CHAPTER EIGHT
When Taylor called to invite Hazel to a girls’ day of relaxation at the Lilac Lake Cottage, Hazel was delighted to have some downtime.
She’d been working hard and staying late at the office.
With no scheduled meetings, she quickly accepted and followed up with a note to Mike and Ross that she would take the day off after seeing everything was okay.
That morning was what some New Englanders would call a “high sparkler,” with bright-blue skies and plenty of sunshine spreading warmth and light.
For once, Hazel allowed herself to stay in bed after the alarm went off.
She loved moments like these, where she could lie quietly and sort through thoughts and ideas.
After she dressed for the day in her swimsuit, Hazel packed a towel, sunscreen, and a change of clothes in a canvas bag.
Then she pulled together some food items. She’d promised to bring a coffee cake from the Lilac Lake Café, a bottle of wine for later, and some munchies.
The Gilford sisters were generous about opening their cottage for parties, but everyone else provided most of the food for those events. Today was no different.
Because so many people were working, the party was limited to the three Gilford women, Misty, Crystal, Melissa, and her.
A few other women promised to come after work.
Hazel was excited to be able to spend some time with these women.
It would give her a better idea of what it must have been like being together during their growing-up years.
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When she arrived, she saw that the six other women were dressed in bathing suits with cover-ups, as well.
Taylor greeted her with a hug. “So glad you could make it, Hazel. I know how busy you are with the Sports Center.”
“I’ve needed this break. Thank you so much for inviting me.”
A group of women chatted in the kitchen. When they saw the coffee cake Taylor had brought, they eagerly waited for her to cut and distribute pieces of it.
Whitney, who was due to have her second baby any day, turned to Hazel. “I heard you’re setting up a babysitting service at the Sports Center for mothers who want to play tennis and pickleball. That’s fantastic. So many positive changes are taking place there since you became Administrator.”
“I hope so,” said Hazel. “I did a lot of research as to what other clubs and gyms were providing their customers.”
“Ross admitted to me that programming and running the Center needed a woman’s touch,” said Melissa. “He’s used to working with men. Now, he’s even talking about having the girls’ high school softball team come in for practice and pointers.”
“It’s wonderful for the community to have the Center. Ross and Mike should be proud of themselves for pursuing that idea,” said Taylor.
“Okay, ladies, we have had the coffee cake from the Café,” said Melissa. “Now I want you to taste test a recipe I’ve created for my cookbook. Please let me know both the good and the bad aspects of its taste, texture, and overall appearance. It’s easy to make, so I have that factor covered.”
Hazel helped herself to a piece of the apricot crumble cake that Melissa served on individual plates. Hazel was an adequate cook, but that was all. Growing up, her family had a housekeeper who cooked, and Hazel was never excited to be in the kitchen.
“Well?” asked Melissa after everyone in the group had taken a taste and more. She held a notebook in her hand.
As they all gave their responses, Melissa wrote them down. “Okay, it seems like everyone loved the flavor but wanted it to be a bit moister. I can take care of that. Thank you, ladies.”
“It’s such a beautiful day, let’s take our coffee down to the rock,” said Dani.
At the lake’s edge, a huge granite rock rose out of the water. Its large, almost flat surface provided plenty of space for sunbathing and conversation.
“If I sit on the rock, at least two of you will have to help me up,” said Whitney, rubbing her belly. “Carrying this baby, I’m so out of balance that it’s almost impossible for me to move normally.”
“We’ll bring a chair,” said Crystal. “It might be easier for you.”
The women grabbed water bottles, towels, and sunscreen and headed down the sloped green lawn to the rock, with Crystal carrying a chair and Dani helping Whitney.
“We used to spend hours on this rock during the summers,” Misty explained to Hazel. “Growing up in Lilac Lake was a great place for a kid.”
“It’s nice that y’all are still friends,” said Hazel, gazing at the group. She had friends at home, but lately, their life choices were pulling them apart. Not that Hazel would change her mind about going back to Louisiana.
With their towels spread on the rock and Whitney settled in her beach chair, the women grew quiet as they lay, eyes closed, faces toward the sun.
Whitney broke the silence. “Uh-oh. Wait. Oh, my God! My water just broke.”
Crystal, who assisted her husband at the Emergency Center, was the first to get to her. “Yes, I see. Okay, Whitney, we’ll get you to the hospital.”
“Timothy came quickly, and I think this baby is going to do the same thing,” said Whitney, letting out a long groan.
“What’ll we do?” asked Taylor.
“Let’s get you to the Emergency Center. You can have your baby there,” said Crystal, speaking calmly. “Hazel, you and Misty better walk Whitney up the hill. Dani, we’ll take her in your truck. It has more room than some of our other vehicles. I’m calling Emmett now.”
While Crystal sprinted up the hill to the cottage, Hazel took hold of one of Whitney’s arms, and Misty, the other.
Halfway up the hill, Whitney stopped, clutched her stomach, and let out a long, low growl. “Oh, God! I’ve had what I thought were Braxton Hick’s pains. I should have known this little one would be too impatient to wait.”
Walking beside Hazel, Melissa said, “I’m calling Nick now. Is he home with Timothy?”
“Nick’s at work. GG is with Tim while he has his morning nap. ”
When Melissa called, Nick’s private line was busy. “Crystal must be talking to him. We’ll check with her when we get to Dani’s truck.”
Whitney stopped by the truck and, clutching Hazel’s fingers, let out another groan.
Feeling as if her hand was crushed, Hazel crooned, “It’s going to be fine.” She hoped she was right. She’d never been part of childbirth like this.
“Emmett’s ready for you, and I’ve spoken to Nick,” said Crystal as they approached her. She’d spread a clean towel on the back seat of Dani’s truck. “Let’s get you inside.”
In minutes, Whitney was settled in the back seat, and Dani started the engine.
“I’ll ride with Dani and Whitney,” said Crystal to the other women. “We’ll meet you there.”
“C’mon, you can ride in my car,” said Melissa. “I don’t want to miss this.”
Hazel, Misty, and Taylor climbed into Melissa’s SUV, and they followed Dani’s truck to the Emergency Center.
Nick’s police car was already in the parking lot when they pulled in.
After Melissa parked, Hazel and the others climbed out of the car and went inside the reception area to wait.
Crystal joined them. “Emmett, Nick, and a nurse are with Whitney. Emmett said it’s a good thing we brought Whitney here to the Clinic. It won’t be long.”
“I’ve never been this close to a birth before,” said Hazel. “I thought babies took a long time to come.”
“They usually do,” said Crystal. “Second babies often come faster. In this case, that’s certainly happening.”
“I don’t believe they know the sex of the child,” said Melissa. “Whitney told me they wanted it to be a surprise.”
“In the end, it doesn’t matter, does it? As long as the baby is healthy,” said Dani with a wistfulness they all understood. It was well-known in the group that Dani and Brad had been trying for a baby for several months.
Hazel, like the other women, settled down to wait.
She didn’t want to lose out on the excitement of finding out the sex of the baby.
Though some of the women were married and others were engaged, Whitney was the first of their small group to have children.
Others in their larger circle of friends, like Beth Beckman, already had a child.
Still in their bathing suits, the group grew quiet, giving Hazel time to think about her life.
She’d pushed back on her mother’s idea of when and who she should marry, but that didn’t mean that she didn’t want to have a man in her life.
And even though seeing Whitney in such pain was a bit scary, she’d always wanted children.
Hazel was playing a game on her cell phone when Nick entered the waiting room. “It’s a girl! Whitney wants you all to see the baby. They’re both getting cleaned up. I’ll let you know when they’re ready.”
He disappeared, and Hazel was as excited as the other women.
“I think we should all make this little girl a special member of our group,” said Misty.
“Yes, of course,” said Dani.
“We can all be aunties to her,” Taylor said graciously.
Hazel and the others smiled at one another. It was the perfect Lilac Lake thing to do.
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When Nick came to get them, the women were more than eager to follow him into a private exam room, which had been turned into a birthing room for Whitney.
“Hi, everyone. I want you to meet Lily Eugenia Gilford Woodruff. Isn’t she beautiful?”
Whitney held a red-faced newborn who let out a lusty cry.
“GG will be thrilled you’ve given Lily her middle name,” said Taylor.
“That’s so adorable,” said Dani.
“We’ve decided that we’ll all be aunties to Lily,” said Crystal. “She’ll always be loved and protected and spoiled by us.”
Whitney’s face crumpled and tears escaped her eyes. “That’s the sweetest thing ever.”
Emmett walked into the room and stood by Nick. “Okay, everyone, mother and daughter need a little time to themselves.”
The women left, and as soon as they were outside, Taylor said, “Is everyone ready to return to the cottage? We have bubbly wine and lots of food for a celebration.”
The six of them returned to the cottage, feeling even closer after they’d shared this experience today. Hazel felt privileged to be part of such a giving group. This was just one reason Hazel didn’t want to leave town.