Disclaimer: Same as always.
A/N: Again, kudos to my beta-reader!
Chapter Five
Alistair fell asleep in the car. Judy remained quiet, mostly to let her husband sleep, but also to contemplate what she and her mother had talked about. Jean's reassurances that Alistair would be fine sank in while Judy listened to her husband's even breathing. Alistair wouldn't let her down. He'd always come through before. Take it one day at a time, she reminded herself. She didn't need any more worries that day. Alistair was by her side, and her mum and step-father were nearby and had always been there for her when she needed them. And Sandy – Sandy! Oh, Judy had yet to tell Sandy about her big news!
Car parked, door unlocked, and they were home. Alistair went into the bedroom to lie down, and Judy picked up the phone and dialed Calgary. She didn't consider the time difference – it was afternoon in England and still morning in Alberta – because she was far too eager to share her news with her best friend and the sister she didn't quite have.
"Hello?" It was Harry. He and Sandy were still in bed.
"Harry? Hello! It's Judy. How are you?"
"Hello, Judy. I'm fine, thank you." 'Though still utterly exhausted,' he thought.
"Judy?" Sandy squealed. She threw the covers off and took the receiver out of Harry's hand. "Hi Judy!"
"I'll never understand how you can be so perky in the morning," Harry whispered. Sandy shot him a dirty look and yanked the quilts back up over his bare chest. He turned over and tried to fall back asleep.
"Did I wake you up? Oh, Sandy, I'm so sorry! I forgot about the time difference –" Judy began.
"Don't worry about it. I'm thrilled to talk to you at any hour of the day." Sandy missed her family that much. "Listen, can you hold on a second? I'll go get the kitchen phone."
"Absolutely," replied Judy.
Sandy pulled on her dressing gown and slipped away to the kitchen. When Sandy picked up the phone there, Harry hung up the one in the bedroom.
"All right. Sorry about that. Harry needs his beauty rest, you know," Sandy chuckled.
"I have one like that myself," Judy replied, referring to Alistair, of course, but not wanting him to know that. "Anyway, I probably should have waited until a more decent hour, but I just have to tell you now."
"Tell me what?" Sandy asked impatiently.
"We're pregnant. With twins!"
"Really? Oh, Judy, congratulations! That's incredible! Oh, I'm so happy for you!" Sandy was shouting in elation, surely waking not only Harry but everyone else on her floor. "Wait..." She paused for breath, "Twins?!"
"Twins. We heard two separate heartbeats." Judy's own heart fluttered as she said the words.
"Oh my God! Wow!" Sandy tried to wrap her mind around the idea of two little Alistairs. Or Judys. Or one of each!
"I know."
"Wow." This time, it was more emphatic.
"I know!" Judy laughed. "We found out for sure just this morning," she added as she let Sandy take the news in.
"How are you doing?"
"Physically, I'm fine. Emotionally...I'm just a jumble!"
"You're happy, though, right?" Sandy wondered for the first time whether Judy and Alistair felt ready for children.
"Happier than I ever imagined I could possibly be." Judy climbed ungracefully over the sofa and sank into it with a smile.
"Oh, I wish I was there to give you a hug right now," Sandy said.
"I wish you were too." Judy's smile fell a bit as she realized again how much she missed her surrogate sister. "But we will visit soon. I promise. Poor Mum is chomping at the bit, I'm sure, to start planning your wedding."
Sandy laughed. "I do hope she'll want to at least help. I don't think I can do it by myself!" She took a breath, then lowered her voice, "Though I'm not at all keen on getting married in Calgary. It's beautiful, but I hardly know anyone, and I have no idea where to even begin making preparations here. I'd much rather have the wedding at home."
"'Home' being London?" Judy had to ask to make sure.
"Yes."
"I don't see why you can't. We'll plan everything for you right here! Mum and I would love to, and I'm sure Alistair and Lionel will help. You and Harry just set the date, choose what you want to wear, okay all of the plans, and arrive in London on the right day." Judy's voice rose with excitement.
"Oh, Judy, that's very kind of you, but I can't let you do that." Sandy smiled sadly, even though she knew Judy couldn't see her.
"Why not? Mum and I really would love to, and it will allow you to have your wedding here!"
"I know, and I do appreciate it. But it won't be quite the same. I guess I just imagined us all planning everything together. In London. I'm sorry."
"Oh, Sandy, don't apologize!" Judy chewed on her lower lip and sighed. "It's all right. I do understand. Your wedding should be exactly what you want. I know it sounds cliché, but don't give up on that dream. You never know. You might be back here sooner than you think."
"Either that, or I'll have to have to enroll in that frequent flyer program. I'm going to want to see those two babies of yours every weekend!"
Judy laughed. "At least wait until they're born before you start planning your weekend excursions with them!"
"Speaking of excursions, when I go in to work tomorrow, I'll see how much of a holiday I can talk my boss into letting me take." Sandy hoped she could get at least a week.
"Whenever you're ready for us, we'll be there. I miss you so much!" Judy rested her head on the back of the couch, the emotions of the day taking their toll on her.
"Don't even get me started, or I'll cry," warned Sandy. She pulled her knees up to her chest as she sat at the kitchen table.
"Ring us as soon as you know how much of a holiday you can have. The sooner, the better; that way, we won't have to unpack." Judy tried to get Sandy to laugh. As much as she missed her best friend, at least Judy was where she felt at home, surrounded by almost everyone she loved dearly. Only Sandy was missing.
Sandy did giggle. "I hope you don't plan on wearing grass skirts in Calgary."
"Too cold?"
"No, not in the summertime. But you'll look ridiculous."
"Judy?" Alistair shouted from the bedroom.
"My sleeping prince calls," Judy informed Sandy. "We'll talk again soon, all right?"
"Definitely. Congratulations again, Judy. And to your sleeping prince as well."
"Thank you. Take care, Sandy. I love you."
"Take care yourself. I love you too. 'Bye."
"'Bye."
Like the last time they spoke, Judy and Sandy each felt a bittersweet pang as they hung their respective telephones up. Sandy returned to bed and welcomed Harry's embrace.
"Is everything all right in London?" he asked her.
"Everything is wonderful in London. Judy and Alistair are pregnant. With twins!" Sandy replied, taking in the scent of Harry's cologne.
"That's terrific!" Harry congratulated.
"It really is," she agreed. "I miss them." As truly thrilled as Sandy was for Judy and Alistair, she felt sorry for herself because she was so far away.
Harry kissed the tip of Sandy's nose. "Would you like to go back?"
"Don't tease me, Harry. Especially about going home. It's not at all funny."
"I'm not teasing." He was wide-awake and looking intently at his fiancée.
"We're going back to London?" Sandy sat straight up.
"No definites yet, but it is a possibility. I wasn't going to say anything until I knew for sure, but if it makes you feel better, I'll just tell you this: I'm trying to work it out with my supervisors."
"Really? But I thought you loved it here."
"I love you more."
"Oh, Harry." She sank back down into his arms.
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Judy sighed again after she settled her telephone back into its cradle. She wanted to just sit still now for a minute but decided she'd better find out what Alistair wanted. "Coming, Alistair," she called as she moved to the bedroom.
"There you are, gorgeous. I wondered where you were," Alistair greeted, his arm outstretched to his wife.
"I was talking to Sandy. She said to tell you 'congratulations.'" Judy joined Alistair on the bed. She let him pull her to him.
"You don't sound very happy."
"Oh, I am! I just miss her."
Alistair kissed the tip of Judy's nose.
"Are you feeling better?" Judy asked.
"Like a new man."
"Good. Because you and I need to discuss something." No time better than the present.
"If it's the babies' names, I'm already coming up with ideas."
"No, it's not the babies' names." She had to chuckle as she ran a finger over his breastbone. "That mind of yours is always running, isn't it?"
"Overtime and then some." He hugged her closer. "What did you want to talk about?"
"Panic attacks. Yours, namely. I know you had one in Dr. Nielsen's office. That's why you fainted, and why you were having trouble breathing. I'm worried about you, Alistair." It all came out in sort of a rush.
"Oh, that." He waved his hand through the air to dismiss the problem. "Nothing at all to worry about. I've already taken care of it, Luv. I'm seeing Mitch tomorrow."
"Just like that?" Judy pushed herself up onto an elbow to look him in the eyes.
"Just like that." Alistair caressed her cheek with his thumb. "You didn't expect me to put something as important as my mental health on the back burner, did you?"
"No, of course not. I...I just worried you didn't want me to know, and that you'd try to hide it and deal with it yourself."
"Judy, Luv, I am many things. Health-conscious is one of them. Especially now." He touched her belly. "The very last thing I want you to have to do is worry about me. I promise; I will take care of myself. And of you too."
"You are incorrigible, Alistair Deacon. And I love you."
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"Perhaps if you lie down, you'll feel better," Jean reasoned.
"Perhaps if I hadn't had anything to drink, I'd feel better," Lionel replied.
"Oh, now Lionel. You helped Alistair get through a rough moment. It was very noble of you." Jean kissed Lionel's temple.
"Nobility doesn't stop the room from spinning."
"Come on. Lie down." She helped him to the sofa. Poor Lionel stumbled once and hit his shin on the coffee table. He grunted in pain, but, to his credit, didn't cuss. Jean tucked a blanket up around her husband as he rested his head on a pillow. She sat down on a narrow bit of cushion at his side, brushed his hair back with her fingers, and kissed the tip of his nose.
"How's Judy?" Lionel inquired, trying to ignore the throb in his shin and the waves in his stomach.
"Judy is pregnant."
"Yes, I knew that," he said witheringly.
"Well, she's very excited, and she's also very scared. Exactly what you'd expect from a first-time mother."
"I don't know what to expect, remember?"
"You're about to learn, Luv."
He closed his eyes. Too much mental stimulation for one day.
Jean smoothed the blanket that covered her husband one more time, then left quietly so he could rest. She began to make coffee for Lionel and tea for herself when she remembered that she'd promised to phone Sandy that day. What time would it be in Calgary? 'Too early,' she decided with a sigh. She rested her arm on the table and laid her head on her arm. She was still sleepy, and happy and worried and excited and scared. The events of the day trickled through Jean's consciousness and she took everything in. She was going to be a grandmother! Ever since Judith married for the first time, Jean imagined herself as granny, and how she would spoil her grandchildren. They would have more toys and treats than they could imagine, and she would attend every football game and dance recital and musical performance and spelling bee. She would baby-sit and maybe even learn the fine art of making her mother's apple-cinnamon pie. She and Judy would be drawn closer than ever over these children that Jean imagined. The thought of her triad of miscarriages had come and gone every now and then, but Jean never took the time and pain to acknowledge it. Maybe it was because she knew Judy's first marriage wouldn't last. Or her second. This time, with Alistair, it was golden. And Judy was already going to be a mother! Was Jean thrilled and excited? Naturally. Was she as petrified as her daughter and son-in-law? Of course. She couldn't help but worry that Judy would miscarry too. And poor Judy had been so emotional that afternoon.
Though Judy had seemed fine when she and Alistair left for home, she had been crying just prior, Jean noted. Another "simple" mood swing, or just a show of reassurance for her mother? 'Am I being paranoid?' Jean wondered. She nearly laughed. She had been elated just a moment ago, and now she was near tears as she thought about Judy and felt the pain again from her own miscarriages. Jean needed Lionel. Forget the coffee and tea: Jean turned off the coffeemaker and the stove burner under the kettle and returned to the sitting room. Lionel opened his eyes when she entered. No words needed to be spoken; he knew. Lionel pushed himself up to a sitting position and held his arms out to his wife. She went to him.
Jean rested her head against Lionel's chest as he snuggled her close to him. He wrapped one arm warmly around her and rested his chin on her head. They were always perfect fit, but especially when they sat like that. Lionel used his free hand to drape the blanket he'd been resting under over both of their laps. His head still pounded, his stomach still churned, but he pushed all of these discomforts out of his mind. Jean became his sole concern. Once he had the blanket situated around himself and his wife, he took both of Jean's small hands into one of his own. Her fingers were cold.
"Do you want to talk?" he whispered. His voice rumbled familiarly in Jean's ear.
"No. Just hold me, please."
He did.
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It was late afternoon when Jean finally moved. She had been dozing fitfully, and Lionel had fallen fully asleep. She didn't want to sit up or to even almost pull away from Lionel's embrace, so when she moved, it was only to slip one hand out of Lionel's to readjust their blanket. Still, that small movement woke Lionel with a bit of a start. He bumped his chin on Jean's head, causing a slight expression of surprise to escape Jean's lips. His reached up to rub his sore jaw.
"You have a hard head," Lionel informed his wife.
"You have a bony chin," Jean replied. She kissed the sore spot. "Better?"
"Not really, but I'll take it."
She leaned against him again. "Why can't I stop worrying?"
"Because you're her mother," Lionel reasoned. His answer was hardly satisfactory to Jean, but it was the truth. Besides, what else could he say?
The telephone rang.
"Oh, my!" Jean cried, partly because she was startled by the sound and partly because she expected awful news.
"It's probably Penny and Stephen phoning to tell us they'll be here for supper tomorrow." Lionel expected his own idea of awful news.
"Don't even think that!" Jean scolded as she reached the writing desk and picked up the receiver. "Hello?"
"Hi Jean! Isn't it exciting?"
Jean released the breath she didn't know she'd been holding, smiled, and relaxed into the desk chair, thankful that it wasn't a tearful Judy or a hyped-up Penny on the line. "Sandy, hello, Luv! It's wonderful news!"
"You sound relieved," Sandy laughed.
"I was afraid you were Penny phoning to invite herself for dinner."
"Oh!" Sandy laughed again.
"I was thinking about ringing you. You sound in much better spirits than you did the last time we talked," noted Jean, remembering that just a few hours ago she'd almost telephoned Sandy.
"I am. I'm so excited for Judy and Alistair and, oh, I'm not supposed to say a word until Harry knows for certain, but he's in the washroom right now and I just can't wait! Harry is trying to work it out so that we can come back to London!"
"Oh, Sandy, really?!" Jean exclaimed.
"Nothing definite yet, but I have this terrific feeling we'll be coming home soon. But you can't tell Judy or Alistair. You won't, will you?"
"I promise I won't say a word." But Sandy didn't say Jean couldn't tell Lionel!
They chatted on for a few more minutes about nothing in particular, both of their hearts filled with excitement. Jean so wanted Sandy to be nearby again. She'd felt this horrible weight on her chest ever since her surrogate daughter had left the continent. Sandy was too far away in Calgary for Jean to take care of. The delight she felt over Sandy's possibly coming home squeezed the worry from her mind, at least for the time being. When they hung up again, Jean clapped her hands to her chest and sighed happily. She had news for Lionel!