Kingsport
August 1923
"You look positively green," Nan stated as she looked at her sister opened the door. It was a fair bit of opposites happening. Nan was neatly put together. Dressed in sensible, but pretty dress and her hair was done up. While in her arms was an infant that was dressed in a frilly gown, that happily looked around in her mother's arms. While Rilla was still in her housecoat and slippers with a braid in her hair.
"What are you doing here?" Rilla asked confused as she wrapped her housecoat around her.
"I called last week and said Jerry and I would be in town and you told me to stop by?" Nan raised an eyebrow. "But if you are not feeling well—,"
"It will pass," Rilla sighed and held open the door. "Life doesn't stop because I'm sick all the time. Just have to make do when I am feeling well."
"Has it been that bad?" Nan asked sitting down as she repositioned her daughter on her lap. Smiling as Rilla watched in some strange new fascination as the baby looked at her auntie. "Do you want to say hello to your Auntie Rilla?" She said in a high voice, voices that all mothers make even when the baby talk is discouraged.
"She is very beautiful," Rilla commented.
"Thank you," Nan beamed. "She did so well on her first ferry across the channel and her first train ride. She had a big day yesterday. Didn't we Deen?"
"Is that what we are calling her? Deena?" Rilla asked, still starring at the infant who was starring back at her. Would her own have dark hair like Ken?
"It is, two Jerry's would be much too confusing," Nan laughed nodding her head. "Though how have you been. Mother coming here to see you. It made me wonder and when she came back and evaded any questions anyone asked. I could only assume, much like Faith and Di." Nan said to her.
"So the woman of the family know?" Rilla concluded. "Well, the exhaustion, the sickness, the soreness, It's not exactly a walk in the park." Rilla shrugged, "I am sure you know all about it."
"I don't think I ever felt how you look," Nan shook her head. "Are you doing any better?"
"I've been improving, but I mostly live off bananas, peanut butter and crackers. Mrs. Clarke makes a fair amount of ginger of tea." Rilla explained to her sister. "Some of the ladies stopped by a few times with a basket and to check-in. At this points the worst kept secret. Mostly since I can't keep it a secret when I'm this ill, because if I try they think I am dying or something." Rilla sighed. "I just try to invade their questions at this point."
"Do you want some tea?" I'm sorry, I'm a terrible hostess these days?" Rilla offered.
"I'm fine right now," Nan shook her head. "Though, may I use your bathroom?"
Rilla nodded and looked around for a moment. "Down the hall to your right…Pass her to me," She sighed when Nan realized she had nowhere to set her down safely. "I promise not to be sick on her." She joked half-heartedly as Nan passed over the infant.
Rilla cradled the infant carefully. "You're extremely lucky you are cute," she told the infant. Who looked up at her with big dark curious eyes, with a tongue poking out of her rosebud mouth.
"Then again, your mother was considered a beauty of Glen while in school. Though remember, pretty is as pretty does," She said spoke to the infant in a serious tone. "One day when you're older you are going to realize that you belong to one crazy large family. Though, if you're lucky someone will show you were your grandfather hides the lollipops in his office."
"It will be a long while before she eating any sort of sugar," Nan commented as she came back in the room.
"So what brings you to Kingsport?" Rilla asked as Nan sat down. Ultimately deciding that until her sister gave back her child, she wouldn't ask.
"Jerry wanted to draw up a will with everything changing," Nan explained. "He's meeting Tim at the office."
"How is Una?" Rilla asked she hadn't seen much of her old friend. She had been recovering when they had gotten married. Rilla felt awful but has sent a nice gift in their place when she recovered. There was no offence taken, of course, she had been deathly ill after all. They occasionally ran into each other. It was hard not in Kingsport while shopping or running errands but it was quick hello, nice to see you. I hope you are well, far gone from the tea parties and cake they used to have.
"She's good," Nan told her. "She's counting down days," Nan smiled.
"I heard through the grapevine that she was expecting," Rilla said quietly. "We don't see each other much truthfully."
"It's all right to grow apart," Nan told her kindly as she saw her sister's face go pale. She quickly reached for the baby so Rilla could race for the washroom.
She came back a few minutes later, looking paler than before. "I should know better," Rilla sighed. "The more I try to ignore it the worse it becomes." She sat down on the couch with a groaning sigh. "I'm sorry I'm not much company."
"It's all right," Nan reassured her. "It's not like you can help such things."
"Mrs. Ford, are you all right?" Mrs. Clarke asked coming into the living room, "I was outside tending to some of the laundries.
"I am all right," Rilla reassured her, "Nan, this is Mrs. Clarke, Gloria this is my sister Nan." Rilla introduced them.
"Can get you any refreshments?" Mrs. Clarke went straight into business mode, while she admired the infant from away. "She is precious." She stated before busting out of the room to gather a try for them.
"Thank you," Nan blushed. "I think some water perhaps?" Nan told her with a smile as Deena opened her mouth let out a small grunting cry.
"Hungry?" Rilla asked, and Nan nodded. "Ken's not home for a while, so nurse away without feeling awkward. Plus it's not like I haven't seen your breasts before, we shared a room before."
"They aren't exactly the same anymore," Nan laughed as she settled her daughter into nursing. "Thank you," she smiled to Mrs. Clarke who put a glass of cool water on a coaster next to her. Along with a plate of arrowroot cookies and some ginger tea that had been iced.
"I used to complain about needing improvement, but it's not what it's cracked up to be I've learned. I had to let out some of my dresses just so they would lie normally on me." Rilla curled herself up on her chaise. "Ken likes them, but it's not like he's allowed to touch them anyway most of the time. Who wants to start anything when you can vomit at a moment's notice."
Nan snorted in an unladylike way. "It might turn around," Nan told her slyly.
"I don't see that happening any time soon," Rilla told her as she reached for a biscuit and nibbled on it. "So how was it?" Rilla asked her curiously. "Mom said that it wasn't long and wouldn't say much more, and it's not something I would ask in a letter. When I wrote to you knowing that you wouldn't be near the telephone for the first week or on the telephone."
"Mom is a wonderful help when it comes to pregnancy," Nan started. "When it comes to labour she tends to glaze over the details. Rosemary gave me more knowledge than mom believes it or not."
Rilla's eyes widened as she nodded her head at the revelation. She nibbled on her biscuit as her sister continued.
"Labour is everything the name suggests. Long, tiring, painful," Nan told her. "But she was worth every minute of it," Nan said.
"I wonder why Mother doesn't say much about it?"Rilla mused.
"Well, you know about Joy," Nan said quietly and Rilla nodded. "Mom never had an easy time with labour. I think part of it is not wanting to remember, and possibly being able to remember. Jem and Walter came easily for her, but Di and I, I think at one point they chloroformed her to just give her some rest." Nan explained the small amount her mother had told her. "Di and I were too young to remember Shirley being born, even then much like your birth we were sent off to Avonlea. Jem and Walter were at Green Gables, Di and I spent our days with Aunt Diana and Dora. I learned later on that we were there for weeks as mom recovered from it.
"Jem told me that before," Rilla said quietly. "He said he was angry that I had been born after mom's episode with Shirley."
"We didn't understand truly, we knew the stork was coming and that we were going to go have another visit in Avonlea. But Jem was older, he would remember or know more than the rest of us." Nan explained. "Then were sent home expectedly early. Much to our delight. Di and I were so happy to have a sister," Nan smiled as she looked down at her daughter lovingly for a moment.
Rilla smiled and waiting patiently for her sister to continue.
"In essence, labour will rid you any modesty. The nurses did a fair amount of the work. Faith was there, I think if it was legal. She could have been a midwife since she's the one that practically delivered Deena." Nan went one. "The doctor was in and out for most the night, he was the one who stitched me up when it was all said and done. "Mother though, once in the moment of it all. She's someone you want with you during that time." Nan told her. "I don't think I would have gotten through it all without her."
Rilla's face went white in her head she knew the mechanics of it. How a baby and her body were two different sizes, but stitches! "Stitches?"
"You asked," Nan laughed at her sister's face. "Really, in the end, it will all be worth it. Read enough so you know that you are prepared, but don't overthink it. Our bodies know what to do, do forget that."
Rilla nodded. "It's all rather frightening sometimes." She admitted. "All the uncertainties of it?"
"You'll be all right," Nan told her. "Things have changed drastically in the thirty-plus years since mom and dad had Joy. Are you planning on labouring in the hospital?" Nan asked her.
"We're not entirely sure, Ken thinks it might be best," Rilla told her sister. "I think I'd rather be here at home if I can be." She said as she tried to suppress a yawn.
"If you need a nap, I will join you?" Nan told her earnestly as she fixed her blouse. Next, she grabbed the flannel blanket beside her so she could burp her daughter.
"Then I think it's settled," Rilla told her. "We can make use of the spare bedroom. "Sleep when the baby sleeps," she recalled her old Morgan book.
"A sound piece of advice." Nan agreed as she got up slowly and paced for a moment as she waited for her daughter to pass whatever wind she had in her. After a quick nappy change that they left soaking in a pail that Gloria found for them.
It was after they settled into the guest bed. Rilla remembered those nights when Jimmy would cry until she left him to sleep in her bed. Though unlike him who like to babble, this one seemed to be content to just drift off in her swaddling. Both Rilla and Nan laid on top of the blankets. It was too warm of a day to bother with any sort of covering. They talked quietly until others drifted off to sleep.
Ken had run into Jerry on his way from work, and when they couldn't find the women they went to check the back yard.
"The ladies are resting," Mrs. Clarke told them as she folded the curtains that she had washed in the basket.
Ken thanked her and led Jerry to the small spare room that was off the kitchen and smiled and let Jerry look in. Two women sprawled out on the bed, the baby between them happily cooing and trying to eat her feet.
Jerry carefully scooped up his daughter and left the women to sleep a little longer. He sniffed her and wrinkled his nose. "I think someone needs a nappy change," he commented as he went for the bag that Nan had packed.
"Do you need help?" Mrs. Clarke asked hovering in the doorway of the kitchen.
"Just a warm cloth if you can?" He asked her, and a few minutes later the baby was freshly changed. "I'm not sure how long we have until she gets hungry again, do you want to hold her?" Jerry asked Ken.
"Of course," Ken accepted the offer. "I'm going to need all the practice I can get," he said not thinking about his words. Jerry raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Anne had been rather tight-lipped about her time in Kingsport, but if one looked at the whole picture. It was rather a dead give away.
"She likes you," Jerry commented as he watched Ken bounce on his lightly around the room. "I mean she enjoys women more than anyone else, but she's not screaming bloody murder being held by you."
"There a story behind that?" Ken asked chuckling as he made a face at the infant.
"She does not like Jem for some reason," Jerry grinned. "We like to joke its the hair, or his beard he refuses to shave. You're good with her," Jerry told him.
"Thank you," Ken told him. "Oh! Do you like that?" He asked the small squeak that came from the infant. "Do you want some music? Do you want to dance?" He asked as he freed one hand and turned on the radio. "Is that what you wanted?" He said in a sing-song voice.
"Heavens forbid, you have a daughter of your own," Jerry told him chuckling. "She will have you wrapped around her finger."
"If she is anything like Rilla, most likely. I may need a larger house for all her clothing." Ken said agreed with him.
Rilla woke up to the sound of the radio, she bolted up confused. "The baby!" She exclaimed. "Nan!"
"Jerry has her," Nan muttered in her half-sleep. "He came in not long ago, I thought we could have another moment of sleep."
"You have always been the smart one," Rilla mumbled pushing back her hair. "I am going to sneak upstairs and put on a fresh dress if Jerry is here," Rilla told her.
"All right then," Nan waved her off. "I'm going to get up in a minute and freshen up"
Rilla nodded and carefully crept down the hall and up the staircase. She fixed her hair and changed into a simple loose dress. She was still pale, and tired looking and at sixteen weeks She was just beginning to notice the slight curve of her stomach. One that was still easily hidden underneath her loose dress. Yet it seemed much more pronounced this afternoon, making her feel even more out of touch with her body. It wasn't just hers anymore, she was sharing it. The nurses told her it wouldn't be much longer to feel it moving around. The quickening, they called it.
The men didn't see her leaning in the archway of the living room. Watching with a small smile as Ken pretended to dance with his niece. He would make a wonderful father, there was little doubt in that.
"You are looking very well today," Ken said when he noticed her.
"Well, naps do wonders for a not so good morning," Rilla told him. He nodded, happy that things have been slowly easing for her, but given what the doctor told them. She may have good days and bad days up until she had the baby.
"Hello Jerry," Rilla greeted him, kissing him on the cheek lightly.
"Hello Rilla," Jerry smiled. "Nan is just freshening up in the bathroom," he told her as she settled down in her chair.
"Where are you staying tonight?" Ken asked.
"We have a hotel next to the train station, we're going to catch the early train tomorrow morning," Jerry explained.
"You could have stayed here," Ken told him as he passed the infant back to her father as she began to fuss.
"We could have, but this one doesn't sleep much," Jerry explained. "It is much easier than imposing on the generosity of you two. Plus they have cots for the little one as well."
"Well, you are always welcome," Rilla told him. "Will you stay for dinner at least? I believe Mrs. Clarke was making chicken and accompaniments?" She asked as Nan came into the living room and took the fussing baby from her husband.
"As long as we aren't imposing?" Nan told them as she settled her the infant and draped the receiving blanket over her one shoulder.
"You're not," Ken told them, "I will let Gloria know about our plans. We told her when you called last week, she said she would be prepared."
"So have you hard from Carl lately?" Rilla asked Jerry as Ken walked away.
"We got a letter short while ago, he's out west again," Jerry told her. "Out in the badlands. I believe he spent a few weeks in Toronto."
Rilla nodded, Marianne had written that Carl had been in Toronto. She didn't say much other then they had spent some more time together. By the time Rilla had received the next letter, he had caught the train out west once more. Rilla was curious but didn't push for information.
"I worry about him," Nan spoke up. "Faith does too, he seemed to like your friend but he has no interest at all in settling down. I mean there was the rumour once that he was a bit more backwards when it came to the laws attraction."
"They just met, give them some time to get to know each other." Jerry shook his head at the old rumour. "Just because he's more interested in work, doesn't mean he's pansy."
"Wait, a what?" Rilla brow crinkled, looking at Ken who was now standing in the archway that leads to the dining room. Trying to confirm what they were saying, she had heard that term before. Ken just nodded. A preacher's son, more interesting bugs and wildlife than women? It would be something that would be whispered in the corners of Redmond.
"All I know is Marianne isn't rushing into things. She's free to do whatever she wishes for the first time since her father died. The last thing we need them to do is to pressure into something because society thinks they're old." Rilla told them trying to defend Carl and Marianne.
"Of course dear," Ken said with a jovial smile passing her a biscuit. Arm sneaking around the back of her waist and came to rest on the side of her stomach.
"So when are you planning on telling people?" Nan finally asked them.
"Maybe Thanksgiving?" Rilla said looking towards Ken and shrugging. "Easier to make it known once, then to have to make endless telephone calls or write letters to everyone. Though it's not like I'll be able to hide it then."
"Sounds practical. Holidays are always good for such things when enough time has passed." Nan agreed with her. "I won't say a word so don't worry."
Nan and Jerry left shortly after dessert, kissing her sister goodbye she whispered congratulations in her ear. It was an evening snack of milk and bananas when Rilla began yawning. "Off to bed for you," Ken told her with a kiss on her temple.
"It's barely eight," Rilla looked at the grandfather clock.
"I know and you're half asleep," Ken pointed up. "Come, I'll lie with you for a bit before I finish my work."
Rilla sighed and let him pull her up from her seat and walk her down the hall. Up the stairs. They stopped to brush their teeth and Rilla washed her face as Ken found her a fresh nightgown. She undressed slowly. Rolling off her stockings and pulled off her brassiere from under her camisole.
She walked over to the mirror once more and looked at her reflection. "I think it bigger," she told as she came up behind her. "Look at it," she said turning to the side slightly.
"It's beautiful," Ken said kissing her neck, letting his hand roam over the burgeoning bump. "You're beautiful."
"I look exhausted," Rilla laughed lightly at him.
"Still beautiful to me," Ken repeated with another kiss watching her in the mirror. "I never thought I could love you anymore then I do, but yet each day I see it growing more, it makes my heart grow with it."
Rilla smiled leaning into him, what was there to be worried about when Ken seemed to be over the moon all the time.
Side Note: I started another story called Sunset Interludes, it will now be the home for the various scenes and snippers of Shirley and Lillian while living in Paris, and Carl and Marianne. I think it will keep Sunset flowing nicely and not distort, or bring you out of the chapter. If you are interested in them. Go on forth and favourite and follow it so you know when it updates!
Also huge thank you to everyone who reading and reviewing. It makes these days much more fun and passable. I hope everyone is doing well and surviving this strange time we are in. Up here in Canada, we're doing alright where I am, and so far looks like we flattened the curve. But only time will tell.
I hope everyone stays safe and if you ever needing some to talk to. My PM's are always open, nothing is more important than having some sort of normalcy right now.
Tina.