Disclaimer: The characters in this story don't belong to me, they are owned by Erle Stanley Gardner's pen. I don't receive any economic good for them. I only write for the pleasure of doing it.
Many thanks to the incredible to tengland2 for helping correct this story and for always being by my side helping and supporting me.
All the errors are only mine.
Chapter Ten
When Margaret and Andrea entered the pediatric ward. They could saw Mae, Diana, and Tom sitting there waiting.
"Grandma Mae, you're here!" Andrea says, moving quickly to hug her.
"Of course, I'm here! Where else should I be, after I heard what has happened to my little girl? I wish I could understand how this could happen to my poor baby. I can only imagine how scared she must have been." Mae says, while she wiping a lonely tear.
"Aunt Mae, please, take it easy. My little girl is fine. Fortunately, Paul and I were able to get her here in time to have the situation taken care of and avoid any complications." Margaret reaches to give Mae a reassuring hug.
"It may be true, but it doesn't mean I should have been here with her, when this happened her, instead of being with my friend in San Francisco."
"Grandmother! I thought you understood that no one is to blame for what has happened to Dee. This was just a fortuitous event that could have happened anytime or anywhere. We all know my Wawita is a stubborn and obstinate child, which she certainly got from my parents. I can assure you that at this very moment she is beginning to put the hospital staff thru their paces, demanding to go home." Tom smiles, imagining his mom trying to stop his father from trying to fulfil his Wawita's request.
"Tom, Diana, what are you two doing here? How did you get there so fast from Washington?" Andrea asks curiously.
"Where else could we be, after hearing what happened to my Wawita? Regarding being here so fast, it's because we were with Grandma, in San Francisco, when one of Uncle Paul's agents came to us with the news."
"I was back here on official business related to the Old Guard. Since my two meetings didn't take nearly as long as expected, I found I had to time to join Tom. Who found out from Lizzie that Mae was in the bay area?" Smiles Diana.
"I thought you two were leaving the service, therefore no more official business with Washington or anything that would bring you to a place like the Presidio." Andrea asks them both.
"That's true, but my current enlistment is ending and I have been assigned longer to the Old Guard than most commanders are. It is time for me to move on and I was informed of a position here at the Presidio that would keep me here on the west coast for between four to six years, depending on how long I extend my enlistment for." Diana smiles. "Plus, this would also be a great opportunity for Tom, if he decides to come to San Francisco with me. Because then he would be a little closer to his family. Or rather his Wawita." Diana rolls her eyes.
"This would be great! But until now I keep hoping you and Tom would decide to at least settle down long enough to get married and so you start having children of their own." Mae raises her eyebrows. "I'm sure both your parents and Perry and Della would be happy to have new grandchildren to spoil and pamper"
"Grandma, sorry to disappoint of you. But Diana and I are fine without getting married. Plus there is no child in our plans. Neither of us are really the parenting type, as a child would never fit into our way of life and works. We are rather the type of uncle and aunt, we feel very comfortable like this. I have Dee who I love like my own daughter and Diana has her brother's children. So my parents and you will have to settle for Dee and if you need more grandchildren to spoiler, they will have to wait for the children that PJ or Andrea decide to have." Tom smiles.
"Well, for my part I'm not going to contribute at that and as far as, I am concerned, I am quite happy being a second mother to that little naughty just down the hall." Andrea intervenes, causing Mae to roll her eyes.
"Then the responsibility will remain entirely in the hands of PJ and Gala. Those two better getting to work a bit harder, so that there is a new member in the family sooner rather than later." Tom smiles mischievously.
"Thomas Samuel Mason, please behave yourself! Certainly, my niece and her husband did not raise a disrespectful child."
"For heaven's sake, Grandma! You are going to tell me now that over the years you haven't paid mind to the way Uncle Perry and Aunt Della act. Let's say my godparents almost always act like..." Andrea pauses smiling mischievously too. "A couple of horny teens."
"I've seen that too!" Diana smiles. "Even Dee covers her eyes and says Yuck! Every time she sees Mr. and Mrs. Mason showing affection for each other."
Mae rolls her eyes remembering. "I don't think PJ and Gala need to be included in this business, as they really have a life outside of the family. Plus, it would not be good for Dee." She sighs, earning a questioning look from Margaret.
Realizing her Grandmother's sudden slip, Andrea decides to change the thread of the conversation. "Diana, I didn't think you were going to re-enlist again. I figured you couldn't stay with the Old Guard?
Diana smiles, "I can reenlist, it's just my time has passed for being with the Old Guard for now. It has been an assignment that I was lucky enough to have extended, but is soon to be over. I have had several conversations with my commanding officer and others who have made mention that the current Provost Marshall at the Presidio is due to retire. They know my family is in the Boston area and I don't want to be assigned to an area I know so well. They also are aware of my relationship with Tom over the last few years and his family lives in southern California. So, I have been offered the post if I wish, the start date is still unknown." She smiles, knowing this would make Tom's parents and Mae happy.
"Now that you found out that maybe your favorite grandson will be closer to you. Mae would you please come with me? I'm sure Lizzie and Della haven't had a bite to eat since early this morning. Paul mentioned me there is a Delicatessen just a few blocks from here. I think we can walk there, find something they both would like, get some decent coffee and have a nice chat along the way. I have a few things I would like to ask you." Mae nods as she gets up from her seat being helped by Tom.
"MOM!" Andrea says, looking at her mother questioningly upon realizing the Margaret's intent.
"Andrea, take it easy! I just need to talk to my aunt for a moment, plus this walk will do both of us good. It won't take us long, as when we return, I just want to go see my granddaughter." Margaret smiles as she tucks Mae's hand into her elbow, walking towards the exit. Andrea watches her mother and grandmother leave, hoping that the conversation is quiet and that her mother can finally understand the reasons why she and Mae were silent.
XXXX XXXX XXXX
Entering the Delicatessen, Margaret and Mae both spotted Lizzie near the counter, looking over the menu board.
Getting closer, "My girl, I'm so glad you're here!" Mae hugs her granddaughter.
"Grandma, Aunt Margaret!" Lizzie looks at them curiously. "What are you doing here? I assumed that as soon as they got to the hospital the two of them would go quickly with my little devil." Lizzie smiles.
"That was just what we plan to do, but knowing your father, you and you mother haven't had anything to eat or drink, since Paul left you something to eat. Any other time I know your father would eventually take care of the situation, but this involves the littlest of the women in his life. So, I don't think he would remember to feed any of you, except if her precious little angel wanted something specific, he would be half way to wherever to get it." Margaret smiles.
Lizzie can't help but roll her eyes. "You're right, neither of them wants to leave Dee's room. Right now, they must be plotting to spoil her rotten as much as possible. So while they're still at it, I would be in charge of finding us something to eat." Sighing, she pauses. "Aunt Margaret, I want to thank you for what you and Uncle Paul have done for my little girl. Dr. Richards told me that if everything went well, it was largely due of how calm and quickly you both had acted."
"My dear Lizzie, you know Dee is my granddaughter and I would always do anything for her! Even, give up my life, if necessary." Margaret responds, although her tone of voice sounded harsh, as this was not her usual kindness. Being a thing that did not unnoticed, by either Lizzie or Mae.
"Margaret, since it seems Lizzie is taking care of getting food, perhaps you can tell me what you need to talk to me about?" Mae asks, remembering the main reason Margaret had wanted her to come alone on this walk.
"You're right, but how about we order food for the other kids first? While we wait we can have a coffee and chat. I seems perfect Lizzie is here with us too, as it's Dee I want to talk about."
"About Dee? Aunt, tell me, what could be so important as to feel it necessary to talk to the two of us about my little girl? Perhaps... Has Dr. Richards, told you something that we still don't know?" Lizzie asks, as her heart filled with anguish, at the mere thought what something bad may be happening her daughter.
"Oh, No! Dee is just fine. Although it does have to do with what Dr. Richards told us last night prior to the surgery. This information made realize something that was always in front of my eyes and now I just want to ask you bluntly. Lizzie..." Margaret sighs, "why have you never told us that PJ is Dee's father?"
"Aunt... no... I don't understand. Like something Dr. Richards said, made you think of such a ridiculous and absurd thing?" Lizzie stutters nervously, realizing that her aunt had found out the truth.
"Lizzie, please don't try to deny the undeniable. Andrea already confessed the truth to me, confirming that Dee is also a Drake."
"Andrea... How she dare? She had no right to do so. The decision to say it or not, it was mine and only mine!"
"Lizzie, don't blame your shadow, I was the one who cornered her, to confirm what I had already found out."
"So, if it wasn't Andrea, who told you. Tell me Aunt Margaret, how did you find out?"
"I owe much of my find out to what happened with Dee. If she hadn't had an appendicitis and needed blood, I would probably never have found out. It seems that she has the same blood type as Paul and PJ. Dr. Richards explained to me about the relationship with blood types between a parent and a child. This fact helped me fit the pieces of the puzzle together." Margaret replies. "Then there were Mae's insinuations, which always struck me as very strange. There were also the huge coincidences between PJ and Dee, her same taste to certain foods, or some quick facial expression that made me remember PJ at the same age. But above all else, there was something that did not fit for me." She pauses taking a breath. "Lizzie... my girl... you have been in my care since you were four years old. You are nearly as much my child as Andrea and PJ, I know all too well how you act as well. I was never convinced with the explanation that you gave us about how you got pregnant. That you slept with someone you barely knew one time."
"Auntie... please... let me explain..."
Margaret raises her hand to keep Lizzie from talking. "Please, I don't want you to explain anything to me. Andrea already gave me the motives why you have been quiet. Believe me my girl, I do understand your reasons, although I don't share them. Now I only have one thing to tell you. I'm going to be quiet for the moment, but you will have to promise me that soon tell the truth. I will give you the time Dee is in the hospital and recovery time at home. But after that you must tell the truth to the family... to everyone... Alright?"
Lizzie nods, knowing her secret will inevitably be revealed very soon.
*Author's notes by tengland2: For those familiar with the military reenlistment process, this does not necessarily follow proper procedures and has been written to fit the story. The longer a person is in service, chances of extending a tour of duty or a choice in duty assignments maybe consider. Soldiers assignments are by chance or where one is needed. So please accept Diana's choices for the way the story is written, not necessarily for the way the military does its assignments.