“Everything is looking very good,” she said. “There is nothing to worry us.”
“Oh, thank God,” Liam said.
“Do we have a girl or a boy?” I asked, barely above a whisper.
“You don’t have to know. There are no gender issues.”
“I want to know!” I said, so sharply that she lost her smile.
Liam loosened his grip around my waist. I glanced at him and saw the confusion. Then he smiled and nodded. “Yes, please, Dr. Steffen,” he said.
“You’re going to have a boy,” she said.
I didn’t know I was sinking until I felt Liam’s arm around my waist again, only tightening this time. He guided me quickly to a chair.
Dr. Steffen came rushing over. “What is it, Lorelei?” she asked.
“I just . . . the anticipation . . .”
“Yes, yes, understandable. I’m sorry you had to wait, but I would have called you immediately if there was bad news,” she said. “Just catch your breath. She’ll be fine,” she told Liam.
He looked concerned but also confused. “You were hoping for a girl. Is that it?” he asked.
I knew that if I didn’t bring my hand to my mouth, I would burst into a mad laugh. I swallowed it back and shook my head.
“Maybe the next time,” Dr. Steffen said.
“Sure,” Liam said.
Dr. Steffen brought me some water and then insisted on checking my blood pressure. “Just take her home to rest,” she told Liam.
“Will do. Thanks, Doc,” he said. “Well,” he said as we started out, “we have another good reason to celebrate. Why don’t we go to the Spenser House? I feel like their rack of lamb.”
r /> “Maybe, after a little rest,” I said.
“Sure.”
We drove to the mansion, and he helped me into bed.
“I’ll just head back to the office and finish up some things,” he told me. “I’ll let Mrs. Wakefield know that she should check up on you.”
“No, no. I’ll be fine, Liam.”
“Okay,” he said. He kissed me and left.
I was far more tired than I had imagined, and the moment I closed my eyes, I fell asleep. I think Mrs. Wakefield did stop by to check on me. I thought I opened my eyes for a moment and saw her standing there. Finally, I woke up. When I looked at the clock, I saw that it was nearly seven. Where was Liam? I rose, washed my face, and headed downstairs. Mrs. Wakefield was setting the table in the dining room.
“Oh, how are you, dear?” she asked.
“I’m okay. Where’s Liam?”
“He called about a half hour ago to say he would be tied up until seven thirty. There’s some sort of crisis on a job, and Mr. Dolan was unable to get there, so he went. He said to tell you that he’ll take you to the Spenser House tomorrow night. I’ve got dinner organized. Nothing to worry about.”
“Okay,” I said.
It all sounded harmless enough. It wasn’t the first time there was such an emergency since I started working at Dolan Plumbing Supply, and I was sure it wouldn’t be the last, but I couldn’t help being paranoid. Would I always be? Was that the lasting curse upon me for deserting my family, deserting Daddy?
I looked out the window and saw that it was becoming a night like the night I had imagined for my fatal escape into the ocean. The moon was full, the glow strong. I stepped out through the patio doors in the dining room and walked toward the front of the large house. From there, I could look off toward the tract of land Liam’s father had given us. We’d have just as good a view. I imagined the house, my bedroom, and even saw myself standing there and looking out toward the ocean. Won’t I be very happy?