Marilyn arrived at the hospital around 5:30, carrying some takeout from Giovanni’s for her and Michele. For most of the afternoon, it had been hard for Marilyn to keep her mind on her work. She wanted to be here. As she walked the halls toward the birthing room, she felt as tense as she had for all three of Jean’s babies.
She was also carrying a small wrapped box tied with a pink ribbon and bow. Just a little gift for Christina she’d bought with her employee discount at Odds-n-Ends. Something to ease the pain Marilyn knew she’d be experiencing a few hours from now when it came time to release the baby. Although she totally agreed with Christina’s decision, she couldn’t imagine being able to go through with it, if she were facing the same challenge at that age. Or any age, really.
Before she’d left to come here, she and Jim had prayed for Christina over the phone. Both of them had cried a little. It was hard to accept the fact that they would never see Christina’s baby girl, or hold her, or even hear her cry. But now she needed to be strong for Christina.
She found the room and knocked gently on the door before going in. The room was pleasantly decorated. Gave the appearance of a large River Oaks bedroom more than a hospital room. Except, of course, the hospital bed. Christina appeared to be blowing or panting in response to Michele’s instructions. Beads of sweat gathered across her forehead. “How far apart now?” Marilyn asked.
“Still five minutes,” Michele said. “But they’re more intense now.” She reached for a washcloth, rinsed it in some water, then wiped Christina’s forehead. “You’re doing just fine.”
“I brought you some fettuccine alfredo. But you’re busy. I’ll set it over here on the nightstand. You can nibble at it when you get a break.”
“Thanks. I really am hungry. We won’t make you sick if we eat, will we?” she asked Christina.
“I don’t think so. I’m not hungry at all. You won’t even tempt me.”
Marilyn set her to-go carton down with Michele’s. She didn’t feel right eating by herself.
After Christina finished her heavy-breathing episode, Michele held a styrofoam cup up to Christina’s lips. “Take a few ice chips. We don’t want you getting dehydrated.”
“Did they give you any idea how much further you had to go?” Marilyn said.
Christina shook her head. “I hope it’s not too long. Everything I read said your first labor is the longest.”
“It was for me.” Her first, Tom, took almost twenty hours. But she didn’t want to tell Christina that.
“All I know is, there’s no way I’m going through this again unless I’m married and bringing the baby home. This really hurts. I can’t imagine the pain getting worse.”
Oh, it will, Marilyn thought. It was time for the distraction. “Here.” She pulled the gift out from behind her back. “Just a little something for you.”
Christina’s eyes opened wide, and she smiled, no trace of pain on her face for the moment. “What is it?”
Marilyn handed it to her. “Open it, before the next contraction comes.”
Christina reached for it and quickly began to unwrap it. Beneath the paper was a white cardboard gift box. She slid her finger across the front, breaking the Scotch tape. She gasped with delight as she looked inside. “I can’t believe you got this.” She lifted out a Precious Moments porcelain angel figurine. “It’s way too expensive.”
Marilyn had watched Christina pick up this angel many times in the store with obvious desire. Then she’d turn it over and look at the price and instantly set it down. A few days ago she had asked, “Know the next time the Precious Moments figurines go on sale?”
“I love it, Marilyn. Thank you so much.”
“It’s so cute, Mom,” Michele said.
Christina spun it around slowly. “Here,” she said, handing it to Michele. “You better take it. I may fling it across the room when the next contraction hits.”
“I have something else that I hope will cheer you up,” Marilyn said. “Jim and I talked about this several days ago. I’ve been meaning to talk to you since then, but we kept missing each other. And now you’re here.”
“And now I’m here. What is it?”
“How would you like to keep renting the garage apartment, for good?”
“You mean, I don’t have to move out when I come home from the hospital?”
“Nope. You can stay and live there as long as you want.”
“Really? But what about Doug? Won’t he want to come back and live there himself?”
Marilyn shook her head. “Already called him. Since Tom and Jean moved into Audrey Windsor’s house last week, he said he’d be fine staying in one of the upstairs bedrooms when he comes home.”
Christina smiled. “You sure about this?”
“We’re sure. Christina, you’re like family now. I haven’t thought of you as my ‘client’ for a long time. I know a few days from now, we’ll wrap up our official relationship at the Women’s Resource Center. But I hope we keep meeting as friends for years to come, and I hope you feel free to talk to me about anything you’re going through, big or small.”
Christina didn’t say anything. “Could you hand me that box of tissues?” she asked Michele. “I’m crying way too much these days for a New Yorker.” After she dabbed away her tears, she said, “Marilyn, you’re like a mother and a good friend all wrapped up into one. After Megan left to take care of her mom, I was actually thinking of quitting the center. I didn’t think I’d ever meet anyone I liked as much as her. But now I think meeting you might be the main reason God brought me to that center in the first place.” Suddenly, Christina’s face contorted in pain. “Here comes another one.”
“Breathe,” Michele said, reaching for Christina’s hand. “Just like that. Breathe with me.”