As Time Goes By (The Californians 2) (26 page)

thirty-eight

.Bobbie's Sunday was miserable as she walked over half of Santa Rosa. Never had she handled anything so badly as her mistake with Jeff. Running from him was the worst thing she could do, but the blood drained from her face every time she thought of facing him with an apology, or working with him on a daily basis.

It was her thought life that had gotten her into trouble, of that she was positive. Very recently she had imagined herself kissing Jeff on more than one occasion, and when he had bent so close, Sylvia had been the farthest person from her mind. She hadn't even tried to stop herself.

Again Bobbie found herself having to confess how much she had enjoyed it. If only he hadn't fallen for Sylvia. Jeff was sure to marry Sylvia.
If only,
Bobble thought, and then stopped herself. She would never keep going if her life was a series of
if onIy's.

There was no choice about her job--she would have to quit, of course. Fear of running into Jeff kept her from going to see Mr. Taylor that very afternoon. Bobbie tried to push away the pain that returned again and again on her walk.

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244 Lori Wick

Maryanne had not lied to Jeff. Before going on a long walk to think and pray, Bobbie had gone to see her sister for a brief visit. In no less pain when she finally returned home, Bobbie had at least told God all she felt, and she knew what must be done.

Her parents had questioned her about being gone so long, but in fear of starting tears that would never stop, Bobbie had not answered. Neither Jake nor Maryanne had pushed the point, but they watched with concern as Bobble played with her supper and ate no breakfast the following morning.

"Bobbie," Maryanne stopped her daughter as she was headed out the door for work. "If you're not feeling well, you can stay home."

"I know, Morn, and I know you're wondering what's going on, but I just can't talk about it right now. I hope when I get home tonight I'll be able to explain every thing."

Maryanne, feeling she had no choice but to accept her grown daughter's answer, was very concerned. "I'll be praying for you, Bobble."

Those words were nearly her undoing. How easy it would be to run to the protective arms of her parents! And then Bobbie stopped short. She was done running a long time ago. She squared her shoulders with renewed purpose.

"Thanks, Mom, I appreciate that." Kissing her mother's cheek, Bobbie headed toward the door and called over her shoulder, "I'll see you tonight."

thirty-nine

"Yousure know how to avoid a man."

Bobbie started at the sound of Jeff's voice and felt her face flush. Overcome with regret, she didn't say any thing for a few moments. A wonderful friendship had been ruined. They would never be comfortable with each other again, and it was all her fault.

That Jeff was extremely glad to see her was totally lost on Bobbie. Drowning in her own hurt, she failed to notice how Jeff's eyes sparkled with tenderness and warmth.

"Bobbie--"

"Please, Jeff, just let me say how---"

"Hello, Jeff; hello, Bobbie." Bobbie was interrupted by May's sudden entrance to the shipping office. She held Marcail's hand, and Bobbie, without delay, forgot her own problems at the sight of the white-faced little gift.

"It seems that Kaitlin chose today to have her baby, and I told Marcail it would be a good idea if she came here for a few hours."

"That's a great idea. Come over and have a chair, Marc." The words were spoken by Jeff, and with his

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hand on the little girl's shoulder, she was escorted up to Bobbie's desk.

May left quietly and a few minutes later Bill entered the office. Bobble was speaking with Marcail and didn't hear the exchange between father and son, but when Bill went into his office Jeff suggested that Bobbie and Mar-cail take a ride with him.

Once in the wagon, Jeff and Bobbie's eyes met over the top of Marcail's head and it was with mutual, unspoken understanding that they decided to put their discussion off and concentrate on their young charge.

Marcail had said little, and as Jeff headed the wagon in the direction of the lagoon, Bobbie asked God to give her the words to comfort and help Marcail.

Kaitlin spat a sentence at Rigg in furious Hawaiian. It was the second time she had said it to him, and for the first time he was glad he couldn't speak the language.

"I can't push anymore, Rigg, I just can't do it," Kate panted after the last hard contraction.

Rigg mopped her brow and kissed her cheek. No one had ever told him it would be like this. No one had ever mentioned that his wife would be in agony for hours and he would be powerless to help.

Rigg had not previously known the meaning of the word "frustration" until Doctor Grade had come, checked on Kaitlin, and left, telling them it would probably be some hours yet. He had told them where he could be found and his manner had been kind, but Rigg, unsatisfied, had followed him to the door.

"Isn't there anything you can do for her?"

"I'm afraid not, Rigg. First babies take time."

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Rigg found out in a hurry that those words had been an understatement. It felt to him as though Kate had been in labor for days, and he wasn't even the one in pain.

"Oh no," Kate gasped as another contraction began. Rigg looked at his mother on the other side of the bed to see if she was as worried as he was, but the smile she gave him was one of serene acceptance.

Illumination flooded Rigg's heart as he realized that his mother had gone through this exact process to have him. Kate needed him right now, so there was no time for talk, but when this was all over, and Rigg prayed it would be soon, he told himself he was going to thank Mabel Riggs Taylor for giving him life.

"You were really on a date here?" Marcail asked in childish wonder. "What did you do?"

"Well," Bobbie explained, "the other kids were here as well, and we had a picnic lunch under the trees. Then we sat around and talked. The whole church came later to go boating."

"Can we go boating?"

"Not today, but I think we might be able to arrange something later on," Jeff had answered from the place where he was sitting with his back against a tree. He was amazed at the relaxed way Bobble talked about the day at the lagoon, without giving any hint of the disastrous events that followed.

He was also amazed how strong his feelings were for her. They were both doing a good job of pretending there was nothing they needed to discuss. Jeff was sure Mar-cail didn't suspect a thing. She was growing visibly more

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relaxed by the second, and that fact was directly related to Bobbie's sensitive care of her.

"I think it might be getting close to lunch. Shall we go back to my house to eat?"

"I don't know, Bobble. Maybe I should go and check on Katie."

"I think it would be best if we didn't go over there right now."

"Why, Bobbie? Why did May take me away? What are they doing to Katie that they don't want me to know?"

Bobbie's arms went around the little girl. "They're not
doing
anything to her Marcail, but it's hard work having a baby, and it's not the best idea to have a lot of people around."

"But there were a lot of people around, even Dr. Grade." "Marc," Bobble said softly, "Dr. Grade is there to help Katie. He's there to take care of her."

Marcail was certain she was going to return home and have Rigg tell her that Kate was dying, but she didn't mention any of this to Bobble.

"The people at the house are there for a reason. And even though I'm sure Katie wishes you could be nearby, she also sees that it would be easier if you were else where. It would be the same as if you wanted to go to work at the livery with Sean. He'd like to have your company, but you couldn't really help him with his job, and it would be easier for him if you weren't there.

"Having a baby is work. If Kate is worried about you, then she won't be able to work as well as she needs to."

Some of the tension that had returned to Marcail's face drained away, and they got in the wagon to head for the Bradfords. Jeff was careful not to look in the direction of his brother's place as they rode through town, but he couldn't help but wonder if his sister-in-law was all

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right. He prayed for all concerned and tried to turn his mind back to the situation at hand.

Sean came out of his cha'tr in the kitchen as though someone had jerked him up on a string. His sister had just let out a bloodcurdling scream, and he waited, his breath held, for some noise to issue from the bedroom.

Black spots dotted his vision a moment later when he heard a baby cry. He sat back down with a thud, hoping he wouldn't faint. A baby! His sister had had a baby!

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forty

Sean watched May emerge from the bedroom, wiping her eyes.

' girl, a big beautiful girl."

Her words started the young man's own tears. Kate had confided in him one day that most men wanted boys, but that Rigg had wanted a daughter. She had said it was her deepest desire to give him that wish.

"Is Kate all right?" Sean asked hesitantly over the lump in his throat.

"She's fine. Just give them a few minutes and you can go in."

It was less than two minutes before the door was thrown open and Rigg appeared, disheveled but beam-

"Sean!

Get in here and see your niece! Where's Marc?" "I'll go and find her," May said with more calm than she felt. It was an exhilarating experience to see your first grandchild enter the world, and she was feeling a bit light-headed about it.

Rigg gave his mother an enormous hug before reaching for his brother-in-law. Sean noticed tears in the

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big man's eyes and fought the return of his own as he stepped softly into the bedroom. He focused on his sister and she gave him a tired smile.

Sean felt his own fatigue when he saw that smile. He hadn't realized how tense he had been, but Kate was all .right, he could see that. Everything was going to be fine because Kaitlin was all right.

'Aren't you going to look at her?"

"Oh, sorry, Kate," Sean nearly stuttered. He had been so worried about Kate that he forgot about the new little life his sister held in the curve of her arm.

Sean couldn't stop the frown that crossed his face at the first sight of his niece, and Kate chuckled softly.

"She's a funny-looking little thing, isn't she, Sean?" "Well-" Sean wanted to disagree, but couldn't. The baby was red and wrinkly and her face looked as if some fierce battle was going on inside of her. Her eyes opened as Sean watched, and she waved one tiny red fist in the air. Sean's heart melted.

"What's her name?" he asked when he could find his voice again.

"We thought we'd let Marcail decide," Rigg said from his place on the opposite side of the bed.

"That's a good idea," Sean said with conviction. He hadn't seen much of his family over the summer, but he knew that Kate's pregnancy had been very hard on his little sister. Marcail's naming the baby was probably just what she needed to help her adjust to the changes that would certainly enter their home in the next few months.

"There will be certain changes." "What kind of changes?"

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"Good ones," Bobbie answered. "You can be a tremendous help to Kaitlin with the baby. In fact the baby will probably think of you as a second mother, since you live in the same house."

Marcail was so pleased with Bobbie's words that she was actually able to eat some lunch. She was just finishing when May knocked on the door.

"I thought I might find you here," May said as she entered the room. "You have a perfect little niece." May gave Marcail a hug after making her announcement, or she might have noticed the worried look that had suddenly captured the little girl's features.

Why doesn't anyone say how Kate is doing? The
question tormented Marcail all the way home, but she kept her thoughts to herself and tried not to vomit. Rigg greeted her at the door with a big smile and Marcail took heart. He wouldn't look like that if Kate was in heaven with Mother, would he?

More chance for speculation was cut short when Rigg led her quietly into the bedroom. She told herself not to be sick when she saw Kate's closed eyes, but she didn't know how long she would be able to hold herself together. Marcail stood stock-still about two feet from what she was sure was Kate's dead body and wished she hadn't eaten lunch.

Rigg watched his sister-in-law in silence. Her hands were clenched so tightly that her knuckles were white. Marcail's eyes were fixed on Kate's sleeping face and Rigg wondered if she might faint. She hadn't been anywhere near the basket that held his daughter, and he wished with all his heart he knew what she was thinking.