Miranda's Spiel: Thanks to everyone for your reviews, I'm finally updating
you will be glad to see! Seeing as I get some pretty interesting reviews
from some of you lovely people, next chapter I am going to put in my
favourite review! R&R folks . . . you could become famous!
January 28 1962
The phone rang, startling me out of my pleasant sleep. I dragged myself out of bed taking the blanket with me, and raising a yell from Hawkeye, as he froze in the winter morning. Jess had been sleeping with us, and at Hawkeye's yell, she began to cry.
"What?" I snapped irritably into the phone.
"Annie, it's Margaret." She sounded beside herself with joy. "Did I ring at a bad time?"
"Sorry Margaret, I'm just, tired. And Jess and Hawkeye both got woken up when I went to answer the phone. It's okay though, Dad's got things." Dad had come running at the yells and had picked Jess up and was taking her downstairs. Hawkeye, now repossessed of the blanket, was going back to bed.
"I'm pregnant, I'm due in July!" I shrieked a response, and Hawkeye threw a pillow at me.
"So you're what, 12 weeks?" I asked calmly.
"About that." Margaret replied, and then added with sadness, "I hope I have a boy." Harold didn't like his two very feminine daughters. He wanted a boy to follow in his footsteps.
"Where are you ringing from?" I remember Margaret had mentioned that Harold was being transferred again.
"Fort Ord." She replied. "He got moved again." Margaret had loved army life, until she realised the disadvantages it had for a young family.
"I'm sorry to hear that." I replied. "Well congratulations on the baby, and I'll see you in July!" After we said goodbye, I went downstairs. Dad and Edna had been busy, and a beautiful homemade chocolate cake stood on the table. It was Hawkeye's 38th birthday and we were celebrating the day with a cake at lunch. After that, Hawkeye and I were going out to celebrate privately, and return home late, after the kids were in bed, to continue the adult celebrations with Dad and Edna.
"We're back." We stage-whispered. I tripped over a suitcase in the hall, and swore mildly.
"Sorry about that." Dad moved it out of the way, and made sure I was okay. A bruised ego was quickly dealt with by a loving cuddle.
"Who's is it?" I queried, Edna smiled mysteriously and pointed to the spare room. Curious, I walked across the hall, and after knocking, into the spare bedroom. Two figures lay asleep on the bed, but woke as I entered.
"Alice Newman!" My sister, and husband Roger had decided to visit us, and were very much welcome. Alice, as it turned out was pregnant, and while Roger had to go to Europe for next six months, she didn't want to stay home alone. So, letting out the cosily messy New York apartment they owned, Alice had decided to live here. Although surprised, Dad and Edna had readily agreed, especially as it was Alice's first child and she was rather nervous.
Things went quickly with Alice staying and before we knew it, time had flown by and we were waking early in the morning of the twins' 8th birthday March 20. They were having a party and inviting a flock of kids. It was still cool, so we decided indoors was the best bet.
"Mama!" Danny was wailing his head off, and I, somewhat tired and frustrated had to pick him up. He was tired and cranky, his nap having gone to hell with twenty odd kids racing around.
"Hawkeye, honey, do me a favour please, take Danny around to Cathie's." I handed over the screaming toddler and resumed putting cupcakes on a tray. Alice was in the living room, a slight bump showing at her waist and keeping the large party entertained. Hawkeye returned from Cathie's a few minutes later, minus Danny, reporting that he had very quickly fallen asleep on the sofa, and Cathie would bring him around when he woke.
"She's a lifesaver." I murmured thankfully, before finding a record to put on. "Okay kids, it's time for musical chairs!" A loud cheer erupted and it was no surprise that we all went to bed that night with throbbing headaches.
"Charlie, dear!" I ran out onto the porch and embraced Charles, a holler of "Daddy!" sounding from upstairs.
"Annie, how good to see you again, you are looking well!" Charles kissed my cheek gently, before April, all lace, ribbons and brown curls attached herself to her beloved father. April 28th was two days away, and Charles and Nora were coming up for the momentous occasion of April's 7th birthday. The next evening, Hawkeye, myself and April we were all going back down for a 'special present' that Charles's family had brought for April.
"Nora, it's lovely to see you made it, and this must be Stella." Nora had married and a baby girl, Estelle Anastacia, or Stella had been born. She and her husband Emery now lived on his estate, also in Boston.
"I would offer you a chance to hold her, but she is asleep, I'm afraid that she will cry if I do." Nora's voice was coming slowly, without as many stutters, Emery was a speech therapist and helping Nora with it.
"That's fine, there's a bed in the spare room if you'd like to put her down." I let them in, Hawkeye had grabbed the bags and was putting them in the spare room. Charles was sleeping in the playroom, while Alice, temporarily displaced for Nora, was in Felicity's bed, and Felicity was in with us.
"Thankyou Annie, but I'd rather hold her for a while, I just can't bear to let her go." I could see why, Stella was adorable. Besides, Nora had only had Stella for five, blessed weeks, and was still, although tired, revelling in the joy that comes with knowing that you've created a beautiful, precious, perfect life.
"I know how it feels." I smiled down at the baby. She had fair skin, and blonde fuzz in fact, she reminded me rather a lot of Felicity when she was nothing more than a newborn infant herself.
"Mum, Daddy says if you say I can stay with him all summer!" April ran up as I lifted Jess up for a cuddle and to see Stella. 'Daddy' winked at me, as he carried his things upstairs to the playroom where he was sleeping.
"We did talk about that didn't we?" I smiled, turning Jess upside down and walking through the house, holding onto her legs and only her legs as she squealed, enjoying her ride.
"So Mummy, can I go?" April begged, following me into the kitchen as I put Jess down and put a kettle on. We'd have a late supper and a cup of tea before sending the kids to bed.
"We'll see," I answered her evasively. Danny came running in, Edna hot on his heels. She looked puffed, from chasing him around the house. She'd been getting more and more tired recently, I guessed that the strain of running around after two boisterous kids most of the day was getting to her. I had however, decided to take most of the summer off work, so that Edna could go and see her other eight grandchildren in Iowa.
"Thanks Edna." I intercepted Danny and sat him at the table.
"You're welcome Annie." Edna puffed. We all sat down to supper and it was 9.30 before the kids were all asleep.
"Finally, I thought she'd never go down." Alice returned from putting Lydia to bed. We were sitting in the living room, and having a nightcap, soda water for Nora, martini for Hawkeye and Dad, port for Charles and myself, and juice for Alice and Edna. Stella lay in her pram, gazing around with pretty hazel eyes.
"Alice, when did you say the baby was expected?" Nora queried.
"September, we found out in January." Dad pulled her onto his knee for a cuddle. Surprised, she hugged him back. The fact that Dad was Alice's father too had finally sunken in and now Dad was as loving towards her as towards Hawkeye or myself.
"I hope you decide to stay long enough for me to deliver her. I'd hate to miss delivering my granddaughter." He'd decided, by the way Alice was carrying, very low, and wide like I had with Jess and April, plus the fact that I thought it was a boy, that Alice was going to have a daughter.
"We'll see Daddy." Alice laughed obligingly, I knew that she wanted to get back home and get settled into her apartment again before the baby came.
"What's to say you can't go up?" I laughed, standing up to go to bed. Dad muttered a poor excuse, and we all went to bed laughing after that. As a result, April's birthday party in the Cove was a suitably riotous occasion.
"Close your eyes darling." Charles and I took April's hands, and with Hawkeye's arm curled around my waist, we made our way outside, where one of the grooms stood holding a beautiful brown pony by a lead rope.
"Open them pet." April opened her eyes, and gasped. She had enough sense to shriek too loudly around the pony and so she threw her arms around Charles and I.
"And he's really mine?" April asked with big eyes, the pony was a shiny brown, with a white star on his face, and four neat, white socks.
"Yes Angel, and furthermore, you can stay here all summer." I told her. April hugged me and said thankyou.
"Have you picked a name for the pony yet?" Hawkeye asked, as April was led around on the pony. Her riding tuition would start in the summer.
"Yes, Hawkeye. Hawk for short." April said smiling. Hawkeye, touched to the point of being mute, just squeezed my hand so hard it hurt.
"Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Danny. . . Happy Birthday to you!" Daniel blew out his candles, all three of them, shrieked with joy and pounded his fist into his football-shaped cake that Dad and I had been up since 4am making. My family had come for the occasion, as Alice was still staying with me Mum, Patrick, Jemma, Nath, Grace, Matthew and Chris drove up from Portland. Joe, Lily, Rae, Mimi, Andrew, and Eve came too with their husbands and children. Jeremy was still up in Fort Wayne, and couldn't come down.
It was in the evening, and Mum had gone for a walk with the girls, except Grace. I had chosen not to go, as I had to put a very excited Danny to bed and decided that someone should be around, who could manage such a big brood, all of whom were going home after their mothers had come back.
"Daniel Adam Riley Pierce, put your patoot to sleep!" I sighed, as Chris started hollering at me from the downstairs bathroom. I hurried down, to find Chris outside, and the sound of tears coming from within.
"She just locked herself inside, and she's been crying ever since, I have no idea." Chris explained.
"Grace, honey it's Annie, what's wrong?" I tapped on the door. It wasn't locked as Chris had thought, and I went in quietly. Grace sat on the edge of the bath , her face in her hands.
"Where's Mummy?" She asked unhappily. I approached her quietly. I hadn't had the same role in her life as I had in Alice's and my other sisters' and as a result, Gracie was far more attached to Mum than me.
"She's gone for a walk Gracie what's wrong?" I sat beside her and put my arms around her tightly.
"Can I tell you Annie? Promise you won't tell anyone else?" Gracie looked up at me, her eyes filled with tears. I realised then that there was nervous excitement in her voice, I'd previously thought that Grace, with her brown hair and hazel eyes, and short, chubby figure, and love for maths and science was nothing like me. However, she seemed to have my voice, and the same use of tone and volume.
"I will give you that promise as long as I know that it's not anything really bad, and that it doesn't need to be told to anyone like a doctor." I gave her the traditional comment I'd given soldiers ten years ago.
"Well, mummy needs to know anyway I think." Gracie sniffled. "I just started my period."
"Grace Stephanie Hayes, you're growing up!" I threw my arms around her. Tears of joy pricked in my eyes, I'd been there for Rachael, Mimi, Eve, Lily, Alice, Grace, all of my sisters, except for Jemma, who at not yet 10, was probably a year or so off puberty anyway. It made me think however, my little Felicity only had 4 or so years until she grew up too, and made me a little sad.
After my family went home, and Alice went to bed, Hawkeye and I curled up on the sofa, while I heard Dad cleaning up in the kitchen.
"I love them all so much, it's great when I can see them." I sighed. Lydia was looking rather like Lily, and we figured that we'd tell her eventually anyway.
"Isn't it? And I love it too. You're always so happy. I love it when you're happy." Hawkeye agreed with a smile.
We cuddled for a few minutes in silence, and Dad went to bed. I'd been quietly toying with an idea and I decided to ask Hawkeye about it. "My beloved, adorable sweet thing," I crooned, playing with Hawkeye's fringe.
"Yes my darling, loveable angel face?" He crooned back, nuzzling into my neck.
"I want to have another baby." He gaped, and took a second to recover.
"Really? Annie, are you serious?"
"Yes! I know I said no last year, but that was then. I do want a final baby." I crawled off the couch, and kneeled before him, taking both his hands and looking deep into his eyes.
"Anne, you said final with Jess, and we had Lydia and Danny! But, I'm ready for another if you are." Hawkeye returned the deep, serious gaze.
"Hawkeye, Ben, darling, thankyou, you're making me the happiest woman on earth." I kissed him. Needless to say we kept ourselves busy when we went to bed.
"So we're going to try for another baby." I told Dad a couple of weeks later. His face creased concernedly.
"But, Annie darling, you're going to stop working, we'll need your pay check once the baby comes." He said.
"Hawkeye and I have a lot put away Dad, it'll be fine, and I can keep working in the clinic as long as I like, and the Cove nursing staff will always have me, it's just the Gen that'll throw me off when I start to show. I plan to work again anyway, once the baby is four months old or so. Plus the baby won't be actually due for a while, I'm not even pregnant yet, I can keep working, and we can keep saving, and you don't need to worry."
"But you want to go back to work, Anne, I'm not sure if I. . ." Dad was anxious, and obviously unwilling.
"We're going to hire a nanny, so you and Edna aren't stuck with them all day, and anyhow, Lydia starts school this year, so it's not so bad, for the most part it'd be you guys, Danny and the baby."
"You've really thought about this haven't you?" Dad asked, cupping my chin in his hand. I nodded quietly. "Well, tell Hawkeye, you have my blessings, and Annie, up the calcium intake already."
"Yes Dad, thankyou." I kissed him and slid off the bench and drove to work.
Jess's 6th birthday, the 10th of June rolled up. We had an outdoor party for her and her friends, with Alice, dressing up as a fairy (despite a 6 month baby bump) and reading fairytales to 14 similarly dressed, and completely enthralled girls. We'd begun to look at nannies, preferring a live-in, but none we'd found enjoyed the Cove's quiet isolation.
We'd barely had time to recover from Jess's day, when on the 12th, Lydia and Adam's birthday dawned. In the morning it was off to visit my baby in the cemetery, before heading back to the beach where Hawkeye had buried little presents for the kids in an area of sand. After the treasure hunt, we walked back to the house, had a snack, played musical chairs, and Stevie arrived.
"Hi, I'm Stevie Walters," She beamed, I believe my cousin Lora is on the loose somewhere here?" I smiled, and offered my hand, Lora's mother had mentioned something to the tune of a cousin picking Lora up.
"Annie Pierce, the birthday girl's mother, Lora's out back with my sister and my other kids." I pointed, and led the way, suddenly Stevie stopped.
"Say, Pierce, you're not looking for a full-time nanny are you, I rang yesterday and talked to a man, but I left my full name, Stephanie." My jaw dropped. Stephanie Walters, Hawkeye had mentioned fielding a call from her.
"Well, this is a surprise Stevie." I recovered quickly, and found my voice. Stevie was a young, 20-something woman, out of college and in need of a job.
It turned out Stevie was just what we were looking for, and by my birthday, when Alice and Roger moved back to New York, Stevie moved in as our nanny. We offered her the spare room, but she insisted on the playroom sofa bed, preferring her closeness to the kids. As a compromise, she was to sleep in April's room for the summer while April was in Boston, and we'd get her a proper bed and build in a sort of room for her in the playroom.
"Alright chickadees, say goodnight to Mummy and Daddy, and come upstairs, I'll be reading a story to you in five minutes!" Hawkeye and I were off for a private birthday celebration to end with a 'baby dance' as we had dubbed it, in hope of a baby next year.
"Thankyou Stevie, I honestly don't know what we'd do without you." After the coming Christmas, Daniel and Edna had decided to retire, a well-earned retirement, I felt, and with Stevie on board they'd be able to.
"It's no problem Mrs Pierce, and I'll be fine with them next week." Margaret was alone again, and due soon Harold was in Brussels for a conference or something, and Hawkeye and I were flying to Fort Ord to keep her company until the baby arrived. If we had our way, and I suspected we would, she'd actually fly back with us and once more, have the baby in the Cove. However, Stevie sensed my anxiety about leaving all the kids, and reassured me on a regular basis.
We left and had dinner in Portland, before we went dancing for a while. We returned home, checked on the sleeping household and went to bed ourselves.
"Margaret!" She struggled to her feet as I entered the room, Hawkeye on my tail. On the floor, Isabelle and Hannah were playing, and looked up as I hugged their mother. "Oh, Margaret, you're looking well, honestly you are." She beamed at me.
"Annie's right Margaret. You're looking beautiful." Hawkeye kissed Margaret lightly on the mouth, as I picked up Isabelle and gave her a big cuddle.
"Sit down, can I get you a drink?" Hawkeye had grabbed Hannah, and was holding her by her legs upside down, and the blonde, blue-eyed girl was shrieking with joy. Isabelle meanwhile, was quite content in my lap, trying on the necklace with my cross, and the old rings.
"Thanks but no Margaret." I smiled. "Now, sit down and listen to us, we've got a suggestion, I'm not sure if you'll like it, but it worked well last time." Hawkeye took over explaining and finished our idea.
"That's very tempting, I'll admit, but who's going to look after Hannah and Isabelle while I'm in hospital?" Now sorely tempted, Margaret was trying to find a reason not to go.
"We will, Margaret, and we've got Stevie living with us, you know she's fantastic, Anita loves her too, she says that it's like having Annabelle around when Lily, Matt and Alice were small."
"Hawkeye, Annie, you're tempting me far too much." Margaret protested weakly. Hawkeye and I smiled, we were well on the way to winning.
"Sir, I really don't think it's advisable that your wife travels with you." The ticket woman at the airport protested. Margaret's advanced state of pregnancy was an issue as people thought that she might go into labour in the air.
"Firstly, she's not my wife, she's my sister-in-law, this is my wife." Hawkeye put his arm around me. "Secondly, I am Dr Benjamin Franklin Pierce, and it has come to my attention that this woman's unborn baby may be suffering a rare and little-known form of lung disease." It had been a while since Hawkeye had spun a lie like this, and he petered out, so I picked up promptly.
"Known as advanced infantile tuberculosis poliomyelitis." I ran a few words together, and extreme confusion was quickly reached. "It's highly contagious and can be passed to a foetus after their mother is exposed for less than a minute. It was discovered by Professor Tuttle from the University of Our Holy Father of Druids Reformed, and can prove fatal if left undiscovered or untreated." Gratefully, my 'sister' took over.
"It's a very rare condition in which newborns' lungs are extremely sensitive to air, and there are only four places in the world where a baby with such a condition can breathe safely, one of which is in Maine. As you see miss, it is imperative that I get to Maine, so my baby can live." Margaret tightened her voice into a sob. Confused, the woman handed us our tickets.
"Where did you learn to lie like that my girls?' Hawkeye asked. We were in the air, and Hannah was asleep in my lap, while a young couple in front were playing with Isabelle.
"We learned from the best." Margaret replied smartly. I think that Hawkeye laughed and made a none-too-modest comment, as sleep rather suddenly overtook me.
We arrived back in the Cove, and less than a day later, Margaret went into labour. As with the twins, Hawkeye and I were delivering in a hospital, this time in the Cove's new maternity ward. It was shorter than with the twins, and before long, Margaret was resting, with another daughter, Melody Gloria Olsen. Harold was apparently disgusted at his third daughter and Margaret moved out of whichever Fort she was at and in with her sister.
Edna's birthday was in September, but Dad wasn't around to see it. He'd flown up to deliver Alice's baby, but there'd been a few complications with the little boy's arrival, which had delayed him some. Now, with both mother and baby doing well, I drove up for one day to see my beautiful new nephew Trent Roger Newman. We drove back home the next day, to find Stevie holding it together well, and I counted my blessings, I had no idea what I'd do without her.
Dad's birthday, October 18 was approaching fast, when I received a call from Margaret. She'd decided to divorce Harold after they'd fought and he'd hit her and raped her. She'd decided to stay with Colonel Potter, who adored the twins and Melody, for a little, before finding her own place somewhere else.
However, everything was not brilliant. I'd been waking with terrifying nightmares of loosing Hawkeye and the kids almost every night and could not find a reason for it. While my sleep pattern was wrecked and I found that I was rather irritable, I also found that the desire to tell my family I loved them, if acted upon lessened the terrors.
By dad's birthday I'd settled down some, and was able to continue a perfectly normal life, and was beginning to wonder if I was pregnant. Charles had also decided to come up for a week and stay with us as well, and all in all we were a very happy family.
"I love you so much darling." I murmured against Hawkeye's neck as he prepared to leave for work one morning.
"I love you too my Annie-girl." Hawkeye replied. "But why so serious?"
"I just feel like I might never get to say it again Ben dear. I had a really scary one last night, but I couldn't wake from it. And you know that it helps me sleep. Promise me you'll be extra careful today."
"Of course" Hawkeye said, kissing my forehead lovingly. He left then, and I returned to the kitchen.
"What? Still eating April, scoot or you'll be late! Charles, you're not helping her!" Her ever-adoring father was sitting beside her, talking. April had about two minutes to leave for school and was leaving things very close.
"What's the plan today?" I wiped Danny's sticky arms as I answered the question.
"Lydia and I are going into Portland today and she's at kinder after, I'll drop her off on the way back. I know it kind of leaves you at a loose end though." I explained, setting Danny on the floor and tying his shoes.
"That shouldn't be a worry Annie. I'm sure I can find some occupation for six hours."
"You can start now if you like, walk Ben, Lyss, April and Jess to school." I beamed at him. Normally the kids could walk just fine by themselves, but as it was wet, cold, and foggy, I didn't want them alone on the roads while visibility was poor and there was a chance of puddle-splashing.
"If you want." Charles offered sincerely.
"Actually I do want. I need to get dressed still." I was wearing blue-grey slacks, under Hawkeye's robe.
"Just the four is it then?" The said four children had assembled in the living room, ready for school.
"Yes, I'll pick them up." I walked into the lounge and kissed them all in turn. "Be good my darlings, I love you. Be careful okay?" The nightmare had really spooked me. I made a mental note to place a call to Manhattan and the only shrink I'd ever trust with my mind later.
I watched as Charles and my older children left, and then sat, much against my better wishes, Lydia and Danny in front of the TV while I showered and Edna returned from her morning walk. Stevie had requested a day off, and with Charles on hand, I had given it to her.
"Mummy, I need new shoes." Lydia reminded me. So we put shoe shopping on our agenda, to be done just before we went back to the Cove. It was some time before Lydia and I agreed on a pair of shoes. Everything she wanted was too fancy and not practical enough for school. Finally the black lace- ups were agreed on, providing we also bought a new pair of socks, green, later. By the time we left, our purchase safely on Lydia's feet, we were late.
"Come on Lyddie," We stood at the curb, and I saw our bus coming. I also saw a break in the traffic and stepped forward, tugging on Lydia's wrist.
"Mummy no!" Lydia pulled at my hand, causing me to step backwards a fraction of an inch, I heard brakes squeal and felt a jolt as I went flying through the air and blackness hit.
Miranda's Spiel: "Yes folks, a cliffhanger. Will I let Annie live this time? Remember to R&R I'm putting my favourite review in the next chapter."
January 28 1962
The phone rang, startling me out of my pleasant sleep. I dragged myself out of bed taking the blanket with me, and raising a yell from Hawkeye, as he froze in the winter morning. Jess had been sleeping with us, and at Hawkeye's yell, she began to cry.
"What?" I snapped irritably into the phone.
"Annie, it's Margaret." She sounded beside herself with joy. "Did I ring at a bad time?"
"Sorry Margaret, I'm just, tired. And Jess and Hawkeye both got woken up when I went to answer the phone. It's okay though, Dad's got things." Dad had come running at the yells and had picked Jess up and was taking her downstairs. Hawkeye, now repossessed of the blanket, was going back to bed.
"I'm pregnant, I'm due in July!" I shrieked a response, and Hawkeye threw a pillow at me.
"So you're what, 12 weeks?" I asked calmly.
"About that." Margaret replied, and then added with sadness, "I hope I have a boy." Harold didn't like his two very feminine daughters. He wanted a boy to follow in his footsteps.
"Where are you ringing from?" I remember Margaret had mentioned that Harold was being transferred again.
"Fort Ord." She replied. "He got moved again." Margaret had loved army life, until she realised the disadvantages it had for a young family.
"I'm sorry to hear that." I replied. "Well congratulations on the baby, and I'll see you in July!" After we said goodbye, I went downstairs. Dad and Edna had been busy, and a beautiful homemade chocolate cake stood on the table. It was Hawkeye's 38th birthday and we were celebrating the day with a cake at lunch. After that, Hawkeye and I were going out to celebrate privately, and return home late, after the kids were in bed, to continue the adult celebrations with Dad and Edna.
"We're back." We stage-whispered. I tripped over a suitcase in the hall, and swore mildly.
"Sorry about that." Dad moved it out of the way, and made sure I was okay. A bruised ego was quickly dealt with by a loving cuddle.
"Who's is it?" I queried, Edna smiled mysteriously and pointed to the spare room. Curious, I walked across the hall, and after knocking, into the spare bedroom. Two figures lay asleep on the bed, but woke as I entered.
"Alice Newman!" My sister, and husband Roger had decided to visit us, and were very much welcome. Alice, as it turned out was pregnant, and while Roger had to go to Europe for next six months, she didn't want to stay home alone. So, letting out the cosily messy New York apartment they owned, Alice had decided to live here. Although surprised, Dad and Edna had readily agreed, especially as it was Alice's first child and she was rather nervous.
Things went quickly with Alice staying and before we knew it, time had flown by and we were waking early in the morning of the twins' 8th birthday March 20. They were having a party and inviting a flock of kids. It was still cool, so we decided indoors was the best bet.
"Mama!" Danny was wailing his head off, and I, somewhat tired and frustrated had to pick him up. He was tired and cranky, his nap having gone to hell with twenty odd kids racing around.
"Hawkeye, honey, do me a favour please, take Danny around to Cathie's." I handed over the screaming toddler and resumed putting cupcakes on a tray. Alice was in the living room, a slight bump showing at her waist and keeping the large party entertained. Hawkeye returned from Cathie's a few minutes later, minus Danny, reporting that he had very quickly fallen asleep on the sofa, and Cathie would bring him around when he woke.
"She's a lifesaver." I murmured thankfully, before finding a record to put on. "Okay kids, it's time for musical chairs!" A loud cheer erupted and it was no surprise that we all went to bed that night with throbbing headaches.
"Charlie, dear!" I ran out onto the porch and embraced Charles, a holler of "Daddy!" sounding from upstairs.
"Annie, how good to see you again, you are looking well!" Charles kissed my cheek gently, before April, all lace, ribbons and brown curls attached herself to her beloved father. April 28th was two days away, and Charles and Nora were coming up for the momentous occasion of April's 7th birthday. The next evening, Hawkeye, myself and April we were all going back down for a 'special present' that Charles's family had brought for April.
"Nora, it's lovely to see you made it, and this must be Stella." Nora had married and a baby girl, Estelle Anastacia, or Stella had been born. She and her husband Emery now lived on his estate, also in Boston.
"I would offer you a chance to hold her, but she is asleep, I'm afraid that she will cry if I do." Nora's voice was coming slowly, without as many stutters, Emery was a speech therapist and helping Nora with it.
"That's fine, there's a bed in the spare room if you'd like to put her down." I let them in, Hawkeye had grabbed the bags and was putting them in the spare room. Charles was sleeping in the playroom, while Alice, temporarily displaced for Nora, was in Felicity's bed, and Felicity was in with us.
"Thankyou Annie, but I'd rather hold her for a while, I just can't bear to let her go." I could see why, Stella was adorable. Besides, Nora had only had Stella for five, blessed weeks, and was still, although tired, revelling in the joy that comes with knowing that you've created a beautiful, precious, perfect life.
"I know how it feels." I smiled down at the baby. She had fair skin, and blonde fuzz in fact, she reminded me rather a lot of Felicity when she was nothing more than a newborn infant herself.
"Mum, Daddy says if you say I can stay with him all summer!" April ran up as I lifted Jess up for a cuddle and to see Stella. 'Daddy' winked at me, as he carried his things upstairs to the playroom where he was sleeping.
"We did talk about that didn't we?" I smiled, turning Jess upside down and walking through the house, holding onto her legs and only her legs as she squealed, enjoying her ride.
"So Mummy, can I go?" April begged, following me into the kitchen as I put Jess down and put a kettle on. We'd have a late supper and a cup of tea before sending the kids to bed.
"We'll see," I answered her evasively. Danny came running in, Edna hot on his heels. She looked puffed, from chasing him around the house. She'd been getting more and more tired recently, I guessed that the strain of running around after two boisterous kids most of the day was getting to her. I had however, decided to take most of the summer off work, so that Edna could go and see her other eight grandchildren in Iowa.
"Thanks Edna." I intercepted Danny and sat him at the table.
"You're welcome Annie." Edna puffed. We all sat down to supper and it was 9.30 before the kids were all asleep.
"Finally, I thought she'd never go down." Alice returned from putting Lydia to bed. We were sitting in the living room, and having a nightcap, soda water for Nora, martini for Hawkeye and Dad, port for Charles and myself, and juice for Alice and Edna. Stella lay in her pram, gazing around with pretty hazel eyes.
"Alice, when did you say the baby was expected?" Nora queried.
"September, we found out in January." Dad pulled her onto his knee for a cuddle. Surprised, she hugged him back. The fact that Dad was Alice's father too had finally sunken in and now Dad was as loving towards her as towards Hawkeye or myself.
"I hope you decide to stay long enough for me to deliver her. I'd hate to miss delivering my granddaughter." He'd decided, by the way Alice was carrying, very low, and wide like I had with Jess and April, plus the fact that I thought it was a boy, that Alice was going to have a daughter.
"We'll see Daddy." Alice laughed obligingly, I knew that she wanted to get back home and get settled into her apartment again before the baby came.
"What's to say you can't go up?" I laughed, standing up to go to bed. Dad muttered a poor excuse, and we all went to bed laughing after that. As a result, April's birthday party in the Cove was a suitably riotous occasion.
"Close your eyes darling." Charles and I took April's hands, and with Hawkeye's arm curled around my waist, we made our way outside, where one of the grooms stood holding a beautiful brown pony by a lead rope.
"Open them pet." April opened her eyes, and gasped. She had enough sense to shriek too loudly around the pony and so she threw her arms around Charles and I.
"And he's really mine?" April asked with big eyes, the pony was a shiny brown, with a white star on his face, and four neat, white socks.
"Yes Angel, and furthermore, you can stay here all summer." I told her. April hugged me and said thankyou.
"Have you picked a name for the pony yet?" Hawkeye asked, as April was led around on the pony. Her riding tuition would start in the summer.
"Yes, Hawkeye. Hawk for short." April said smiling. Hawkeye, touched to the point of being mute, just squeezed my hand so hard it hurt.
"Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Danny. . . Happy Birthday to you!" Daniel blew out his candles, all three of them, shrieked with joy and pounded his fist into his football-shaped cake that Dad and I had been up since 4am making. My family had come for the occasion, as Alice was still staying with me Mum, Patrick, Jemma, Nath, Grace, Matthew and Chris drove up from Portland. Joe, Lily, Rae, Mimi, Andrew, and Eve came too with their husbands and children. Jeremy was still up in Fort Wayne, and couldn't come down.
It was in the evening, and Mum had gone for a walk with the girls, except Grace. I had chosen not to go, as I had to put a very excited Danny to bed and decided that someone should be around, who could manage such a big brood, all of whom were going home after their mothers had come back.
"Daniel Adam Riley Pierce, put your patoot to sleep!" I sighed, as Chris started hollering at me from the downstairs bathroom. I hurried down, to find Chris outside, and the sound of tears coming from within.
"She just locked herself inside, and she's been crying ever since, I have no idea." Chris explained.
"Grace, honey it's Annie, what's wrong?" I tapped on the door. It wasn't locked as Chris had thought, and I went in quietly. Grace sat on the edge of the bath , her face in her hands.
"Where's Mummy?" She asked unhappily. I approached her quietly. I hadn't had the same role in her life as I had in Alice's and my other sisters' and as a result, Gracie was far more attached to Mum than me.
"She's gone for a walk Gracie what's wrong?" I sat beside her and put my arms around her tightly.
"Can I tell you Annie? Promise you won't tell anyone else?" Gracie looked up at me, her eyes filled with tears. I realised then that there was nervous excitement in her voice, I'd previously thought that Grace, with her brown hair and hazel eyes, and short, chubby figure, and love for maths and science was nothing like me. However, she seemed to have my voice, and the same use of tone and volume.
"I will give you that promise as long as I know that it's not anything really bad, and that it doesn't need to be told to anyone like a doctor." I gave her the traditional comment I'd given soldiers ten years ago.
"Well, mummy needs to know anyway I think." Gracie sniffled. "I just started my period."
"Grace Stephanie Hayes, you're growing up!" I threw my arms around her. Tears of joy pricked in my eyes, I'd been there for Rachael, Mimi, Eve, Lily, Alice, Grace, all of my sisters, except for Jemma, who at not yet 10, was probably a year or so off puberty anyway. It made me think however, my little Felicity only had 4 or so years until she grew up too, and made me a little sad.
After my family went home, and Alice went to bed, Hawkeye and I curled up on the sofa, while I heard Dad cleaning up in the kitchen.
"I love them all so much, it's great when I can see them." I sighed. Lydia was looking rather like Lily, and we figured that we'd tell her eventually anyway.
"Isn't it? And I love it too. You're always so happy. I love it when you're happy." Hawkeye agreed with a smile.
We cuddled for a few minutes in silence, and Dad went to bed. I'd been quietly toying with an idea and I decided to ask Hawkeye about it. "My beloved, adorable sweet thing," I crooned, playing with Hawkeye's fringe.
"Yes my darling, loveable angel face?" He crooned back, nuzzling into my neck.
"I want to have another baby." He gaped, and took a second to recover.
"Really? Annie, are you serious?"
"Yes! I know I said no last year, but that was then. I do want a final baby." I crawled off the couch, and kneeled before him, taking both his hands and looking deep into his eyes.
"Anne, you said final with Jess, and we had Lydia and Danny! But, I'm ready for another if you are." Hawkeye returned the deep, serious gaze.
"Hawkeye, Ben, darling, thankyou, you're making me the happiest woman on earth." I kissed him. Needless to say we kept ourselves busy when we went to bed.
"So we're going to try for another baby." I told Dad a couple of weeks later. His face creased concernedly.
"But, Annie darling, you're going to stop working, we'll need your pay check once the baby comes." He said.
"Hawkeye and I have a lot put away Dad, it'll be fine, and I can keep working in the clinic as long as I like, and the Cove nursing staff will always have me, it's just the Gen that'll throw me off when I start to show. I plan to work again anyway, once the baby is four months old or so. Plus the baby won't be actually due for a while, I'm not even pregnant yet, I can keep working, and we can keep saving, and you don't need to worry."
"But you want to go back to work, Anne, I'm not sure if I. . ." Dad was anxious, and obviously unwilling.
"We're going to hire a nanny, so you and Edna aren't stuck with them all day, and anyhow, Lydia starts school this year, so it's not so bad, for the most part it'd be you guys, Danny and the baby."
"You've really thought about this haven't you?" Dad asked, cupping my chin in his hand. I nodded quietly. "Well, tell Hawkeye, you have my blessings, and Annie, up the calcium intake already."
"Yes Dad, thankyou." I kissed him and slid off the bench and drove to work.
Jess's 6th birthday, the 10th of June rolled up. We had an outdoor party for her and her friends, with Alice, dressing up as a fairy (despite a 6 month baby bump) and reading fairytales to 14 similarly dressed, and completely enthralled girls. We'd begun to look at nannies, preferring a live-in, but none we'd found enjoyed the Cove's quiet isolation.
We'd barely had time to recover from Jess's day, when on the 12th, Lydia and Adam's birthday dawned. In the morning it was off to visit my baby in the cemetery, before heading back to the beach where Hawkeye had buried little presents for the kids in an area of sand. After the treasure hunt, we walked back to the house, had a snack, played musical chairs, and Stevie arrived.
"Hi, I'm Stevie Walters," She beamed, I believe my cousin Lora is on the loose somewhere here?" I smiled, and offered my hand, Lora's mother had mentioned something to the tune of a cousin picking Lora up.
"Annie Pierce, the birthday girl's mother, Lora's out back with my sister and my other kids." I pointed, and led the way, suddenly Stevie stopped.
"Say, Pierce, you're not looking for a full-time nanny are you, I rang yesterday and talked to a man, but I left my full name, Stephanie." My jaw dropped. Stephanie Walters, Hawkeye had mentioned fielding a call from her.
"Well, this is a surprise Stevie." I recovered quickly, and found my voice. Stevie was a young, 20-something woman, out of college and in need of a job.
It turned out Stevie was just what we were looking for, and by my birthday, when Alice and Roger moved back to New York, Stevie moved in as our nanny. We offered her the spare room, but she insisted on the playroom sofa bed, preferring her closeness to the kids. As a compromise, she was to sleep in April's room for the summer while April was in Boston, and we'd get her a proper bed and build in a sort of room for her in the playroom.
"Alright chickadees, say goodnight to Mummy and Daddy, and come upstairs, I'll be reading a story to you in five minutes!" Hawkeye and I were off for a private birthday celebration to end with a 'baby dance' as we had dubbed it, in hope of a baby next year.
"Thankyou Stevie, I honestly don't know what we'd do without you." After the coming Christmas, Daniel and Edna had decided to retire, a well-earned retirement, I felt, and with Stevie on board they'd be able to.
"It's no problem Mrs Pierce, and I'll be fine with them next week." Margaret was alone again, and due soon Harold was in Brussels for a conference or something, and Hawkeye and I were flying to Fort Ord to keep her company until the baby arrived. If we had our way, and I suspected we would, she'd actually fly back with us and once more, have the baby in the Cove. However, Stevie sensed my anxiety about leaving all the kids, and reassured me on a regular basis.
We left and had dinner in Portland, before we went dancing for a while. We returned home, checked on the sleeping household and went to bed ourselves.
"Margaret!" She struggled to her feet as I entered the room, Hawkeye on my tail. On the floor, Isabelle and Hannah were playing, and looked up as I hugged their mother. "Oh, Margaret, you're looking well, honestly you are." She beamed at me.
"Annie's right Margaret. You're looking beautiful." Hawkeye kissed Margaret lightly on the mouth, as I picked up Isabelle and gave her a big cuddle.
"Sit down, can I get you a drink?" Hawkeye had grabbed Hannah, and was holding her by her legs upside down, and the blonde, blue-eyed girl was shrieking with joy. Isabelle meanwhile, was quite content in my lap, trying on the necklace with my cross, and the old rings.
"Thanks but no Margaret." I smiled. "Now, sit down and listen to us, we've got a suggestion, I'm not sure if you'll like it, but it worked well last time." Hawkeye took over explaining and finished our idea.
"That's very tempting, I'll admit, but who's going to look after Hannah and Isabelle while I'm in hospital?" Now sorely tempted, Margaret was trying to find a reason not to go.
"We will, Margaret, and we've got Stevie living with us, you know she's fantastic, Anita loves her too, she says that it's like having Annabelle around when Lily, Matt and Alice were small."
"Hawkeye, Annie, you're tempting me far too much." Margaret protested weakly. Hawkeye and I smiled, we were well on the way to winning.
"Sir, I really don't think it's advisable that your wife travels with you." The ticket woman at the airport protested. Margaret's advanced state of pregnancy was an issue as people thought that she might go into labour in the air.
"Firstly, she's not my wife, she's my sister-in-law, this is my wife." Hawkeye put his arm around me. "Secondly, I am Dr Benjamin Franklin Pierce, and it has come to my attention that this woman's unborn baby may be suffering a rare and little-known form of lung disease." It had been a while since Hawkeye had spun a lie like this, and he petered out, so I picked up promptly.
"Known as advanced infantile tuberculosis poliomyelitis." I ran a few words together, and extreme confusion was quickly reached. "It's highly contagious and can be passed to a foetus after their mother is exposed for less than a minute. It was discovered by Professor Tuttle from the University of Our Holy Father of Druids Reformed, and can prove fatal if left undiscovered or untreated." Gratefully, my 'sister' took over.
"It's a very rare condition in which newborns' lungs are extremely sensitive to air, and there are only four places in the world where a baby with such a condition can breathe safely, one of which is in Maine. As you see miss, it is imperative that I get to Maine, so my baby can live." Margaret tightened her voice into a sob. Confused, the woman handed us our tickets.
"Where did you learn to lie like that my girls?' Hawkeye asked. We were in the air, and Hannah was asleep in my lap, while a young couple in front were playing with Isabelle.
"We learned from the best." Margaret replied smartly. I think that Hawkeye laughed and made a none-too-modest comment, as sleep rather suddenly overtook me.
We arrived back in the Cove, and less than a day later, Margaret went into labour. As with the twins, Hawkeye and I were delivering in a hospital, this time in the Cove's new maternity ward. It was shorter than with the twins, and before long, Margaret was resting, with another daughter, Melody Gloria Olsen. Harold was apparently disgusted at his third daughter and Margaret moved out of whichever Fort she was at and in with her sister.
Edna's birthday was in September, but Dad wasn't around to see it. He'd flown up to deliver Alice's baby, but there'd been a few complications with the little boy's arrival, which had delayed him some. Now, with both mother and baby doing well, I drove up for one day to see my beautiful new nephew Trent Roger Newman. We drove back home the next day, to find Stevie holding it together well, and I counted my blessings, I had no idea what I'd do without her.
Dad's birthday, October 18 was approaching fast, when I received a call from Margaret. She'd decided to divorce Harold after they'd fought and he'd hit her and raped her. She'd decided to stay with Colonel Potter, who adored the twins and Melody, for a little, before finding her own place somewhere else.
However, everything was not brilliant. I'd been waking with terrifying nightmares of loosing Hawkeye and the kids almost every night and could not find a reason for it. While my sleep pattern was wrecked and I found that I was rather irritable, I also found that the desire to tell my family I loved them, if acted upon lessened the terrors.
By dad's birthday I'd settled down some, and was able to continue a perfectly normal life, and was beginning to wonder if I was pregnant. Charles had also decided to come up for a week and stay with us as well, and all in all we were a very happy family.
"I love you so much darling." I murmured against Hawkeye's neck as he prepared to leave for work one morning.
"I love you too my Annie-girl." Hawkeye replied. "But why so serious?"
"I just feel like I might never get to say it again Ben dear. I had a really scary one last night, but I couldn't wake from it. And you know that it helps me sleep. Promise me you'll be extra careful today."
"Of course" Hawkeye said, kissing my forehead lovingly. He left then, and I returned to the kitchen.
"What? Still eating April, scoot or you'll be late! Charles, you're not helping her!" Her ever-adoring father was sitting beside her, talking. April had about two minutes to leave for school and was leaving things very close.
"What's the plan today?" I wiped Danny's sticky arms as I answered the question.
"Lydia and I are going into Portland today and she's at kinder after, I'll drop her off on the way back. I know it kind of leaves you at a loose end though." I explained, setting Danny on the floor and tying his shoes.
"That shouldn't be a worry Annie. I'm sure I can find some occupation for six hours."
"You can start now if you like, walk Ben, Lyss, April and Jess to school." I beamed at him. Normally the kids could walk just fine by themselves, but as it was wet, cold, and foggy, I didn't want them alone on the roads while visibility was poor and there was a chance of puddle-splashing.
"If you want." Charles offered sincerely.
"Actually I do want. I need to get dressed still." I was wearing blue-grey slacks, under Hawkeye's robe.
"Just the four is it then?" The said four children had assembled in the living room, ready for school.
"Yes, I'll pick them up." I walked into the lounge and kissed them all in turn. "Be good my darlings, I love you. Be careful okay?" The nightmare had really spooked me. I made a mental note to place a call to Manhattan and the only shrink I'd ever trust with my mind later.
I watched as Charles and my older children left, and then sat, much against my better wishes, Lydia and Danny in front of the TV while I showered and Edna returned from her morning walk. Stevie had requested a day off, and with Charles on hand, I had given it to her.
"Mummy, I need new shoes." Lydia reminded me. So we put shoe shopping on our agenda, to be done just before we went back to the Cove. It was some time before Lydia and I agreed on a pair of shoes. Everything she wanted was too fancy and not practical enough for school. Finally the black lace- ups were agreed on, providing we also bought a new pair of socks, green, later. By the time we left, our purchase safely on Lydia's feet, we were late.
"Come on Lyddie," We stood at the curb, and I saw our bus coming. I also saw a break in the traffic and stepped forward, tugging on Lydia's wrist.
"Mummy no!" Lydia pulled at my hand, causing me to step backwards a fraction of an inch, I heard brakes squeal and felt a jolt as I went flying through the air and blackness hit.
Miranda's Spiel: "Yes folks, a cliffhanger. Will I let Annie live this time? Remember to R&R I'm putting my favourite review in the next chapter."