Clover (13 page)

Lilly's eyes brightened at the understanding the women showed.

“I thought that because we were so close to finishing, a small change in timing wouldn't mean anything. I guess I don't understand men, at least on that level.”

The three burst out laughing, but a sudden wave of clenching nausea cut Lilly's laughter short. She laid back, sweat beading up on her forehead. She closed her eyes and whispered.

“What do I do now?”

“It has to be a joint decision, Lilly. If it isn't then you really will lose him. Besides, if he's the boy we raised I have a pretty good idea what he'll do. Deep down, he's a good, caring man.”

 

Breakfast was quiet, the silence broken only by the occasional strong gust of wind against the window. Lilly hadn't spoken until the final serving of Jasmine tea had been offered.

“Looks like a thunderboomer's coming up. Your car windows rolled up, Freddie?”

Edison looked at the two youngsters and tried to smile. He was hoping for some magic solution, an answer that would leave everyone satisfied.

“I'll check them. Lilly, is your car open?”

He studied his partner, hoping for a positive response.

“I think so, Freddie. Thanks.”

He got up and headed out the door. As it was closing behind him, Galen rose from the table.

“I'm getting a front seat on the storm. Anyone care to join me?”

“Does anyone include me, Bear?”

They led the way into the living room.

The sky darkened as the water-laden clouds floated across the valley toward the mountain. Wind gusts began to cast small water droplets against the picture window.

The hand of God flashed down, followed by His booming voice, just as Freddie raced up the stairs and back into the house. He sat in the chair nearest Lilly.

The divine voice echoed once more as Galen turned and faced them. Edison, Nancy and Sandy saw the intense look in his eyes and remained silent.

“Freddie, Lilly, what do both of you want?”

The couple exchanged looks, she seeing the boy who had dived into a river to save her when he was eight years old, he seeing the beautiful little girl who had kissed him unexpectedly after he pulled her to shore.

“I want Lilly to be with me. We'll figure out how to make it work.”

“I want Freddie to be with me,” she said in a low voice.

Lilly stood up, as did Freddie, and they moved toward each other. Then she suddenly doubled over, clutching her belly. As her body collapsed on itself, Nancy saw drops of blood falling on the floor.

“Not again! Dear God, not again,” she screamed.

Galen caught Lilly as she fell. He felt tightness in his chest as he attempted to carry her to the couch.

Edison saw the sweat forming on his friend's forehead.

“Take her, you damned young fool! He can't lift her.”

Freddie was stunned, but just for a moment, before he easily hefted his mate from the old doctor and gently laid her on the couch. Galen slowly regained his breath and color.

Sandy rushed to Galen's side.

“Where's your nitro, Bear?”

He shook his head.

“Don't give me that crap. I can spot angina just as easily as you.”

He struggled getting the words out.

“My bag ... in my room.”

She hurried down the hallway and found the little black bag. She returned quickly and popped a gel pill under his tongue.

Soon Galen's normal ruddiness returned.

“You know you need a stent,” Sandy whispered in his ear.

He nodded.

“What's happening to me?” Lilly asked frantically, clutching her belly.

Galen and Sandy knelt down beside the couch. He took the girl's hand and spoke quietly.

“Lilly, Sandy's going to put her hand on your stomach. Let us know if anything hurts.”

She nodded. He could see how much pain she was feeling.

Sandy's hand moved gently over the four quadrants of Lilly's abdomen, applying steady pressure as it moved over her skin. As she reached a spot just below her umbilicus, her belly button, Sandy felt the muscular contraction wave beneath. She turned to Galen then to Freddie.

“I think she's had a spontaneous miscarriage, but I don't think she's in danger—too early.”

Galen saw Nancy and Edison turning pale. He raised his hands in a reassuring gesture.

“I'll call Jeff Schulman in OB/GYN, Lilly. Think you can make it to the car?”

Nature's sound and light show continued across the darkened sky.

Lilly's cramping pain and waves of nausea were subsiding now. She no longer had to bite her tongue to keep from screaming. She turned and saw the tall Latino man she loved on his knees beside her. He laid his head on her lap and began to cry. She stroked his hair.

Edison helped Galen to his feet and the four seniors withdrew from the living room, leaving the couple alone.

 

Galen moved as quickly as he could to his room. He groped inside the old black bag that had been his companion for sixty years. He found the little bottle, quickly put another tablet under his tongue, and lay down on his bed. He could feel the sting as the blood vessels absorbed the nitroglycerin, lifting the weight from his chest.

He knew then that he would be making two phone calls.

He opened his eyes to see the diminutive Irish elf standing at his bedside.

“I'm not going to lose you like I lost Josh.”

She whipped out her phone, called out a number, and handed it to him.

After four rings he could hear the answering click and tenor voice.

“Crescenzi. Is that you, Galen?”

“Yes, Sal, it's me. The angina's back.”

The cardiologist's response was immediate.

“Can you come down now?”

“Can't. I've got a family situation here. Unless things flare up, can I see you tomorrow?”

Sandy snatched the phone from Galen's hand.

“This is Dr. Sandra McDevitt. Galen needs to be seen now, even if I have to drag him in. We're also bringing a young woman to the hospital. Can you see him when we get there?”

“Any time. I'll be waiting.”

“Sandy, did anyone ever call you a b...?”

“You wouldn't be the first, you senile old fool.”

Galen called up a second number and smiled as it the voice answered on the first ring.

“Jeff, it's Galen. Got a young lady I'd like you to see. She's the fiancée of my ward, Freddie—yeah, that Freddie. He's actually settled down with one girl.

“I think she had a spontaneous AB. She couldn't have been more than a month, maybe six weeks. Can you see her?”

When he heard Jeff's reassurances he hung up the phone. He felt Sandy's hand on his shoulder.

“Come on, old man, you got a date with the cardiac cath lab.”

 

*   *   *

 

Mid-November weather isn't kind in Massachusetts. True to form, chilly winds pounded the tiny, old, off-campus row house in Cambridge where the two doctoral candidates shared living quarters.

Lilly hugged Freddie then pulled back. She put her index finger on his nose and pressed it like a door bell. The winds responded by rattling the pane windows.

“Lilly, why have you stayed with me?”

“Because you don't deserve me.”

He easily hefted her up in his arms, carried her to the sofa, and encircled her in a complete embrace.

“Should we tell them we're coming back for Thanksgiving?”

Freddie's eyes said yes.

“Okay, but let's make it a surprise.”

“Right, not like our last visit.”

She kissed him silly.

 

“Any word from the kids or Sandy?”

Nancy shook her head. Edison turned away to hide his disappointment. Galen also lowered his eyes and moved the newspaper he was reading up higher.

Why did she have to take that damned Kenya trip now?

 

THE UNCOWARDLY LIONESS

“I am very sorry, Dr. McDevitt, but there are no flights leaving Nairobi for three days. It is at the direct order of our president.”

The tall Kenyan airport official gazed down at the tiny elderly woman fuming and pacing back and forth. He kept a straight face. What could this wisp of a person do to him?

“Captain Mbutu, this is intolerable.”

“I am sorry, but orders are orders.”

“We shall see.”

She pulled the phone from her purse and entered the numbers she knew by heart. She turned away from the man who would block her from returning home to her Sarah … and Galen.

The voice on the other end was friendly.

“Let me speak to the captain, Doctor.”

She held the phone out to him and barely suppressed her laughter at the expressions crossing his face. The phone conveyed a message loud and clear.

“Do you not recognize the wife of Sigilai, Captain? Get her a plane immediately!”

The young military man was visibly trembling as he made the arrangements. One does not question the order of one's president, especially in Kenya.

“My humble apologies, Doctor. My country will forever honor the memory of you and your husband.”

You bet your boots, youngster! It was your president who gave my Josh that name—Sigilai—to honor our service here
.

She just smiled as she accepted the honor guard escort to the waiting plane.

 

THE WIZARD

It was a James Whitcomb Riley late November day on the mountain. Frosty breezes rose from the valley and coated the remaining, unfallen leaves with a crystalline sheen as the three sat around the fireplace.

“What are you snickering at, you old codger? You haven't heard from Sandy in, what, two weeks?”

Galen was peeling the skin from an apple, carefully using a corer to remove the seed center. A humorous thought crossed his mind and he let out an inadvertent laugh.

“Sandy's in Kenya. She'll be here, as she put it, ‘come hell or high water.'”

“So what's so damned funny, quack?”

“Isn't important, little brother.”

“That's it! I knew he was going crazy, Nancy. Told you, didn't I?”

“That's enough, you two. Don't you remember how much fun we used to have in the cold weather?”

“That was when I enjoyed ice and snow. But now I have to admit I don't like late fall and winter much anymore.”

Galen stared at the flickering fireplace as he continued.

“It's nice to see the change of seasons, but I'd much rather it were spring instead of fall.”

Edison squinted nearsightedly at Galen. He licked his dry lips and issued a challenge to his old friend.

“Whan that Aprille with his shoores soote.”

Galen grinned and took up Edison's cue, reciting Chaucer's poem about spring.

Nancy stared at them, nodded, and joined in.

In unison the three continued the singsong Middle English then hesitated as they spoke the last lines.

“Thanne longen folk to goon pilgrimages, and specially from every shires ende.”

“Think the kids will come from every shire's end to visit this Thanksgiving?” Nancy asked.

 

It was Tuesday, two days before the holiday. Wind gusts nipped at the house, tossing scattered snow flurries along the window trim. The carved-out letters of Edison's sign cupped the stray flakes in its routed wood design.

SAFEHAVEN was garnished with snow.

“Have you talked to Diane and Lachlan Douglas about coming over for dinner?” Galen asked Nancy, as they lounged in the living room.

“Not yet. But I did see Lem and Sophie earlier, and they'll be over with Miriam.”

Galen was hoping for a full house. He stared out the window.

“Strange, when I was a young man I yearned for solitude—time away from the madding crowd. Now I fear the loneliness.”

Why haven't they called? Why isn't Sandy here?

He sighed.

“Guess I'll turn in. Edison still in the bathroom?”

“Mm-hmm. He's been taking longer and longer.”

Nancy looked up from her detective novel as Galen ambled out of the room. Then she stared at the fireplace.

Why haven't they called?

 

A few minutes later, Galen heard a soft knock on his bedroom door.

“Come in.”

“You know I hate to bother you,” Edison said, as he entered.