Minor T/W: Discussion of high-risk pregnancy. Medical information based partly on information gathered from the Mayo Clinic and partly on my own personal experience. (Dammit, Jim, I'm a writer, not a doctor, so please bear with me.)

THANK YOU for the reviews for the last chapter! You all just continue to blow me away with your kindness. Even if it's not the story line you wanted, I appreciate you sticking by me. I know some readers have left, but I'm so grateful to hear from those of you who are still here.

xx

CSotA

Monday, July 13, 2015

"Well, you don't do anything by halves, do you?" Richard asked.

Elsie barked out a nervous laugh. "Then it's true? I'm really pregnant?" She reached for Charles, who grasped her hand firmly between both of his own before laying them on her knee.

They were seated in the chairs next to Richard's examining table, and he was seated on the wheeled stool behind his computer.

"It's still early on, but yes. Judging from what you've told me, I'd say you're about six weeks along."

She calculated silently: Six weeks … Just before my birthday … The day I got the truck … "Maybe tonight, I can take care of you …"

She flushed a deep crimson and nodded, sure that she was right. That night had been … well, different.

"Yes," she whispered, "that's probably accurate."

"Well, add to that what you just told me about Tommy, and I'd say you'll have your hands full for sure."

Charles took a deep, cleansing breath. He never really imagined they'd be having this conversation with a doctor. It was … Well, he thought, quite a lot to take in. But he couldn't deny that he was happy, and gloriously so.

"There are concerns, of course, given your history," Richard was saying, all business despite his worry for his friends. "Your age is against you, although you're in excellent health overall, save for the issues with your back."

"Which has been fine the past week or two," Elsie said. "As long as I don't sit for too long, I seem to be alright."

"You've increased the weight-bearing as well, yes?"

"Nothing too heavy," Charles answered for her, looking fondly at Elsie and squeezing her hand. "But she did manage to sneak a laundry basket or two last week."

"Would you say you're keeping it under twenty pounds?" Richard asked, and Elsie nodded. He typed a couple of things into the computer.

"Once you're out of the first trimester, we'll set you up with an exercise regimen, something that will balance the weakness in your back with low-impact strength building, working in conjunction with the baby's growth. And you've had just the one pregnancy before this one?"

"Oh, no," she whispered. "There were three, but only one ever made it past the first two months."

She felt Charles's eyes on her and she turned to face him. "I've never told anyone that but my doctor back home," she said tearfully. "Not even Joe."

Charles squeezed her hand again, lacing her fingers with his.

"Well, that is important," Richard said, adding that to her file. "And you've felt fine this entire time, save a bit of nausea?"

Elsie wiped at her eyes with her fingertips and nodded. "Yes. I was light-headed the day we went shopping, but that was probably because of the large coffee and no breakfast," she said wryly. "And I've been a bit … oh, I don't know. Not moody, just not … quite right."

"But no spotting?" Richard asked, and Elsie shook her head. "No odd cramping or discomfort?"

"None at all," she replied.

Richard looked resolutely at the screen. "And you've been sexually active since conception, I presume?"

"Yes, we have." She kept her eyes trained on Richard's keyboard, and felt Charles stiffen his grip slightly as she was speaking. "Um, a few times a week, or thereabouts. But no discomfort, nor any other issues, afterward."

Charles cleared his throat. "Is ... that ... something we should avoid?"

"Not necessarily. Things seem fine so far. I'd be … careful," Richard said. "I'd recommend limiting it a little bit more, and being sure to take a day of rest in between each time," he said, "to be sure there's no problem."

He looked up at them. "Everyone's number-one goal needs to be to keep this baby exactly where it is. Sex isn't usually a problem with pregnancy, but with a history of miscarriage coupled with a high-risk pregnancy, it's a bit more of a concern. Still, unless there are warning signs after the act - any spotting of blood, excessive cramping, or general unease - you're probably alright." He smiled. "It's a double-edged sword, in a way, because sex is also a stress reducer."

"You said 'high risk'," Charles recalled. "What, precisely, do you mean? Risk to Elsie, or to the baby? Or both?"

Richard typed a few more things in before logging off of Elsie's file. He rolled his stool away from the desk, tucking his hands in the pockets of his lab coat.

"There are a number of factors - risks, if you will - to take into consideration when a mother is over the age of thirty-five," he began. "But, beginning at age forty-five, they increase slightly. As a woman ages, the overall quality, for lack of a better word, of her eggs decreases; consequently, there is an increased risk of birth defects. There are also increased risks to the mother, such as gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. Preterm delivery is more common for older women than it is for younger mothers. However, my primary concern right now is that with any pregnancy where the mother is over forty, the chance of miscarriage during the first trimester is significantly higher - regardless of prior history."

Elsie nodded, knowing all of that already. "But we can go on honeymoon as planned?" she asked. "I can travel. We can … well, we should limit ... things … but otherwise we're fine?"

"Yes," Richard said, smiling kindly in his understanding. "I know the destination is a surprise. I presume it's not anywhere that poses a health risk? Not China? Nothing like Haiti or Mexico, or anywhere like Africa that requires certain special inoculations?"

"No," Charles said, reaching for a blank appointment card and pulling a pen from his shirt pocket. He jotted a note on the card and showed it to Richard, who smiled and nodded.

"Well, Elsie … it looks like you're very lucky, indeed. It seems that a week of sheer relaxation and pampering is in your future."

Elsie couldn't help the happy sigh that escaped her lips. "He promised it would be warm. That's all I know, I'm afraid."

"Well, he didn't lie about that," Richard reassured her.

He looked at his friends and tried to assuage their fears. "Your wedding is in a couple of weeks. Take it easy until then," he advised. "That'll put you two-thirds of the way through this trimester. We'll run blood tests before the wedding, and then frequently throughout the entire pregnancy. You'll have more appointments than you might have had under other circumstances, but I want to keep a close eye on you."

His eyes locked on Elsie's, and he continued. "I don't have to tell you how important it is that you remain as healthy as possible these next few weeks. No stress. Any wedding worries that come up are to be dealt with by Charles or by someone else. Get plenty of sleep. Cut the caffeine down to one cup a day, and obviously no alcohol. I'll give you a prescription for prenatal vitamins; if you can't stomach them," he added with a smirk, "take Flintstones*. They've got the iron you'll need, but they're gentler."

"Got it," Elsie said determinedly.

"We'll schedule you in again for the day or two before the wedding," Richard added. "By then, we just may be able to hear the baby's heartbeat, if you're willing."

Elsie gasped and squeezed Charles's fingers, and she felt a tear slip down her cheek as she nodded. "Oh, my," she breathed. "It's all real. Really real."

"I know," Richard said kindly.

"Richard?" Charles asked, a thought just having occurred to him. "When are you scheduled to transfer the practice over to the new owner?"

"Ah, yes," Richard replied. "Well, we're planning to transfer appointments over in September. I'll be staying around until the new year, although I will be back and forth a bit to England."

He smiled brightly at Elsie. "You'll be in good hands," he promised. "And both Isobel and I will be here in February, and by then she'll know so I'm sure she'll agree that we should stay and see you through until the end. I won't tell her a thing now, but when you do decide to inform the family …"

"I promise we'll let you know," Charles said. "We don't even want to tell the children until after the honeymoon; we'd prefer to keep the news to ourselves for now, at least until we're safely into the second trimester."

"That's probably a good idea," Richard said, nodding. "My guess is you've got about seven weeks until then, give or take. So ... a couple of weeks after school gets back, perhaps?"

"Yes, and the timing couldn't be better," Elsie said. "I'll be able to rest for most of the summer and blame it on my back; no one will be the wiser … unless something happens," she added quietly.

"There is absolutely no reason to think this will end in disaster, Elsie," Charles said soothingly. He leaned over and kissed her temple, and Richard agreed.

"Watch the activity level, eat well, and rest. No stress - that's absolutely key, Elsie. But as we stand right now, provided that the blood tests come back okay, this looks like any other normal pregnancy."

Elsie's bright smile lit up the room. They all stood, and she moved to give Richard a warm hug.

"Thank you," she said softly.

"You're more than welcome," he replied with a smile. "I must say, I'm glad you came to me. I know you have your regular physician, and you could just have gone there."

"Well," Elsie winked, "I like you better. And his significant other doesn't have an advanced degree in obstetrics, while yours does."

Richard laughed. "True enough," he agreed. "She's going to be so happy for you, you know."

"I know. And when we're ready, we'll have you tell her."

"It's a deal," Richard replied, a twinkle in his eye.

Charles took the long way home, following the coastline for a bit before pulling over to a scenic rest area.

"Charles?"

"We have two more hours of freedom," he laughed. "Beryl promised to feed the kids and have Bill watch them at their place until we pick them up. She said it'd be better for them, too, because it means she can get through the lunch rush without Ivy in her hair."

"I'm famished," Elsie admitted. "I don't suppose you packed a lunch away in here somewhere?"

Charles backed the car into a parking spot. He turned off the engine and unbuckled his seat belt. "As a matter of fact," he said, reaching over and tapping her on the nose, "I did."

Elsie stayed put as Charles got out of the car and took something out of the trunk. She took a quick moment to text Beryl a thank you, and then Charles was opening her door.

"This way, Ms. Hughes," he rumbled, a smile on his face as he reached for her hand.

"Alright," she said, her confusion mixed with joy at his apparent giddiness. "What's this all about?"

He led her to the small clearing behind where he'd parked the car. She spotted a basket, which she presumed contained their lunch, and - beside it - a soft blanket. The spot overlooked the sea yet was secluded enough that they were virtually hidden away.

"How did you know about this spot?" Elsie asked incredulously. "No one ever drives up here; it's too far out of the way for anything."

"A little birdie told me," he chuckled.

"A little red-headed birdie, I'm guessing!"

"Actually," he said, spreading the blanket with her and then holding her hand and easing her down until she was sitting comfortably, "it was Bill."

"Bill. Bill Mason told you about this place?"

Charles nodded as he sat beside her. "Evidently, he used to bring Beryl here all the time when William was just a baby. Said they'd eat and then he'd watch them both fall asleep to the sound of the waves."

"I never knew that," Elsie whispered, awestruck. "Huh."

Charles placed the basket between them as Elsie looked out over the water. He unpacked two sandwiches, some cut veggies, a bowl of fruit, and two wine glasses.

"Wine glasses?" Elsie asked.

"Have no fear," he said, withdrawing a bottle. "Sparkling cider - no alcohol."

"I should have known." She unwrapped their sandwiches and pulled out napkins for them while Charles opened the bottle and poured them each a glass of the bubbly cider.

"A toast," he said, handing her a glass. "To my beautiful Elsie, who - just when I thought my happiness could grow no greater - showed me I was wrong. I love you, darling."

She blinked away her tears and bit her lip as she clinked their glasses together, nodding her thanks. Words were unnecessary, which was a very good thing as she couldn't have formulated any at the moment anyhow.

As they ate, they chatted about the wedding, about things Elsie had meant to take care of that would now be on Charles's list instead. They discussed what types of cake they'd be trying at Beryl's the next day, and which one each expected to prefer.

When the meal was finished, Charles packed up the basket and brought it to the car, returning swiftly with a book in his hand.

"You'll think me foolish," he said sheepishly, "but as we have time …"

He sat behind Elsie and put his legs on either side of her body, encouraging her to sit back against his chest, and he opened the book.

"Shakespeare - now why doesn't that surprise me?" she teased him, placing a kiss to his jaw.

"Well, if Stephen King wrote poetry, I don't think the sentiment would be the same," he replied wryly. "Now, you sit back while I read."

She did as he asked, allowing herself to relax completely as she heard and felt his deep, soothing voice, her gaze resting upon the waves in the sea.

"I could get used to this, you know," she murmured when he'd finished the first sonnet.

He tilted his face down to kiss the top of her head. "Good. Because it looks like we've got quite a bit of down time coming our way."

She smiled and snuggled back even closer to him.

"Perfect."

Thursday, July 30, 2015 - two days until the wedding

The remainder of the days leading up to the wedding had, indeed, been busy. Elsie was trying her best to stay calm and to limit her activity, but she worried that it wouldn't be enough. It was a catch-22, she knew: she worried about the pregnancy, about her body betraying her once again, and the worry was producing the very stress she did not need at that time.

Edith had been by a few times to visit, having brought Marigold over to see Daisy and to spend some time on the farm. The girls would swim in the pond with Tommy on the hotter days, with Max joining them on occasion. Charles had set up a trampoline in one corner of the yard for them, and Tommy and Jimmy could often be seen under it, talking about goodness knew what. All in all, Elsie mused, the farm was an excellent place to be raising children, and it made her a bit melancholy when she remembered that putting an addition onto the house just wasn't feasible. Still, they had a plan, as there was no way she'd even have considered selling anyhow. Purchasing the property and building her business had been her main achievement after moving to the States, and she'd never let it go.

No, she thought as she sat in the shade and watched the kids swim, but Anna and John will be comfortable here. If they accept, that is. She knew they would, though. They'd been looking for a place to live, and with the amount of time they spent working for Elsie anyhow, it would be perfect. It was close enough to the Tree Farm that John and Anna could travel back and forth just as easily as they were managing now, and the fact was that - as Miss Stephanie had discovered only recently - there weren't very many flats for rent in Misty Cove.

Elsie watched as Tommy swam through the water, laughing uproariously at something Daisy had just said. It was just the two kids today, no Marigold or Jimmy, as Elsie had wanted some quiet family time before the wedding. Charles had gone to get a pizza; as soon as he returned, they enjoyed it out on the patio before having the children take showers so that they could tuck in for a family movie night.

Daisy had decided to snuggle with Charlie on the couch, leaving Elsie to the chair and Tommy sprawled out on the floor with Max.

Charles chuckled suddenly, and Elsie and Tommy turned to look at him.

"What?" Tommy asked.

"I was just thinking, this is how summer holidays are supposed to be," Charles said. "Swimming, play, movies, and family time. Nothing better in my book."

"I'm going to miss you," Daisy said suddenly. "When you're gone on your honeymoon."

"We'll call every day," Elsie promised. "You can Skype us, even," she added with a wink in Daisy's direction. But then a thought occurred to her and she added, "Charlie, we will have phone and internet service, correct?"

"Do you honestly think I'd whisk you away to a place devoid of contact with the outside world?" he asked incredulously. "Of course we will - all the comforts of home, with none of the work."

"You'll have Anna and John staying here with you, and Auntie Cora and Uncle Robert will be around for the week as well," Charles reminded the kids. "You can come and go as you please, with their permission, between the farm, Aunt Edith's, and Aunt Mary's place. We'll be back before you know it."

"I can stay at Jimmy's sometimes, right?"

"If it's okay with his Mum, then yes," Charles said, and Tommy nodded. Neither adult mentioned that Tommy had already asked them this three times, and they'd given the same answer each time. It seemed he needed a bit more reassurance that his concerns were being remembered, and neither Elsie nor Charles could blame him; after all, they'd reasoned, he really doesn't know any of the adults they'd mentioned all that well, except perhaps for Mary and Anna.

Two days until the wedding, Elsie thought as they got back to the movie. And it seems like a formality. She casually rested her hand on her belly as she looked lovingly at her family.

I already have all I need right here.

The 'party,' as Charles kept calling the wedding, is just the icing on the cake.

Friday, July 31, 2015 - the day before the wedding

"Elsie!" Charles yelled up the basement stairs. "I'm heading out to pick up Robert and get the suits!"

"Don't forget to buy the candles!" she called back.

"A box of tapers and the tealight for the top of the other, yes?" he called up, and she appeared at the top of the staircase.

"Yes," she said, smiling. "And if you bring me something chocolate, I'll love you forever."

He dashed up the stairs for a kiss, grazing his knuckles across her abdomen as their lips met.

"Done," he whispered before disappearing back downstairs and to his car.

Elsie sighed happily and turned back toward the kitchen, shaking her head at the mess that the kids were making.

"Are you almost finished?" she asked, and Daisy nodded.

"One more dozen to go," she said.

Elsie turned to where Tommy was sitting at the dining room table, muttering under his breath (and swearing, Elsie was sure) at the little plastic bag he was attempting to tie shut.

"This wasn't my idea," he grumbled, as though he could hear her thoughts. "Stupid little things won't tie …"

Elsie poured herself a cup of tea and sat beside him, putting her hand out for the bag. He handed it over gratefully, and she tied the ribbon into a perfect bow.

"Cookie favors weren't my idea, either," she said quietly. "But she's having a wonderful time, and they're something that won't go to waste or be thrown out."

"No, the cookies are a great idea," Tommy clarified. "It's having me tie them all up that wasn't."

"Well," Elsie reasoned, "you're meticulous - good with your hands. You wanted to help …"

"I do want to help, but my bows are a mess. How about I bag and you tie? There are only about two dozen left."

Elsie laughed. "We only have forty or so people coming to the wedding!"

It was Tommy's turn to smile. "Exactly."

Elsie rolled her eyes and put her hand out.

"Give me a bag …"

Charles arrived home two hours later. He walked in to a table full of wedding favors, with Elsie napping on the couch and Tommy and Daisy playing a board game on the floor in the Daisy's room.

"Well, hello there," Charles greeted them. "Elsie was tired, I gather?"

"Yeah, she just kind of passed out as soon as her head hit the pillow," Tommy said, rolling the dice. "Yes!" He grabbed his pawn and passed Daisy on the board, and Charles saw her pout.

"I'll leave you to it," he said. "Tommy, your suit's hanging in your room."

"Great - thanks," Tommy said.

Charles shook his head and made his way to the bedroom with his own suit, hanging it on the hook behind the door where Elsie had placed Daisy's dress. He checked that the color of the pocket square matched the dress - which, of course, it did - and headed off to the barn.

Elsie woke half an hour later, amazed that she'd fallen asleep so suddenly. She opened her eyes and sat up slowly, glancing over to verify that the kids had cleaned the kitchen. She didn't hear them moving about, and she assumed they were in the barn with Charles. A glance at her watch confirmed that it was Daisy's riding time.

"Good morning," Tommy said wryly from his spot down on the sun porch. "Sleep well?"

"Like the dead," Elsie said, stretching as she walked. "Thanks for cleaning up the kitchen. Daisy outside with her father?"

Tommy nodded, closing his book and tossing it on the table in front of him. "Yeah. Elsie, you okay?"

She looked at him warily, wondering … Surely not. "I'm fine," she said. "Why?"

Tommy just tilted his head, looking at her as though he were trying to figure something out. "I don't know. You seem … ah, it's probably just the wedding. Are you nervous?"

Elsie plopped down next to him on the love seat and propped her feet up on the table; Tommy tucked his underneath his legs.

"No," she said, smiling. "Not at all. It seems like a formality, really. We're already a family; nothing will be too terribly different after the ceremony happens."

"But it will be different," Tommy insisted. "We're doing the candles."

Elsie looked at him fondly. "Yeah, we are," she said, reaching out and patting his hand where it sat on the cushion. "Thank you for that - for being willing to lead that. It … well, it means more, coming from you, I think. At least, in my mind it does."

"You're welcome. Thanks for wanting me to be a part of it," Tommy said. "And Daisy's ready for her bit, too - we practiced earlier."

He watched as Elsie bit down on her lip - a habit, he'd noticed, that she had when she was either worried or thinking hard about something.

"What?"

"I just never thought she'd get to this point," Elsie said honestly. "Speaking in public, I mean."

"Yeah, well, it's just family, really," Tommy reasoned. "So that makes it better."

Elsie looked over and smiled at him again. "It is family. Ours - and, now, yours."

Tommy smiled back at her and nodded.

"I never said thank you, you know," he whispered after a moment.

"I'm sure you have," Elsie said. "And there's no need to thank us for anything."

They sat quietly for a few minutes, and then Tommy spoke again.

"You know, Charles told me that he and I are a lot alike. But I think I'm more like you."

She looked at him curiously. "Really? Why?"

"Well," he explained, "I feel like you understand me. That you get how my mind works. You seem to know what I'm thinking a lot, but you leave me alone. Which is good - I'm not complaining," he said.

"That's true," Elsie replied. "I do understand you in many ways. I'm proud of you, you know."

"Why?"

"Because of how far you've come this past year, Tommy. It's not just Daisy who seems different. You used to come to school so angry all the time - shut up inside of your head, closed off from the world. And I understood that," she said quickly, not wanting him to think she was being critical. "But you really held up your end of the bargain here - working hard, and staying out of trouble at school, too. You've done everything I asked."

"You didn't expect I would," he said with a smirk.

"I didn't," she admitted. "Oh, I knew you'd work here. You had too much pent up frustration not to. But your behavior at school … well, I was impressed," she said. "And proud, because I felt like I had been responsible for that."

"You're a lot like my Mum," Tommy said to her.

Elsie watched him as he picked at the tie of his shoe, wrestling with the emotions he was always trying to keep in check. "How's that?" she asked quietly.

"You see good things in me when other people don't," he said. "Charles, too. It's … weird."

"You'll get used to it," she told him. "Every day will be a bit easier."

She got up from the love seat and stretched again. "Want to help me with an early dinner?" she asked. "Burgers on the grill - nice and easy - and then Charles and I have an errand to run."

"Sure," he said, rising and taking his book with him as they made their way up to the dining room. "What time are you leaving for Aunt Mary's?"

The 'aunt' threw her for a second, and she smiled. "I'll get dropped off there on the way home," she replied, "and Mary will come to get Daisy. I do hope Daisy and I can sleep tonight. Do you gentlemen have plans?"

Tommy smirked. "Actually, we do," he said, nodding.

"Oh?"

"Yeah. Robert's coming over with Bertie and Bill Mason."

"Really?"

He nodded again. "Yeah - we're teaching Charles how to play poker."

Daisy and Charles heard Elsie's laughter all the way out in the barn.

"I can't believe he squeezed us in at five," Charles marveled as he pulled into the parking lot at Richard's office. "It seems almost perfect, doing this now. Today."

"I'm glad no one else is around, too," Elsie admitted. "Beryl will meet us here in half an hour and take me to Mary's, and then that's it until tomorrow. I'll miss you."

They got out of the car, but Charles snaked his arm around Elsie's waist and pulled her in for a deep kiss before she could reach for the office door.

"I love you," he whispered quietly.

"I love you, too," she replied. "More than anyone ever has."

He smiled sweetly at her, his eyebrows raised. "I remember."

Richard greeted them in the lobby, having sent the receptionist home after the last patient had left.

"This one's off the books," he joked. "Just see the nurse for your blood draw and meet me in the office."

Elsie did as requested, and ten minutes later she was lying back on the examination table. Her hands were trembling.

"Sh," Charles whispered into her ear. "It's going to be just fine."

"It may be too early," Richard said, "but we'll give it a shot. Some babies are quiet until almost ten weeks, and we figure you're about eight, give or take, so there's no guarantee. You know that it wouldn't mean something was wrong if we can't get an audible heartbeat today."

"I do," Elsie nodded.

Richard had her pull her blouse up, and she moved the waistband of her pants down a bit.

"Okay, here we go," he said, applying a small amount of warmed gel to the tip of the Doppler wand. He set it on her abdomen and moved it around a bit.

For about a minute or so, all they heard was static. But then Richard drew in a sharp breath and adjusted the wand, pressing a bit more firmly.

"There," he breathed, and the insistent sound of a tiny heartbeat echoed throughout the room.

Elise's jaw dropped open, and she couldn't find any words. After a moment, she looked over at Charles, who had tears coming down his face.

He looked down at her. "That's our baby, love. Our beautiful, miraculous, strong baby."

"It is a rather strong heartbeat," Richard said encouragingly. He smiled at them both, then focused on Elsie. "I'd say this baby is doing a very good job so far. Things are going as I'd expect with any pregnancy. Keep resting as much as you can, and I'll get you back in about a week after you get back from your honeymoon," he told her.

"I'm not counting on anything," Elsie admitted, "but this is definitely encouraging."

"I understand," Richard said quietly.

They listened for another minute, with Richard moving the wand around a bit to judge the strength of the heartbeat they were hearing.

"It'll be louder next time," he told them. "Alright, here you are." He handed Elsie a towel and she cleaned off her abdomen and readjusted her clothes.

Charles helped her up and drew her into his arms.

"Perfect job, Mama," he whispered into her ear.

Elsie pulled away from him after a moment and gave Richard a peck on the cheek.

"Thank you," she said. "And we'll see you tomorrow!"

"I can't wait," he said, smiling.

"Woo-hoo!" Beryl shouted, pulling Elsie into Mary's house. "We're here!"

"Everything's set out in the dining room," Mary called from the kitchen. "You can drop your things in Uncle Charlie's room, Elsie."

Elsie looked at Beryl and raised her eyebrows. "She's cooking?" she mouthed, and Beryl nodded, her hands up in front of her as if to say, "I know, I know! But you try to argue with her!"

Elsie giggled as she headed into the bedroom with her bag. She had brought very little with her, really, as the dress had been stored at Mary's since Elsie and Edith had picked it up last week. Edith had gushed over the beauty of it, and she and Madge (who had actually been present at the counter this time around) seemed to have gotten along quite well. Daisy's dress had been brought over earlier, along with Becky's, when Mary had picked Daisy up at the farm.

Elsie had been nervous about having a bruise on the inside of her elbow that would be visible to all and sundry, but when she checked the spot once again she smiled; the lab tech had been very skilled and she could see only the faintest pinprick left behind on her skin. She deposited her overnight bag on the chair in the corner and walked slowly around the bed, sitting on it and gazing out the window. Her mind was miles away, back to the first time she'd been here, in this bed, and she shook her head at how long ago it seemed.

Our first date, she remembered, smiling. Dinner at the Library Restaurant, then drinks, and dancing … that red dress that he loves so much … sunrise …

"Ellie?"

Elsie whipped around and smiled brightly. "Becky! Darling, come here," she said, opening her arms and waiting for Becky to join her on the bed.

"Bill just dropped me off," Becky explained unnecessarily. "Am I sleeping in here with you tonight?"

"No, you'll share with Daisy, if that's alright," Elsie explained.

"Oh, good! We'll have fun!"

"You'll have to sleep, too," Elsie advised.

"I know." Becky got up and fetched her bag from the hallway, then returned. "I have something for you, Ellie. Something special."

Elsie furrowed her brow. "Oh?"

"Yeah," Becky said, digging through the bag until she found what she wanted. "Here," she said, holding her fist out, something clutched inside that Elsie couldn't see.

Elsie put her hands out, curious. Becky placed her fist over them and opened it, and Elsie gasped at what landed in her palm.

"Becky," she whispered, "this is your best bracelet! It was Mam's ..."

"I know. I want you to wear it tomorrow. Bring it with you on your trip, and then you can bring it back to me."

"I couldn't possibly," Elsie protested, but Becky shushed her.

"Something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue," Becky recited from memory. "And a sixpence for your shoe. Charlie has that," she giggled. "But this is your something old and something borrowed."

"Alright, then," Elsie said. "And I have the something blue," she reminded her sister.

Becky was puzzled for a moment, then looked at her sister and laughed.

"Your eyes are blue! And Charlie loves them," she said gleefully. "So that leaves …"

"Something new," Elsie said softly. "And I've got that covered, so don't you worry."

"Of course, your dress is new," Becky said.

"Yes," Elsie said after a moment, not bothering to correct Becky's misinterpretation.

That's right, she thought. That's new, too.

Elsie helped her sister to unpack her things, and double-checked that both Becky's and Daisy's dresses and shoes were still unharmed. When Mary called out that dinner was ready, Becky and Daisy raced to the dining room, and Elsie managed to tuck a little gift under each of their pillows: a gold necklace with a single, dark amber, teardrop pendant that would match the shade of the dresses perfectly.

"There you are," Beryl said as Elsie came into the dining room.

"Just had one more detail to tie up," Elsie replied, taking her seat.

Dinnertime chatter was led by Becky and Beryl, who were happily nattering on about everything that would be happening in the morning. Beryl reviewed the timeline with everyone, making sure the ladies were all on the same page.

"Bill will arrive with William and Ivy around noon, and they'll set up the chairs outside," she said. "The weather is going to be gorgeous - even the wind will behave - and so there shouldn't be a problem there. I'll be free to meet with the caterers when they arrive, and Anna and John are bringing the programs - they'll be here at four."

"And we'll start getting ready then," Daisy said, nodding, "just like Elsie said. And then, at five, you and Papa are getting married!"

Daisy's glee was infectious, and Elsie couldn't help but laugh.

"The tables are already set up in the main parlour," Mary added. "I've had all the furniture except the piano moved out, and everything fit really well. We'll open the sliding door to the porch, where the dancing will happen. I'll meet with the florist at two, and I'll see to it that everything ends up where we discussed last week." She smiled at Elsie, who smiled and nodded in return, a silent acknowledgement of the bond they'd forged since the horror of the fire. Mary was a new person, Elsie mused … but, then again, so was Elsie.

After dinner and dessert - and three rounds of Scattergories (at Daisy's insistence) - Elsie was completely knackered. She thanked everyone one last time and headed off to get ready for bed.

As she brushed out her hair, Elsie looked in the mirror. She noticed the strands of grey in her hair, and the wrinkles around her mouth and eyes, but they did nothing to detract from the joy she felt knowing that she was carrying Charlie's baby, that she was going to marry him in less than twenty-four hours.

Oh, my darling baby, she thought. Tomorrow's the big day!

She bit down on her lip in a futile attempt to keep the tears at bay, then gave up and simply let them pour over. She wasn't even sure what she was crying for; surely there was joy at the thought of being Charles's wife, and for the new life they'd created, but she figured there was also some trepidation for Daisy and Tommy, and how they'd take the news of the baby. She wondered how Becky would handle it all, and she worried (as all brides do) that something would go horribly wrong with the ceremony. She cried at the thought of leaving her home at some point in the next year, but then cried happy tears as she contemplated finding a new, perfect place for her and Charles to raise their blended family.

She opened the bedroom window to the cool night air and then donned her nightgown and climbed into the bed. She pulled the sheet up under her chin, realizing she wasn't used to sleeping alone and discovering that, after years of doing just that, she now hated the feeling. She smoothed out the sheet a bit, then reached over and grabbed her phone from the nightstand.

Hey there, she texted Charles.

Hey, beautiful, he replied. You in bed?

I am. Feeling lonely. Miss you. Can't wait for tomorrow.

Neither can I. But you're not alone, you know. I'm sort of there with you. x

Her mouth widened into a huge grin as she realized what he meant, and she trailed her fingers over her abdomen.

That's true - you are. She hit "send," then added, How was poker? followed by a laughing emoji.

Ha bloody ha, he replied. I'll have you know, I beat them all!

Good for you, love. Are you all settled in now?

We are, he replied. And you should be, too. Sleep well, Ms. Hughes.

Elsie smiled, and her heart fluttered as she realized that the next time she was climbing into bed, she'd be 'Mrs. Carson' instead.

I will. You, too. xx

She shut off the phone and plugged in her charger, then rolled over onto her back. She rested her hands on her belly; with visions of tomorrow's beachfront wedding playing through her mind, she softly hummed a lullaby to her baby as she drifted off to sleep.

Please drop me a little review if you are willing. :)

*Vitamins: true story - mine. Prenatals were horrific, but a couple of Fred and Barney chewables and I was good to go!