Chapter 29
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
O n Friday afternoon the Appleby family were together again at South Haven, barring Matt, Sophia, and Chris who would arrive later in time for dinner. Ellie, who’d been discharged from hospital yesterday, was slouching on the couch, tapping her foot to music through her earbuds and reading The Wisdom of Nature as though the past week had never happened. Melina was helping Martha in the kitchen, Penny was preparing the dining table, and Jessie and Dane were building some kind of Lego creation in the nearby sitting room. Lacie was seated on the armchair near the couch, feet on a footstool, rubbing her belly as the baby wriggled and poked gently beneath her skin, and she marvelled at how normal everything seemed.
Conscious she’d need to book a flight home soon; her heart was being pulled in two directions. There’d been such relief at being back home and Ellie being okay, despite the fact she’d need close monitoring and regular psychology sessions, as well as a new sleep plan that didn’t require sedatives. But Lacie had also just started getting her life in order in Chicago, with Madeleine almost qualified she’d be able to share the workload at the salon and take over for a while to allow Lacie some maternity leave. The next step had been to get the baby equipment purchased and set up. Though she didn’t have a spare room in her apartment, she’d planned on getting a co-sleeper bassinet so she could have the baby close to her, and she’d figure out the rest as time went on.
And then there was Nathan. She’d tried contacting him after visiting the hospital, but he hadn’t replied until the next day, when he’d told her he was taking two weeks off and going on a vacation – to where, he didn’t say. Sadness filled her heart… his vacation was originally going to be in Chicago, but now things had changed.
A squeal of laughter burst from Jessie as Dane did something funny with the Lego figures, and Lacie smiled. Penny was humming in the dining room, and Melina was talking to Martha about her upcoming fertility specialist appointment and how in preparation she had seen a naturopath, was eating healthier and taking a bucketload of supplements to improve her overall health and egg quality. Lacie was glad Melina seemed better emotionally, excited even, about her impending tests and treatments. Lacie knew she’d done the right thing, committing to being the mother of her own baby and letting Melina and Chris go on the journey that was theirs to take, while she took hers.
Her mum’s phone rang and Lacie glanced in her direction.
‘Yes, hello, Doctor.’
It must be one of Ellie’s doctors , Lacie thought.
‘Yes … Uh-huh … Oh, that is wonderful news, thanks so much for calling! … Okay, will do. Bye!’
Martha put down the phone and placed her hand over her heart. Her eyes became red and shiny, and Melina stopped chopping vegetables and placed a hand on Martha’s back. ‘Are you okay?’ she asked.
Martha nodded. Ellie took her earbuds out and straightened up, Penny poked her head through from the dining room, and Lacie got herself up and over to her mother.
‘What was that about, Mum?’ Lacie asked.
Martha took a deep breath. ‘I didn’t want to say anything because so much has happened and you’re all going through your own things. I didn’t want to worry you.’
Now Lacie was worried, although by the sounds of things whatever it was had been good news.
‘I had a biopsy done last week for a suspicious breast lump.’
Penny came over to Martha as well. ‘Mum, you should have told me. But it’s all okay?’
She wiped a tear from her eye and nodded. ‘Benign. I’m so grateful, oh my goodness.’ She leaned on the kitchen counter and let it take half of her weight, and Melina rubbed her back.
Relief flooded Lacie’s body, and she realised how caught up in her own life she’d been. When was the last time she actually asked her mother how she was? Yes, she had a growing baby to think about and care for, but the thought that two of her family members could have had tragic outcomes to their recent challenges made her feel guilty, like she should have been there for them more.
‘Oh, Mum. I’m sorry you had to go through that waiting on your own,’ Lacie said.
‘I probably didn’t help matters,’ said Ellie, now up and walking over to them in the kitchen.
‘Oh, sweetheart, don’t you feel guilty or worry yourself.’ She gestured for Ellie to come to her for an embrace. Five women standing in comfort and support of each other: a woman who’d been awaiting a potential diagnosis; a woman experiencing infertility; a pregnant single woman deliberating her future and her mistake; a woman juggling work and motherhood and a zillion volunteer roles; and a woman struggling emotionally who’d cheated death. No one should have to struggle on their own.
In that moment, clarity and purpose struck Lacie like lightning. ‘That’s it,’ she said. ‘I’ve made a decision.’
‘Oh?’ said her mother.
‘I don’t want to miss another moment of your lives. All of you.’ She looked at each of them and cast a glance to Jessie and Dane who were still intensely focused on their Lego world. ‘I’m moving back to Tarrin’s Bay.’ She couldn’t help the wide smile that stretched automatically across her face, and she knew with all her heart she was making the right choice, again.
Her mother straightened up with a sudden burst of energy, her eyes wide. ‘Oh my goodness! Are you sure? When? And with the pregnancy, how will you manage, I’m sure you can’t fly after a certain time? Or will you wait till after the baby’s born? But then it’ll be harder and more to carry, and–’
‘Mum, it’s okay, I’ll figure it all out! We’ll work it out step by step, but for now, I think I should get back to Chicago and sort out my business and apartment, and get back here ASAP, before I reach the third trimester.’ The plan was bittersweet, she’d miss her life and friends, but she also had a life and friends, and most importantly, family, here too. She could start again, this time as a mother, and could set up a new salon once the baby was older. The idea of having her family around during this life transition filled her with comfort, and also the fact that she could be there more easily for them, too.
‘Are you sure you’re not just doing this because of what happened?’ Ellie asked. ‘I don’t want you to give up the life you created over there if you don’t have to.’
Lacie draped an arm around her sister. ‘I want to.’
‘It might be hard to do everything on your own,’ said Penny. ‘I have an idea… if I can wing it, maybe I could come too? Help you sort everything out and carry your luggage and fly back with you?’
Lacie’s heart leapt.
‘That’s a wonderful idea!’ Martha beamed. ‘I can help with the kids when Steve is working, they can stay here and he can come get them on his days off.’
Penny looked relieved, her shoulders lowering. ‘That’d be great. I’ll need to run it by him of course, logistically and financially, but I don’t think it’ll be an issue.’
‘I can help with the kids here and there also,’ said Melina with a smile. ‘And my girls would love to spend some more time with them too.’
‘I can help with costs,’ Lacie said.
‘I can too,’ said Martha. ‘Whatever’s needed, we’ll figure it out.’
‘Then it’s official. I’ll have a look at flights for us, Penny, if you can arrange time off work at short notice?’
She nodded. ‘I know a relief teacher who will probably be able to take over. I’ll contact the school and let them know. Oh, I’m going to miss my kids,’ she whispered, ‘but hopefully the enticement of them staying here, Mum, will ease any worry.’
‘I’ll make it worth their while. Lots of ice cream, movies, and Lego of course.’ She smiled.
‘Can I…’ Ellie said softly. ‘Can I come too?’
‘To Chicago?’ Martha said, her brows creasing.
Would she be up for it?
‘I’ve never seen any other part of the world, and I always thought I’d visit Lacie one day but forgot about it when my life got crazy, and now this is the last chance I’ll get.’
‘Well, it’s not the last chance, you can do anything and go anywhere you want in your life, El, but if Mum thinks it’s okay, and your doctor, then I can’t think of anything better than a girls’ trip together.’
Martha twisted her lips to the side. ‘Okay. We’ll ask the doctor on Monday at your check-up, and the psychologist, and I’m sure knowing you’ll be with your sisters and not on your own it shouldn’t be a problem. It might be good for you.’
Ellie smiled, properly for the first time in a long while, and Lacie’s chin trembled, her baby wriggling beneath as though excited too. ‘Oh my God, it’s really happening. We’re going to the States together, and I’m coming back here to live, and,’ she patted her belly, ‘I’m having a baby!’ It was as though she finally realised, and burst into tears.
The women hugged and a few tears were shed, and Lacie felt more at home here and now, than she’d ever felt before.