Authors: Jamieson Wolf
"You look beautiful," he said.
"I don't feel beautiful. Make yourself useful, Darling. I am dying for a cup of tea.”
“The doctor said no caffeine, remember?”
“There is some herbal in the cupboard. Please, Jose." She closed her eyes. "Tea."
Jose smiled at her and leaned forward, kissing her cheek. "Yes my love," he said. "You are anxious to give birth?"
Honey rolled her eyes at him.
"What do you think?"
Jose chuckled. "So cranky," he said, smiling. He kissed the top of her head and busied himself at the kitchen counter preparing tea. He put the kettle on to boil, took out two large mugs from the cupboard and placed two Earl Grey tea bags at the bottom of each cup. "Interesting that your due date is Friday the 13th, don't you think?"
"I haven't paid it the slightest thought," Honey said. "I don't remember pregnancy being so bothersome with David. I don't know why woman would choose to do this to themselves."
"You're carrying twins now; David was just one baby.”
“Yes, but I don't remember much about his pregnancy.”
“I think the brain blocks the bad parts of pregnancy out so you don't remember them when you get pregnant again."
"Must be," she said. "Like built-in amnesia. Well, even if I don't remember, this is still horrible for me, Darling! I haven't seen the outside of the house in months!”
“How about we go out to dinner tonight then? It's feels like years since we've been out.”
“Oh, Darling. We could try that new Vietnamese restaurant that opened up down the street. Vanessa says it's wonderful."
Vanessa was their next door neighbour. She lived alone and had an amazing rose garden out front of her house. When Jose and Honey had bought the house from
Elgin Street
, on
Tecumseh Avenue
, Poppy and Alicia had lived next door to them. When they left, Vanessa moved in, bringing her roses with her. The scent of them filtered through the open window now, reminding Honey of Summer.
Sipping her tea, she stopped and put her cup on the table when the babies began to kick. It felt as if her gut would fly out across the room. "Do you want to feel the babies?"
Jose came to her and put his hands on her large, round stomach. "Certainly is a miracle."
"The miracle will be giving birth to them and remaining in one piece. We haven't even named them yet, Darling. We have a big task ahead of us; it's hard enough to think of one name. Since we're having twins, we have to think of two!"
"It would have helped had you wanted to know their gender."
"Where's the fun in that? I want it to be a surprise. It may be two girls or a boy and a girl or two boys for all that matter. It will be like Christmas!"
"How is having children like Christmas?”
“Because you don't know what you're getting.”
“Not if you don't ask," Jose said, sulking. Honey smiled and patted his cheek. "You're upset. . .”
“No.”
“Yes, you are. You're upset that I didn't let us find out the gender of our babies when we had the ultrasounds."
Jose nodded. "Well, maybe a little. Forgive me?”
“There is nothing to forgive. Besides, I think we may know the answer to their gender sooner than we think.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because my water just broke."
Chapter Three
Working Nine to Five
Poppy rolled her eyes. "What kind of problem?”
“There's blood all over the walls in the kitchen. . ." Moe said.
Poppy and Alicia ran into the kitchen. Moe just sort of glided along and materialized on the other side of the wall. Poppy envied him this talent; she had long wanted to be able to walk through walls. It was easier to get away that way. When she was a child, she had wished she could walk through walls as that would have made her special. It took her years to realize that she already was. The kitchen was drenched with blood. Great waves of it flowed from cracks in the ceiling and poured down the walls in sheets. The air smelled of it, hot and salty. It made Poppy think of hot summer days.
"Hey!" Alicia yelled. She looked up at the ceiling. "Hey!" she called again. "Stop this! Did you hear me? I said stop!"
The blood flow began to slow, the torrents losing speed. Soon, only drips and long marks of blood decorated the walls. They watched as the house sucked all the blood back within its walls, watching until the last drop had been absorbed into the walls in front of them.
"That was fun," Moe said. "Want to try that again?" He smiled at them. Alicia growled at him. "Why did the house do that?" Poppy asked. "It's never bled before.”
“I don't know." Alicia looked up. "Why are you bleeding?" she asked. "What caused the blood flow?" The only answer she got from the house was the sound of crying coming from the attic.
"You're losing it, you know. Talking to a house and all that." Moe said. "You know," Poppy said, "that's what normal people would say about talking to a ghost.”
“Ouch," Moe said, "I've been hit.”
“Haven't you got some attics to haunt?" Alicia said.
"Well, with a real live haunted house on your hands, I doubt very much that I need to go to the attic. There's something crying up there already anyways." He smiled. "Instead, I will go to the basement. There is a six hour marathon of
Three's Company
on satellite."
"We don't have a satellite dish." Alicia said.
"I know. But we get the channels. See, haunted houses ARE good for something." He flew through the kitchen wall. "How're we getting satellite channels?" Poppy asked.
"Through the high energy of the house I expect.”
“Hm," Poppy replied. "I wonder if we get HBO?"
* * * * *
Poppy just managed to catch the 12:35 bus that would take her to Spandoosh's front door for her three hour shift. She hoped that it would go quickly; she didn't like to spend too much time in this place anymore.
She didn't hate work, just the atmosphere. She had tried working 9 to 5 and that just didn't work for her. She was too much of a free spirit to be boxed in by an office in regular hours, a place where she would have to sign over her soul. She had tried some light secretarial work out of high school, decided it wasn't for her and went back to school to get her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art and Art History. She was going to go for her Masters until she realized that true art wasn't in the schooling, it was in the doing.
She let herself into Spandoosh's gallery and turned on the lights.
It really was a beautiful place to work: large open spaces, big bright windows and more hardwood flooring than you could shake a stick at. The gallery section was all open, painting and canvases displayed subtly, artfully, so that nothing looked crammed. The office was in the back, behind a desk that faced the front door. She would be sitting at the desk today, as Daphne was off today. She was alone, blissfully alone, and she loved it. The gallery was only open from 1pm to 4pm on Fridays as most people did their gallery viewing on Saturday and Sundays. She would be home in the blink of an eye, she thought, smiling.
Settling down behind the desk with the new book of short stories by Charles De Lint, a Pepsi and a sub from subway (her idea of a slice of heaven) Poppy was concentrating so hard on her book that she only looked up when the bell above the door rang.
She looked up to see her mother closing the door behind her. Lucy Stone was tall with curly black hair and a kind, oval face. Right now, however, her face looked flushed.
"Poppy!" she said breathlessly when she saw her. She ran towards the desk, arms flailing. "I've found him, I've found him!”
“Who?”
“Your father, well, not really your father, but a clue, I found a clue!”
"You did?" Poppy was on her feet in an instant. "What did you find?"
Lucy smiled and held out her hand. In her palm was a white piece of parchment with the name Keech Robinson written in her mother's spidery script.
"He will lead us to your father."
* * * * *
"Your water broke?" Jose said, his voice rising. "Oh, Honey, should I call the hospital?"
She rolled her eyes at him. "Of course, unless you want me to have the babies right here in the kitchen.”
“That probably wouldn't be a good idea,” he said.
“Then call an ambulance!” She took the collar of his shirt in her fist and pulled him to her. "If I have to have these babies without the benefit of drugs, you will see my wrath. Understand?"
Jose nodded. "Is there anything else I can do? Hot towels? Chocolate?" Honey had begun her Lamaze breathing. "Yeah, there is something you can do." Breathe, breathe. "Call David."
* * * * *
David was enjoying the morning. He had been writing since seven am that day and had kept going at a steady pace.
Orlando
was at his store, selling fortunes and readings to those who wished to see a bit of the future.
Orlando
's business as a fortune teller was doing really well. People always wanted to know about the unknown, even if they were afraid of it.
David had the place completely to himself and took a break to enjoy it. Alone time was rare for him. It wasn’t that he didn't love
Orlando
, he did very much. But sometimes you needed time by your lonesome to think clearly.
Mave was sunning herself on his lap as he typed out pages of his new novel. He was gearing up for the publication of his first novel. He had sent off the edited manuscript to the editors and was now anxiously awaiting November, the month his first novel would be placed upon the shelves, just in time for Christmas. Every time he thought about it, his novel being published, he felt light headed.
He had plenty to look forward to. His wedding to
Orlando
, a small affair between family and friends, would take place soon. They had chosen December 21st for their nuptials. David could hardly wait. They wanted to have the wedding outside, but Orlando and David wanted to be married as soon as possible. December 21st, the day of the Winter Equinox, seemed like a very good day to get married. David smiled just thinking about it.
He was clicking away at the computer when the phone rang. He answered it. "Hello?”
“Oh God!" said a voice, "Your mother, God, David, God! What do I do?" It was Jose. "Jose, has something happened to the baby? What's wrong?”
“Nothing, nothing, oh goodness, I'm not very good at this. It's a family emergency!"
"What is it? What happened?”
“Your mother's water broke!" he practically shrieked. "I'm afraid I'm not doing well under pressure, these will be my first children, you know!"
"Her water broke?!" David said. "Really?”
“Yes, and she looks about ready to have them right now. The ambulance isn't here yet, but I'm driving her to the Civic right now, can you meet us there?"
"Just try and stop me," David said.
* * * * *
After leaving a short note telling
Orlando
to meet him at the hospital, he grabbed a coat, kissed Mave on the head and bounded down the steps. He was in the foyer when Karma poked her head out from her apartment.
"What's up? You're running out of here like a Witch on a broom." She chuckled at her own joke.
"Mom's having the baby; I'm going to the hospital.”
“Having the twins now? Wish her luck for me David, and Goddess speed!"
David smiled to himself. "I'll do that." He ran to his car, got in and started the engine. It was weird to think that when he had first moved in, Karma, her daughter Starr and Karma's boyfriend Jason had all seemed bizarre to him. Next door neighbours to avoid at all costs. It was weird to think that they were now his trusted friends, part of his family of the heart.
When he arrived at the hospital, over forty-five minutes later, he was informed that his mother had already been moved to surgery. Jose was in the birthing room with Honey, getting screamed at, most likely. He called
Orlando
at home and left a message, saying that he had made it to the hospital and that
Orlando
could find him in the emergency waiting room.
David passed the time reading a novel and pacing.
Orlando
showed up a few hours later and hugged him.
"How’s the mama-to-be?"
"Don't know. Haven't seen hide or hair of them in four hours."
"When we get home, I'll give you a massage."
"I love you more already," David said, kissing him on the cheek. Just then, Jose came running out to meet them.
"Oh, good, you're both here! Your mother had the babies!" He was practically jumping up and down. "They had to give her a C-section, but they're both fine, they're both so beautiful, oh, David!" Jose threw himself at David and hugged him hard, repeating the same action with
Orlando
. They had never seen him so emotional.