tamago blogpost she'd seen earlier about architecturally designing aesthetically pleasing kindergarten play spaces. Wow, Macy thought to herself. This would be such a cheerful place to grow up—to play games—to grow one's imagination—to frolic. She could, for the first time, imagine all three of her children reading books in separate corners of this room, or learning a musical instrument, or putting together an intricate puzzle as a weekend afternoon family activity.
The miniature second floor hallway landing that Macy, Harry, and Matias stood on, faced three separate rooms, all of which doors were closed. "Shall we?" Matias motioned toward the first door, which he opened and the three entered together.
3:20 pm, Madalena Village, Azores, Epicenter Pico No. 23, 2nd Floor, Bedroom 1
The new bedframe and mattress were present, as were the new bedsheets Macy had bought for her daughter, which Matias and Harry fit over the mattress. The room, like the hallway, was airy and bright with an octagonal window, plus the same bamboo wood flooring that suited life in the tropical climate. The décor was minimal, but Macy and Harry looked at each other and smiled—they had plenty of years to decorate. But most importantly, Maya finally had her own room, meaning that Macy and Harry could have their master bedroom all to themselves, for the sake of their intimate life.
3:25 pm, Madalena Village, Azores, Epicenter Pico No. 23, 2nd Floor, Bedroom 2
After admiring the spaciousness of the first bedroom, the three exited and closed the door behind them, proceeding to the next door, which was to the right of the first (and sandwiched between the two other bedrooms). This room was about half the size of the first bedroom, but no less sunny, with a large picture window overlooking the ocean and a white crib that Harry and Macy recognized, having used it for their firstborn. How charming, Harry mused to himself. The perfect place for a little boy or girl to daydream or once older, write and philosophize to their heart's content. If Harry had grown up in the Azores, he couldn't have wished for a better bedroom.
3:30 pm, Madalena Village, Azores, Epicenter Pico No. 23, 2nd Floor, Bedroom 3
The final bedroom was located within the furthest right door. This room was about the same size as the one they had just seen, but instead of a large picture window, there was a three-paneled aluminum fire-proof bifold window from which one could see the island's fruit trees and various other flora and fauna. Macy examined the window, and the miniature covered balcony it led to. Perhaps this was a preview of sleepless nights to come? Macy also recalled the Montessori magical exercise Harry had young Maya perform awhile ago, and how there was a segment known as the "candle and air." It was a rare talent, to be able to channel flame effectively. Was it possible that Epicenter Pico knew such a special child would be born? Macy would have contemplated this further, along with the resultant implications of needing to fire-proof an entire set of living quarters, were it not for Maya waking up downstairs, calling for her, wondering where everyone had gone.
8 pm, Madalena Village, Azores, Epicenter Pico No. 23, 2nd Floor, Bedroom 1
"Do you like your new bedroom, sweetie?" Macy asked Maya, as she tucked the little girl into her "big girl" bed. Maya nodded.
"Yup, I feel like a princess!" Maya giggled.
"And does the princess want to hear a story?" Harry inquired, standing in the doorway behind Macy, who turned around, and beckoned him in. Maya nodded up and down.
"How about the tale of your great-great-great aunts Dora, Della, and Darcy?" Macy asked.
"Ok mommy," answered Maya. "Why were they so great?"
"Well, because they were sisters who each found different ways to heal people on this island, many, many years ago, before you, or we, were even born," replied Macy.
8:15 pm, Madalena Village, Azores, Epicenter Pico No. 23, 2nd Floor, Bedroom 1
Harry and Macy finished giving a highly abridged, age-appropriate bedtime story to their daughter of her ancient aunts and gave each other a knowing glance.
"Speaking of sisters—" Macy looked over at Harry; they tried to prepare for this talk in advance but given neither had been in such a position before, they weren't sure how to broach the subject.
"—Maya, you're going to be a big sister soon, to two little babies," Harry stated, matter-of-factly.
"Oh?" Maya regarded her parents in awe and wonderment. "Where are they?"
"In mum's tummy," said Harry, looking back at Macy, as if to ask, 'Am I doing this right?' Macy gave him a thumbs-up motion so far. "They're tiny, but soon enough, they'll be your playmates—and—well—they'll look to you as their big sister—as a leader. It's a very important role. Can you be a good big sister? Be kind to them, help them as they're smaller than you, teach them what you know?"
"Sure, Daddy," answered Maya, after a few seconds of pondering the topic. "Having a little sister and a little brother might be nice."
Harry chuckled. "Maya, even we don't know whether they'll be boys or girls. For all we know it could be two boys, or two girls, or one of each."
Maya regarded Harry with a peculiarly serious look on her face. "Daddy, if one of them is a boy and his name is Henry, he belongs in the second bedroom. If the other is a girl and her name is Matilda, the third bedroom is hers; she likes fire." Harry and Macy regarded each other with shock. How did Maya know these things?
"Maya, love, what put such ideas in your head?" Harry asked slowly. A child that liked fire? What was that about?
"Daddy, I had a dream I was in the tropics, but in Vera Manor Garden. And that I met two little babies." Maya paused. "But I have a question."
"Yes?"
"Can I be a princess and a big sister?"
Harry laughed. "Yes, Maya, you can be both. You'll always be our princess, isn't that right, Macy?" Macy nodded as she swept Maya's curls aside and kissed her forehead affectionately.
"Of course, Maya. You'll always be our princess."