Chapter 4 –
It was Memorial Day weekend and it was hot. Maybe one of the warmest Memorial Days on record. Elizabeth was just about six months pregnant and she was carrying exactly like she had twice before, a little basketball in the front that was it. She never put on much weight with her pregnancies but Henry always said it was because she never slowed down.
She was pushing Allie in a stroller down the Mall in Washington and chatting with Lydia Dalton as Conrad and Henry were trying to keep Stevie and Harrison from running off. With Conrad's position as CIA Director, they had special seating for the evening's concert and fireworks display. They had chosen to take a walk and get the kids ice cream and light up toys before heading to their seats.
"Honest to God, if it stays this hot all summer, we may have to put in a swimming pool. Not sure I can take this heat being this pregnant." Elizabeth complained.
Lydia laughed, "I was pregnant with Harrison through the summer. It was awful. Hopefully your ankles won't swell like mine did."
"Chasing after these two all day, they probably will. Allie just runs now. No walking. I am waiting for her to crack her head open or break an arm." They both laughed.
"I'm almost afraid to ask but how's the nanny search going?" Lydia looked at her and saw the grimace.
"Hard. There's been a few women we have interviewed from UVA. But, they are so young. I need someone I can really rely on. Maybe someone a bit older, you know." Elizabeth checked on Allie who had now fallen asleep in her stroller.
"Do you know Senator Willis? Mark Willis from New York. He and Conrad are friends. We had dinner with them the other night. Cheryl told me they will not be using their nanny come the fall. She might be a great fit. We have met Janie. The timing would work out perfectly." Lydia was more excited than Elizabeth.
"It needs to be someone I can really trust. They would know some of what I do for work, which is why I don't want somebody young and inexperienced. Oh and it has to be someone who can braid hair. If I am away and Stevie has a show, her hair has to be in braids, like that." She pointed to Stevie who was wearing two tight French braids.
Lydia cut her off, "Trust me, you can trust Janie. She is very experienced and in her late 20's. She's engaged. Her fiance is a Marine too. He works at Quantico. She has nieces so I am sure she can braid."
"Really?! Well, that would be phenomenal if you could connect us." Now, Elizabeth was excited.
"I will on Tuesday."
They sat down in their front row seats. Henry handed Elizabeth her ice cream and then put a clapping Allie on his lap. He bounced her as she listened to the music. Lydia had the older two sitting next to her and she was currently breaking up a fight because Harrison wouldn't stop hitting Stevie's light up wand with his light up sword. Conrad leaned over to Bess and said "Are you sure you want a boy?"
"I work with you everyday. I think I can handle it." They all laughed.
He then asked, "Any names yet?"
Lydia admonished him telling him he shouldn't ask without them offering.
"It's not like I am asking her for pregnancy details. Although, I get most of those at work," he fired back at her. "I am pretty proud of the fact that I have won the most daily bets for how many times Bess will get sick each day."
She put her spoon back in her ice cream and stared at him. "Is that really a thing?"
Conrad laughed. "It is and you would think Isabelle and Juliet would be better at it. George and I are the ones who are really competing."
"GEORGE! He's not even in the country!" she gasped. "Anyways, I kind of like Benjamin after my father but Henry says then he could potentially be called 'Benji.'"
"Babe, you know it is not just that. I just don't want him to have to live up to a legacy." Henry answered her.
The music shifted to the Armed Forces Hymns. Henry handed Allie over to Elizabeth and stood for the Marine Corps. After that, Conrad stood for the Army hymn. Elizabeth was very proud of both men. One her husband and best friend, the other one of her closest friends who was more like a big brother to her.
The fireworks began not long after that. The older two children were bouncing away waving their light up toys as high in the air as they could. Allie sat with her eyes wide open and her hands over her ears.
The end of the night they walked back to their cars. Harrison was piggy-backed on his Dad's back. While Stevie rode on top of Henry's shoulders still waving her wand around.
When they finally pulled into the farmhouse driveway, the girls were sound asleep in the back, Stevie lit up by the glow of her wand. Elizabeth was leaned against the window also asleep. Henry turned off the car and leaned over to kiss her cheek. She startled awake.
"We're home," he said. They got the girls upstairs and into light summer jammies and right into bed.
They climbed into bed. Henry spooned himself up behind Elizabeth and nibbled on her ear a bit. "That was a fun night. And you were so nervous something was going to happen. Nothing did. Conrad proved you were wrong."
"No, he didn't. The chatter is so busy but very secretive. While sitting there and looking at the crowd tonight, I realized it won't be on a big holiday like this. That's why I was able to relax," she turned and looked at him. "But, Henry, I am not wrong."
He held her tighter and fell asleep. As she lay staring at the ceiling, hand on her unborn child, still trying to figure it out.