Trouble, Twins, and a Triangle …
BY: Carrie-Anne
Epilogue: 36 Weeks Later… J The song sung at the end by Duncan is actually "Mickey Mouse Club"…I just tweaked the version…J
Duncan and Lili had decided to take a ride to Glasgow to visit Duncan's parents…Lili debated with him about the whole trip as she was now nearing the nine-month mark in her pregnancy.
"Are you sure, we're going the right way?" Lili asked, confused and tried to balance a map on her stomach in the front seat of the truck.
"Aye, I know my way home, sugar, we will find a loo soon…I promise." He could tell she wasn't very comfortable sitting there…he tried to keep his eyes on the road…as she continued to study the map. "Ye have it facin' wrong."
As she flipped the map right side up…"OK, I swear…you need just single or double digits here…no trillion letters with numbers…What on earth is an AM?"
"Kind of motorway. Try bringing that point up to the Road Committees." Duncan joked.
"I can picture saying to them: Hey tourists have to rely on these maps, you know!" She joked back…as a smile lit up her face…but then she felt the urge for the bathroom…"Great…"
"What?"
"I have to go to the bathroom." She announced…again for the fifth time…
"Aye, almost there…" He assured her…
"You said that over two hours ago…" She was getting quite antsy, as Duncan had taken it upon himself to drive much 'slowly' due to not only the weather, but his precious cargo…Lili and the baby. Normally Glasgow wasn't over two hours away…
"Ye've been askin' about a loo twice as long." He added with another nod…she rolled her eyes…he had been quite protective of her since they ventured into the land of having a baby---to the point he wanted to keep a constant eye on her! The truck then turned into a small drive with a brick house…neighbored lawns of other similar looking homes on the quiet block… "Aye, we're here…"
"Great…" She smiled…
This was the first time for Lili to actually meet Duncan's parents face to face…she had the "pleasure" of meeting Aunt Liz on occasions (Of course, Duncan explained to Lili, just like everyone else that Ms. Elizabeth Logan, was as mad as a box of frogs!) since she would meet up with him for lunch when she could…the woman was a little appalled at how she wasn't clued in on the baby the day when her nephew had actually found out they were having one. She was Duncan's link to his family and she knew his parents would want to know about the impending birth of another grandchild! As soon as Aunt Liz found out, from Molly, who had put "Duncan and baby" in one statement…she phoned Michael and Rebecca MacKay, Duncan's parents immediately. Then Duncan was rung up at the Glenbogle house twice by each parent…Lili spoke to them briefly while taking messages for him both times! They kept asking him how she was…how's the pregnancy? Are you really going to have that baby up there? When can we meet Lili? Are you married? Why aren't you married? Aunt Liz told us you were having baby…why didn't you say something to her? You should have rung us!
It was more contact that he had had with them in a good year! It didn't bother him…it just made Lili comment, "I thought you said you were the last of the MacKay men?" Duncan would look at her...unsure of what to say. Aunt Liz told him the day he was getting the war memorabilia of his grandfather's that most MacKay men were from a long line of ancient gophers and didn't amount to much.
On top of telling him his other relatives aside from his father were probably in prison, which wasn't the case-he was happily married to Duncan's Mum, the real kicker was he had found out more about his grandmother years ago and how he was related to Golly—of course Lili asked him now they were and the history all came out. His grandmother, Maeve "Minnie" Ballantyne who married Alexander Duncan Mackay, his grandfather in 1942…had married for the second time after being widowed directly after her first wedding to another man. Golly's father and Alexander Duncan MacKay were second cousins once removed…that made Golly a distant cousin. His Aunt knew all about it…because Angus and "Duncan"—or Alex, had a half brother, Ainsley who was Golly's father; Aunt Liz elaborated on it clearly, since he had died of a heart attack and she remembered the funeral very well.
He even thought his Uncle Angus, Liz's ex-husband-his grandfather's brother, was dead all along before he found him in a home! To make the long story short… he wasn't the last of the MacKay men…he argued with his Aunt Liz about it…asking why she married his Uncle…she didn't give him much of an answer. The question that formed in his mind, did he want the love of his life to find out his family was a "bunch of criminals" as Aunt Liz had derogatorily put it? He did break the news to Lili…she just laughed, "No, you're doing quite well making something of yourself. I love my criminal…you have me, remember…your Aunt's gotta be pulling your leg." He'd just let out a sigh of relief only for his girlfriend to laugh at him again…
"Duncan!" The older woman called out as she had watched the truck pull into the driveway…Duncan just ran over to his mother and embraced her…
"Bathroom…" Lili blurted out…the older woman looked at her with pity.
"Down the hall to the left…the loo's right there." She smiled at the expecting traveler…
"That's her, Mum." He beamed…as Rebecca watched Lili waddling fast and past Duncan's father…
"Da!" Duncan greeted.
"Hello, son…she's already running free on ya?" Michael punned as his eyes scanned after the scampering woman on a bathroom mission. She had nodded at him…
"Yea, I s'pose." Duncan laughed while walking towards the back of the truck to unload two bags…his clothes and hers…just in case, they needed an emergency hospital bag---if Lili went into labor, on the off chance while they were there…He felt better about her having the baby in the city than in Glenbogle. His worry actually crept in…if something were to happen to her up in the highlands—during the birth, especially since it was winter time, and with the spontaneous snow storms, getting stuck in the snow on a highland road was a possibility…how would she survive? Well, he didn't voice that issue to her but he did his parents. His parents agreed with him, if they were to visit when she's ready to give birth…she could have the baby in the city…he neglected to inform her of the idea of staying for a couple weeks…he had all the arrangements up his sleeve…Golly, Archie and Paul were hiring on another man to help with his duties for the next couple weeks-so he could go home with Lili…Lexie was working the kitchen and the twins were being watched by Molly when their mother was busy prepping meals. Marina had left them a month ago…Archie wanted to find a replacement housekeeper but Lexie was "begging" to fill in…he just gave in and let her…but only for one month tops.
Lili reappeared…feeling much better now that she could relax from the weight of the baby on her recent traumatized bladder. "Hi Mrs.…"
"Hi There, dear…just Rebecca, please." Duncan's mother added with a grin…"You're about ready…"
"Oh…yeah, ready to pop." She laughed, while placing a hand on her tummy…only to feel a swift kick…she jumped at first…before feeling another strange tightening… "Kicking…"
"Well, it's taking after its father…he was always storming about…especially the day he was born." She smiled as her eyes wandered back to her son. Duncan approached the house…following the woman in doors.
"I couldn't have stormed about…" Duncan started to protest…before blushing a little bit.
"Oh you did…quite commonly." His mother bantered.
"Aye, you did…rock the bed about too." His father agreed…only for Duncan to blush again!
"Well, I'll keep you both informed if the baby kicks again." Lili laughed…as she turned to face Duncan…he was carrying both bags, since every time she'd go to lift one…he'd refuse her and basically…point out…"Pregnant ladies do not carry heavier things. Soon fathers do---Like me!"
"Ye're Lili." Duncan's father smiled…"Michael. First names for family…no Mister, Aye?"
"OK. We have a deal." She grinned.
"Well, show her to your room. Bridget will be here shortly with Emma…" Rebecca turned with a smile on her face. Bridget was his younger sister and Emma was her daughter, or Duncan's only niece…he hadn't seen her since she was six months old! Duncan just nodded and complied…as they climbed the upstairs…she felt another tightening again…she ignored it as she looked into Duncan's room…
"Me room, yer room…" He replied proud…while nudging the door wider with his foot. He walked in…put the bags down and flopped happily onto his bed…waiting for her to join him…
"I see. Atomic Kitten…UM…oh, Elle McPherson?" She chuckled at the posters on a nearby wall…
"Oh those…" He hid his blush again…pulled the posters down off the wall immediately! His worry swept over his face as he fumbled about the room. Then reached out for her hand…"Sit. Pregnant ladies need to…"
"Rest." Lili finished his sentence…common line he kept giving her when he wanted to show her how he felt about her without coming out and saying the words. "Hey, at least, it's not the Spice Girls." Then Duncan opened his closet and pulled a Spice Girls poster off the inside door!
She laughed as she watched him…then her abdomen ached…her face grew slightly serious.
"Och-kay?" He asked, as he rolled up the posters and tossed them to the side…I'll trash them later…he added pensively.
"Just kicking." She smiled through the minor pain. Then it went away…
"Ah, uppa…"
"Storm." She chuckled again…"You realize how adorable you are when you blush in front of your parents."
"I pride me self. Now you know why I don't journey home often." He added with another beam…before lowering to kiss her…his mother appeared at the doorway.
"You should. Now why are we here, if this is the case?" She asked…
Duncan didn't answer her…his mind did…you're ready to pop soon and it might be a good idea to have the baby here in a hospital…of course, she'd argue and say: There's hospitals up north…what about our friends? What about Lex? He'd banter again…Name the closest one…Lex is fine with this…well, when I ring her and tell you have the baby anyway…I kinda neglected to tell her we'd be back for you to have it there, as it was Archie's suggestion-not my own—that way you can't be mad at me…she'd be stumped, but not angry…he'd win the argument hands down.
"Finally, something sweet to see." Rebecca replied, only to watch the couple both blush.
"Mum." Duncan hung his head…burying it into Lili's shoulder. She giggled.
"I have cooked a hearty supper, which is ready…Bridge still isn't here…I've also had trouble keeping yer father's mitts from it. Better hurry if you want any!" She replied, only to walk out of the room as a cue that dinner was being served…
Lili sat there at the table…it was a quaint dinning room…small hutch of dishes on one of the walls…a door way opening into the kitchen…photos of Duncan with his sister. Finally moments later, Bridget and Emma walked in…
"Gosh, Mum, Da…sorry…Duncan!" She added an apology between a shout to her brother! Duncan stood up from the table and hugged her and kissed Emma. She was now pushing two years old…
"Hello Emma Mae!" Duncan replied…making a huge goofy face at his niece…only to get a delightful squeak out of her…
"You must be…" Lili started to stand up from the table…only for Bridget to protest…the girl threw her arms around Lili as well.
"LILI! Don't get up! It's wonderful to finally put a name with a face! Emma this is Lili…"
The little girl smiled and Lili smiled back at her…
"How long are you staying?" She turned to face Duncan once again…
Lili looked at Duncan…"Yeah, How long are we staying…" She was joking and Duncan caught on…she mouthed, "Last of the MacKay men?" He completely turned red in the face…OK Sugar, don't tell me father that, please…me Aunt is such a Looney tune…his mind rang out as he stared back at her.
"For a few days." Duncan added…his mother looked at him baffled as she was told a couple weeks…His father caught on quick…
"A few days…think that baby is going to be out by then?" Michael punned…Lili turned her attention back at Duncan…as she felt another swift kick and tightening of her abdomen again. This was just a practice contraction she reassured herself…
"How's Aunt Liz?" Bridget asked her brother, changing the subject. She was placing Emma into a high chair and then cutting her meats and veggies…while placing them on to the tray as the toddler dove in to munch away…
"Good, I assume." Duncan replied…but his sister gave him a funny look, and Lili kicked his shin...he muffled a yelp and muttered in correction, before giving his girlfriend another look. "Well, Bridge, she's well."
"Well good. Of course she keeps saying she'd be better if you were both married…" Duncan's mother chimed in. Lili's face turned serious again…"Are you alright?"
"Yes, kicking again…" She added with a slight breath…she stared at her food…she wasn't hungry.
"That's the best part when I was preggo with Emma!" Bridget chanted. "Yer far along now, right?"
"36 weeks…yes."
"But she could go any day now…" Duncan added with a smile…
"The doctor said I was full term as of 37 weeks." She corrected him with another pant.
"Aye, but early can happen…that's also what the doctor said…since you've dropped very low." He replied again…he touched her rounded front side only to feel the tightness and then a big vibrant kick! "Baby agrees."
"Both of you were early." Rebecca replied…"Four or Five weeks…"
"See?" Duncan responded like he knew something important. Lili just felt another kick…
"I think I better go lie down." She added…not asking to be excused…as she stood up carefully…
"OK, dear." Rebecca watched her closely waddle out of the room.
"It's the practice contractions…making her ready for the real ones…" Duncan winked matter of factly…"She needs to lie on her left. Better fetch her some water." He grabbed the water glass…nodded to his immediate family and ran up the steps to his room. She had just reached his bedroom when he came up behind her.
"These are not practice, are they?" He asked…unsure. She just slowly wandered over to the bed and lowered herself down.
"I have no idea. I'm 36 weeks this is too early to worry about real labor. Just tell your mom I'm sorry for walking out on her dinner."
"She knows, Lil, she knows." His eyes shifted to hers…uncertainty filled them again…followed by another serious look…of more discomfort.
"Fatherhood…I told you I'm going to be a great father, right?" He rambled again…same speech different pregnant day.
"Yes, go tell this to another pregnant woman, please?" She tried to joke…but it didn't work so well…more tightening sides…more slight pants…then a lull…for ten minutes. She stared at the clock on his bedside table and timed them…more tightening picked up again…then a huge kick…
"But…I want…you don't look so well…lie about…I'll check the clock." He reassured her…deciding not to joke about…this was serious business for an "expectant" dad…not the time to be a loving jester…
"OK." She decided to lie on her left…he kneeled down to face her…
"Betta?"
"I'm not sure…I hope so." He kissed her forehead…she closed her eyes…then another contraction in her unjust lower half roared in loud and clear. "Oh great…"
"Anotha?"
"Yes. How far?"
"Six minutes."
"I'm fine…this is silly. Go eat dinner, okay? Don't worry about me…enjoy your family…I don't want you stuck up here…"
"I am not stuck." He challenged, then noticed her pathetic…please leave me alone look. "Aye, yell to me though of any funny business."
"I will. Go." She suggested…he then covered her with a blanket, kissed her once again and headed out of the room…
Then ten minutes later… "DUNCAN!!!" She had stood up from the bed…more pain, more discomfort…not a good sign that the baby was settling down…she penguin walked to the bureau on the side and braced herself…another contraction…then another…and another…she felt a magnetic pop and something watery was all over her underside as she had removed her pants to lie down comfortably earlier with his help since she couldn't touch her feet too well! "Oh crud. DUNC!"
But there was only seconds between "Oh crud" and "DUNC!" as he reached the doorway immediately…
"Water…broken…Broke. My. Water." She was more out of breath…he was in shock…then bumbled around the room…he grabbed a suitcase…
"Going now…Going now…" He repeated in tune with her breathing… "Just relax…"
Her eyes rolled at him…as her hands clutched her front side…
"Or maybe not…" After he caught her look…he remembered the birthing book Lex had lent him…he decided he had to help support her frame as she walked…
"What's wrong?" Duncan's mother and sister came running in…"Baby!"
Lili just nodded…
"Well, don't stand there, Dunc, get her to a hospital!" Rebecca shouted at her son…
"I'll tell Da…we need the car and pronto!" Bridget ran out of the room…
Within moments, or just a plain blur…Lili was helped down the stairs, panting, slightly miffed, slightly grunting with her new family following her close behind…Duncan was right there…still petrified…but he kept remembering Lexie's book and her words over and over again…Lexie had been determined to convince him he'd be prepared for the birth of his first born…he just had to convince himself of it. She'd add: "Ye'll be just fine Dunc!" He'd reply: "Ya think, Lex?" Only to have her roll her eyes at him and add, "Duh. Just read the book…oh an' no golf club tossin' about durin' this birth, okay?" He'd chuckle…
Meanwhile Lili would finally approach the small car with Duncan trying to support her…but having one arm around her waist and another holding her hand… "In ya go." He helped lower her down into the back seat of car…but grunts and heavier pants would join her reply…
"It's too early."
"Nope, not according to…" He was cut off by a happy but soon grandmother again…
"Me or yer doc." Rebecca replied with a laugh…
"Wait…my doctor isn't…" She was about to protest with his mother…
"Dun worry, Sugar." Duncan tried to reassure her once again!
"I'll meet yas there." Bridget hollered from her car after putting Emma in her car seat. And climbing in!
It was about 15 minutes by the time they reached a hospital…the contractions picked up more…no lulls between…Lili was trying not to push as her body so wanted to do so…Duncan sat beside her…
"Yer okay." He assured her once more…
"Speak for yourself." She added restless…
"Sounds like the labor is more intense." Duncan's father called out from behind the driving wheel…
"Yes!" She added…trying to breath through the next contraction…
"Easy does it…look at me…breathe…Sugar…breath." Duncan spoke gently, warmly and it worked…she relaxed for a small second…but then she felt pain all over again.
"I can't." She grumbled, but then actually panicked…"I need to push!"
"Not yet." He added but he rubbed her front side…he could feel the tightening, "No pushing yet…"
Then the car swerved into the emergency entrance of the hospital…
"Wheelchair!" Michael yelled out to a nurse nearby who came wandering out with one…Duncan helped the nurse place her into the chair…
"Baby?" The woman asked…
"Baby coming. NOW----OW—OW." Lili released a big yelp…the woman smiled…
"Good thing, we need another baby around here. What's your name? We'll worry about checking you in later…how close is she?" Her eyes scanned Duncan's face…
"Too close…pushing close." He replied…he forgot to time them! He could have smacked his forehead for being daft…but it didn't matter…
"OK, less than three minutes…very good…follow me!"
Duncan, Lili and the nurse wandered to the elevator and then to the second floor…onto the maternity area and then the delivery room…leaving his family behind in a waiting room on the second floor. Lili forced a smile…"UM…Pushing required…"
"Not yet…let us get you to the table first…you'll be okay…then you can push when we check you…how far along are you?"
"36 weeks…"
"That's perfect." The nurse smiled back at Lili…then up to Duncan…knowing they were both scared witless anyway! Lili couldn't ponder being scared, as she was lifted to a table…checked and then told…
"I see a head…you need to push…the babe is heads down…" She answered…
"UM…OK…" She hollered out…Duncan was right behind her…trying to help her relax…
"Hold her leg." The nurse instructed Duncan as he did as he was told. "I have the other one…"
"I'm Dr. Mackenzie…" The doctor walked in as if on cue…
"She's ready to go…" The nurse spoke up…
"Good, so push away, dear…that's it first push…"
Lili did as she was told…pushing…bearing down…feeling the baby move…towards the new world…
"Well done." Duncan commented on how she was doing…his eyes didn't leave hers…she tried to smile but pain built up again…pain came pressure…to bear down…
"Another good push and we'll have a head and shoulders…"
"Lili." She spoke up.
"Lili." The doctor replied, grinning once again… "Well, Lili, push!"
She did so…then heard the next jumbled words… "I have a head…I have shoulders…now push again…we need the body…"
" You see a head? A head? Lil, a head!" Duncan shouted aloud…dropping her leg…she glared at him in pain…"Ach-oops…"
He steadied her once again…"Sorry."
"Its okay." She said, through her teeth…pushing once again…out came the little body…and then one more afterbirth push…cries filled the room…
"You both should be proud…what a little looker…"
"What is it?" Lili asked out of breath, out of energy…then she looked up at the little body that was immediately rubbed down…tended to and swaddled up into a blanket.
"A girl of course!" The doctor exclaimed, "Well done, Mum and congrats Dad!"
The nurse smartly returned the infant to it mother and Duncan had managed to cover Lili's legs up with a blanket…before making sure he was cuddled to her and the newborn…leaning in to kiss them both.
"Me a Da?" Duncan asked still in awe and disbelief…
"Me a Mum?" Lil answered…they laughed…
"She's cute…"
"Not as adorable as you…"
" Gee, even after a quick labor…" She laughed…
"You must've been in labor in the ride down…"
"I probably was." She winked…"I had to pee very badly and you kept hitting every pothole on the way down here…"
"I did not…aye, maybe I did." He chuckled back at her…his playfulness showed…
About twenty minutes later she was checked into the hospital and then placed into another room…they were surrounded by Duncan's parents, his sister and even Emma…
"What are you going to call her?" Rebecca asked…holding her second granddaughter…
"Not sure…" Lili replied…but Duncan knew…
"How about following tradition of using a family member's name…I'm Duncan Michael…grandfather was Alexander Duncan…so…how about after my grandmother?" He suggested…
"Maeve?" Lili asked…
"Aye, Maeve."
"Maeve Brynn."
"Where's the Brynn from?" Duncan's father asked…
"My mother." Lili replied fondly.
"Only fair both sides get the recognition." Bridget laughed.
"Yes all 5lbs 10oz and 18 inches/2.3kg and 45 cm of her!" Lili added… "She's the same exact size as Jayne and Wayne!"
"She is so tiny." Bridget spoke up softly. "Jayne and Wayne?"
"Lexie, my cousin's kids."
"Ah," Bridget replied…
"She is my Minnie Mouse." Duncan joked…as his daughter was handed over to him.
"Minnie was your grandmother's nickname." Michael commented…his son looked up at him…
"That's right." Duncan agreed…
Later on that night…Lili was sleeping in one of Duncan's tee shirts since he had forgotten to bring her "emergency" bag and grabbed his suitcase instead…with all the excitement…
He was happily rocking their daughter and softly singing…only a more "Minnie Mouse" version…
Who's the leader of the club
That's made for you and me
M-I-N-N-I-E M-O-U-S-E
Hey! There, Hi! There, Ho! There
You're as welcome as can be
M-I-N-N-I-E M-O-U-S-E
Minnie Mouse!
Minnie Mouse!
Forever let us hold our banner
High! High! High! High!
Come along and sing a song
And join the jamboree!
M-I-N-N-I-E M-O-U-S-E
Lili's eyes opened…she peeked in his direction, watching Duncan…just singing along…
Minnie Mouse club
We'll have fun
We'll be new faces
High! High! High! High!
We'll do things and
We'll go places
All around the world
We'll go marching
His eyes wandered to hers…still singing…as his mind added…yer goin' to make a wonderful mother, Lil…
Who's the leader of the club
That's made for you and me
M-I-N-N-I-E M-O-U-S-E
Hey! There, Hi! There, Ho! There
You're as welcome as can be
M-I-N-N-I-E M-O-U-S-E
Minnie Mouse!
Minnie Mouse!
Forever let us hold our banner
High! High! High! High!
Come along and sing a song
And join the jamboree!
M-I-N-N-I-E M-O-U-S-E
Her mind replied to his…and you're going to make a terrific father, Dunc…
Now it's time to say good-bye
to all our friends and the jamboree…
M-I-N
See you real soon
-N-I-E
Why because we love you
M-O-U-S-E…
As Maeve was placed down in her crib…her daddy stopped singing…he beamed mighty brightly.
The End.