"Mum. You're here… incredibly early."
"Yes, well I was able to get away a day ahead of schedule." She paused. "Hello, Kenneth. Hello, Douglas… Evelyn."
She walked over to Laura and smiled down at the baby.
"May I?" Jean asked. Laura nodded and gently handed her mother the baby. Jean let out a small gasp and smiled down at the squirming little girl. "Well done, darling. She's beautiful."
"Thank you."
They all stayed silent for a moment.
There was no ignoring the tension in the room.
Jean hadn't spoken to Douglas and Evelyn since she left India over a year and half ago and Laura had always been closer to Douglas than she had to her mother. When Laura first met Evelyn, she expected to be angry with her. She wanted her father to be happy, but she found it a bit difficult to accept the fact that the woman her father was so happy with wasn't her mother. She fully expected to hate the woman, but upon meeting her, she found it impossible to do. She was blown away by Evelyn's kindness and how much love she had for Douglas. She could easily see why her father fell for her in the first place.
Laura wasn't naïve by any means. She knew her parent's marriage hadn't been holding up well. It was only a matter of time before they got a divorce. And if she was honest with herself, it was for the best. Her mother wasn't the easiest person to get on with, she knew, and she often felt sorry for her father for having to put up with her all those years. Unfortunately, the strain on her parent's marriage often tumbled over into her relationship with her mother and wherever Jean couldn't control Douglas, she'd try to control Laura, which was why she was so glad to finally be able to get out on her own. She supposed her mother meant well, but she'd rather not have to deal with her. In fact, Laura wasn't even going to tell Jean about the baby. Evelyn was the one who encouraged her to make the call. As much as Evelyn wasn't fond of Jean, she didn't think it was right to keep her grandchild from her, particularly her very first. She knew Evelyn was right, though she couldn't believe how gracious she was being to Jean considering all she'd put them through. She could definitely see why her father had fallen for her. Her heart was bigger than any of them could imagine.
Laura had taken Evelyn's advice and sent her mother e-mails here and there to keep her up to date on the baby's progress, but Jean hadn't really had many chances to visit, save for one or two short afternoon teas. She was actually relatively pleasant, to Laura's surprise, but she could never stay long. She was always darting off to some meeting or fundraising function with one organization or another, sometimes having to travel long distances for extended periods of time. Laura suspected she was trying to keep herself as busy as possible so she wouldn't have to think about being alone.
The night Laura went into hospital, Kenneth called and left a message telling Jean that Laura had gone into labor and she called back later that morning saying she'd catch the first train she could, but that, in all likelihood, she wouldn't be able to make it until the next day. It was all just as well, as far as Kenneth was concerned. He knew about what happened in India and he knew how dreadful Jean had been to Douglas and Evelyn, so the way he figured it, her delayed arrival would give Douglas and Evelyn time to visit without having to worry about any friction between themselves and Jean.
But clearly that theory had been shot all to hell, as Jean was now standing in front of them, cooing over her granddaughter.
Evelyn stood in silence for a moment before excusing herself and leaving the room. She didn't want to have to, but she was just too uncomfortable.
Douglas followed her out and Jean started to apologize, but she knew it would sound empty, so she simply turned her attention back to her granddaughter for the time being and let them sort it out.
Evelyn went out to the little grotto outside the hospital. It was just outside the visitor's area, between the maternity ward and the children's wing, and there was a small garden with all sorts of brightly colored flowers. She thought it might calm her to sit there for a while. There was a fountain in the centre of the garden that had figures of Peter Pan and Tinkerbell carved in and there were pennies scattered within the basins where the children had made various wishes over the years.
She braced herself on the back of one of the wooden benches and took a deep breath. She had to pull herself together for the baby. It wouldn't do to welcome her into the world amid such chaos and anger. She should be surrounded by love and happiness. But how could she truly be happy when the woman who hated her was also a part of the celebration?
She exhaled.
'You can do this,' she chanted silently to herself.
She jumped slightly when she felt arms slide around her waist.
Douglas kissed her neck and she sighed. "How did you find me?"
"Well I remembered about the garden being here and I know how gardens tend to calm you."
"Yes. They usually do," she sighed.
"It'll be alright. We can go and come back another time if you'd like."
"No. We need to stay. We have to at least learn how to be cordial with one another for the baby's sake. I just… I just need a minute to collect myself, that's all."
"Take all the time you need, darling. I'll be here. And Laura and the baby aren't going anywhere."
She nodded and he kissed her hair as she leaned into his embrace. They stayed like that for a few moments, listening to the calming trickle of the fountain and watching the butterflies flutter in and out of the flowerbeds.
They turned when they heard footsteps behind them.
Jean stepped down the single step from the doorway and onto the pathway that led to the garden.
"I didn't mean to make you leave."
"How did you find us?" Douglas asked.
"I asked one of the nurses. She said she'd seen a couple of your description walking this way."
'A couple of our description,' Evelyn thought. 'She makes it sound like she was having us followed by some sort of private detective.'
"Well you've found us. What do you want?"
"I'd like a word with Evelyn," she paused. "Alone."
Evelyn felt Douglas's arm squeeze her just a bit tighter. "I don't know if that's such a good idea."
Jean took a step closer. "Please. I won't keep her long."
Evelyn couldn't put her finger on it, but there was something in the tone of Jean's voice that made curious to know what it was she had to say.
Evelyn patted his hand. "It's alright, darling. We won't be a moment."
Douglas gave her a skeptical look but she smiled gently and leaned up to kiss his cheek in reassurance. He glanced between the two of them and, as much as he didn't like it, he stepped back inside to give the two of them a moment of privacy.
Evelyn stood frozen for just a second before turning back toward the fountain in the centre of the garden, where two birds had started splashing about in the water. She gently sat down on the wooden bench and braced herself for whatever was coming.
"I suppose you're wondering what I could possibly have to say to you after all this time."
Evelyn tried to keep the malice out of her voice. "Yes. The question did cross my mind."
There was a moment of silence and Evelyn heard Jean take a deep breath. Her exhale was shaky, as if she was biting back a snide remark of some sort.
Evelyn wasn't at all prepared for the next words that came next.
"I'm sorry, Evelyn."
