The Door Into Summer
Chapter 31Jeff was sitting at the breakfast table trying to read his paper and chaos reigned, as usual. Jeff Junior was flying his toy plane, complete with sound effects, Monique was tugging on her mother's skirt, pleading "Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!" and Bailey sat burbling in his high chair. His wife was putting the finishing touches on a frying pan full of scrambled eggs, calm as usual, and once again he wondered how she did it. He put the paper down and fixed Junior with a glare learned over many years from his partner.
"Junior, sit down, now." The boy put his toy on the floor and took his chair at the table, and most of the sound effects ceased. "Monique, come to the table and leave your mother alone." The middle child did as she was told, much to his surprise, and he caught the thankful look Suzanne gave him. Soon each child had a plate of Suzanne's surprise, as her specialty was known, and they waited patiently for everyone to be served and seated.
As usual, Junior tried to start eating before grace was said, and he caught another look from Jeff. Junior laid the fork down and everyone joined hands. "Bless this food that God has provided, and thank you for another day, oh Lord." Suzanne nodded and all childish babble ceased. Their two oldest were busy eating and Bailey was playing with the crackers his mother had given him. Jeff drank his orange juice and got up to retrieve the coffee pot. He poured a cup for his wife, a cup for him, and a mysterious third cup. Junior and Monique's eyes lit up. A third cup of coffee meant that Uncle Stuart would be there shortly.
Jeff had no sooner returned to the table than the knock on the back door came. "Come in, Stuart," Suzanne called, and in walked the nattily dressed Stu Bailey, Uncle Stuart to Jeff's two oldest.
"Good morning, Spencer's big and small. How are we this morning?" Monique and Junior came running, and their father had to remind them attacking Uncle Stuart the moment he came in the door was not polite.
"Sit down and let Stu have his coffee," Jeff boomed, and they promptly returned to their chairs.
"I marvel at that every time they pay attention to you," Stu insisted. He took off his coat and hung it over the empty chair at the table, then sat down and picked up the coffee cup. After taking a sip from the cup he remarked, "Suzanne, your coffee is honey to the Gods. Smartest thing you ever did, Jefferson."
"What's that?" Jeff asked.
"Marrying this beauty. I envy you."
"Now, Stuart, you've had plenty of chances to marry. You could be sitting in your kitchen with two or three of these running around, driving you and your wife crazy."
"No doubt I could, Suzanne, but you know why I'm not." As usual, Julia Benson's name remained hanging in the air, unspoken. Stu dated a plethora of beautiful women, most of whom would happily become Mrs. Stuart Bailey. But they didn't hear the thing that stopped them in their tracks every time. Stu couldn't bring himself to say the words he'd never uttered to anyone but Julia – "I love you."
"Stu, that was so long ago," Suzanne started, and Jeff shot her a look. As usual, that didn't stop Mrs. Spencer from speaking her mind. "I thought perhaps you would give your heart to Sally. Or Phyliss."
"Oh, I do give my heart – until they start making marital noises."
"Still can't say the words?" Suzanne asked.
"Honey, we've been through this too many times to count. Leave it alone." Jeff knew Julia's death was still a sore spot for Stuart, and he'd tried often enough to convince his wife Stu's getting married was never going to happen. Still, Suzanne persisted whenever she could.
"Uncle Stuart, come see my new poster," Junior grabbed Stu's hand and tried to drag him to the other end of the house. Stu picked up his coffee cup and complied with his 'nephew.' Once Stu and Junior were out of earshot, Jeff threw another rebuking glance at his wife.
"Suzy, honey, we talked about this. You know Stu's probably never gonna get married. And you nagging him about it isn't gonna change his mind."
"Suzy? You know I hate that nickname, Jefferson."
"Yes, I do, and you know I don't want to hear you try to push Stu into something he wants no part of."
"Jeff . . . " Suzanne began again, but Stu and Junior were on their way back to the breakfast table. Junior sat down to finish his breakfast and Stu poured another cup of coffee before he sat. He'd only been seated a few seconds before he found himself with the other great beauty in the Spencer household in his lap. Monique looked up at him with all the adoration a four-year-old could muster.
"Unca Stuat, I wuv you. I marry you when I gwow up."
"Do you promise, beautiful?" Stu asked her in all seriousness.
"Yesh."
He put his arms around her and hugged her to him. "Then I'll wait for you, Monique." There was a big smile on his face. He kissed her on the head and set her back down. "Go finish your breakfast, cutie. Daddy and Uncle Stuart need to discuss something."
"What?" Jeff asked.
"The Fitzgerald case," Stu answered, picking up his coat, and both he and Jeff took their coffee outside so the kids and Suzanne could finish their breakfast in peace.
"There's nothing to discuss about the Fitzgerald case," Jeff reminded his partner.
Stu nodded and smiled like he'd been caught in a trap. "I know. I was afraid Suzanne would have another friend she wanted me to meet for the purpose of matrimony. I adore her, Jeff, but sometimes she drives me crazy with the relentless pursuit of the perfect woman for me."
Jeff nodded knowingly. "I've tried, Stu, I've really tried. It's the only thing we argue about. I cannot convince her of your feelings on the matter."
Stuart sighed. It seemed to be a losing cause, and he was in no mood to argue this morning. He finished his coffee and handed Jeff the empty cup. "I have to go. I've got a deposition at ten o'clock and you know how surly Helen can get when I'm late." Helen had replaced Suzanne several years ago when the Spencer's were expecting the birth of Junior. She was an excellent secretary, as well as a paralegal to boot, but she had a temper that Suzanne never had. And she made her feelings known, even though their third partner, Kookie, was already in the office.
"Out late with another floozy, Stu?" was the phrase heard most often coming from her mouth.
"Nope, busy washing the dog," was Stu's standard reply. Jeff and Stu would both giggle over the answer, since it was Jeff's dog. Stu owned a cat who hated baths. Stu slipped on his coat and got behind the wheel of his Aston-Martin. "See you at the office," he told Jeff and started the engine. With a wave he was gone and Jeff headed back into the Spencer chaos . . .
Jeff opened his eyes and was startled to find Nurse Cathy doing her best to rouse him. "Mr. Spencer, are you alright? You were moaning and calling for someone named Monique and I couldn't wake you, no matter how hard I tried."
"I'm . . . I'm fine," Jeff answered, desperate to find Junior and Monique and baby Bailey. But most of all he wanted to find his beautiful wife, Suzanne. It took a minute before he realized he'd been dreaming; none of it was real. "Sorry . . . dreaming."
"You're sure you're alright?" she asked again.
"Yes," he answered curtly as he did his best to get into a more comfortable position, quickly realizing that was impossible.
"Do you need another pain shot?"
His hip was killing him, and the fiery burning in his chest seemed to have resurfaced full force. "Yes."
In less than five minutes the feelings had begun to fade and he drifted back to sleep.
"What's the occasion?" Suzanne asked as he whirled her around the dance floor. He held her tightly, pressed up against his chest and only inches from his mouth.
"No occasion. I just wanted to do this without interruption," and he leaned in and kissed her; gently at first, but with more pressing need by the second. When they broke the kiss, both of them almost breathless, Jeff laughed softly. "Sometimes I wonder how we ever got enough privacy to make three babies."
Suzanne smiled at her husband. "We found the time – we found plenty of time."
"I can't believe it will be ten years next month."
The music faded and they broke apart, still hand in hand, and walked back to their table. Stu and Monica were drinking champagne, and they raised their glasses in a toast to Jeff and Suzanne as the Spencer's sat down. "To the happiest couple we know," Stuart offered.
"To the only couple we know," Monica added, and both of them laughed.
"She's right, you know. Everybody else seems to be getting divorced. But not you two. As much in love as the day you got married." Stu seemed to ponder that statement before he continued. "Really, how do you do it?
"We just do," Suzanne answered as she picked up her own glass of champagne. "And here's to the two of you. How long have you been together now?"
"Close to two years," Stu answered after he kissed Monica. "It's been . . . it's been good."
"It's been perfect," Monica answered.
"Well, almost. Come on, let's dance." Stu and Monica made their way to the dance floor and looked beautiful together.
Suzanne turned to Jeff, but before she could say anything, he pressed his finger against her lips to silence her. "Not now, love. Not tonight. We may share part of it with them, but tonight is just for us. I want to tell you how beautiful you are, and how much I love you, and bless their hearts, I don't want anyone yelling 'mommy' and interrupting us."
"Jefferson, you have my full and undivided attention."
"We've had ten perfect years, and I've never taken a day of it for granted." Jeff kissed the back of her hand.
"Neither have I. But there is something that I think you should know. And I hope it doesn't make you change your mind about the years being perfect," Suzanne sounded somewhat worried.
"Are you alright? Are the kids alright? Please tell me there's nothing wrong."
Suzanne cleared her throat, "Well, in a manner of speaking . . . " Before she could finish what she was trying to tell her husband, Stu and Monica returned to the table.
"You are an incredible dancer," Stu told his lady.
"As are you, my love," Monica answered.
Jeff felt the fear rising in his throat. What had his wife been about to tell him? "Come on, let's dance," he told Suzanne as he almost pulled her onto the floor. As soon as they were on the floor he held her tightly. "What? What were you going to tell me?"
"I'm sorry, love, it's not that kind of something. We're going to have another baby. I'm pregnant. I hope you're not disappointed."
Jeff let out a "whoop!" that startled half the people on the dance floor. "You're sure?" he asked excitedly.
"The doctor confirmed it this morning."
Jeff literally picked Suzanne up and carried her off the dance floor. He set her down carefully at the table, then took the seat beside her.
"Congratulations," Stu offered.
"Wait! How did you . . .?" Jeff began.
"We've been friends and partners for a long time, Jefferson. You're nothing if not consistent."
The occupants of the table laughed. Monica saw the look in Stu's eyes and asked, "Have you ever wanted children, Stuart?"
"Yes . . . and no. Besides I have three, soon to be four, nieces and nephews. That's my family."
"Do you want a boy or a girl, Jeff?" Stu's companion asked.
"I want ten fingers and ten toes, and I don't care what's in between, as long as it's healthy," Jeff gave his standard answer.
"What about you, Suzanne?"
"It would be nice . . . " and before Suzanne could finish her thought she'd begun to fade away . . .
Jeff opened his eyes and found himself looking at his partner. "Monica?" Stu asked.
"Your girl," Jeff answered. "Dreaming, I was dreaming."
"And who were you with?" Stu asked. There was no answer from Jeff and Stu supplied his own. "Suzanne?"
"How did you know?" Jeff questioned breathlessly.
"I've been accused of being deaf and dumb, Jefferson, but I'm not blind."
"There's something wrong," Jeff explained.
"Now? With you?" Stu started to ring for the nurse and Jeff grabbed his hand.
"No. With Suzanne."
"What do you mean?"
"When she came to see me . . . she was distant. Cold and aloof. Like she barely knew me. Did I say something . . . wrong, Stuart?"
Stu folded his arms and tapped his chin while he thought. "She hasn't said anything to me. She was worried to death – almost panic stricken – when we thought you could be, well . . ."
"Dying?" Jeff asked.
"Something like that."
"And now?"
"She does seem different. Like she's struggling with something," Stuart told his partner.
"See if you can find out what. I don't want to, I mean I don't want us to lose her because I did something wrong."
"Another mystery for me to tackle, eh, Watson?"
"You're good at those, Holmes. By the way, seen anything of the Ames yet?"
Stu shook his head. "No, but I expect them anytime. I'll let you know when they show up."
"Thanks, partner. I knew I could count on you." Jeff did his best to give Stu a lopsided grin.
"Sure, I'm not doing anything else. Go back to sleep and dream some more about Suzanne. And don't get any ideas about Monica, alright?"
"Yes, sir."
"I'll be back later."
"See you."