Countdown To Baby

She had just unlocked her door when a commotion from next door made her pause. She could hear Brandy’s voice, shrilly raised in anger, and then the slamming of her neighbors’ back door.

Another fight between Brandy and her grandparents, Cecilia thought with a sigh. Probably about Marlin again. It was Brandy’s custom to sulk in her grandparents’ backyard after one of those confrontations. Sometimes Cecilia went out to talk to her, trying to calm her and help her see the older generation’s side of things.

Tonight she really just wanted to close herself into her own house and pretend she hadn’t heard anything. After all, she had her own problems to think about. Brandy would probably rather Cecilia mind her own business, anyway.

And then, hearing an angry sob coming from the neighbors’ backyard, Cecilia sighed. She would go inside and put up her purse, then see if there was anything she could do to help Brandy.

Poor Maxine, Cecilia thought as she stepped into her house. It had been difficult for the older woman to become a mother again after so many years. Especially since Brandy had been raised so haphazardly, resulting in a teenager who was bright and articulate but often rebellious and defiant.

She had just set her purse down when her telephone rang. Tempted to let the machine pick up, she decided instead to answer, just in case it was an important call. “Hello?”

“How was your day?”

Just the sound of Geoff’s deep voice made some of the tension seep from her muscles. She felt a smile replace the worried frown her neighbors’ problems had caused. “Long. Busy. But not bad. How was yours?”

“You just summed mine up pretty well. Long. Busy. Not bad.”

“I thought you had a business thing tonight.”

“Yeah. It starts at eight. I was just trying to work up some enthusiasm for the event.”

“From the expression in your voice, I take it you’re having a hard time doing so.”

“Impossible. Can’t stand a couple of the jerks I’ll be dining with. But that doesn’t mean I won’t be on my best behavior while I try to convince them that fertility research is a worthy cause for their charitable donations. And somehow convince them that the crazy rumors about the most controversial plans Mari has on her agenda are mostly just that—rumors. I wish I could figure out who’s spreading all the talk about Mari lately. We Binghams have always been targeted for gossip—some admittedly legitimate but much of it spurred by petty jealousies—but, from what little I’ve heard since I’ve been in town, it seems particularly vicious lately.”

“Poor Mari. She looked so tired and worried when I saw her this afternoon. I admire your sister a great deal, Geoff. I’m sorry she’s going through such a difficult time.”

“I know she would appreciate your concern.”

“If only Detective Collins could make some headway with his investigation so he would stop getting underfoot. At least that would be one annoyance off Mari’s shoulders.”

“Maybe I should have a little discussion with Detective Collins,” Geoff growled.

“He is conducting an official investigation, Geoff. And there really is a serious drug problem in Merlyn County. We had another addicted pregnant woman come in today with serious medical complications. As annoyingly persistent as the detective is, I hope his efforts will pay off by cutting the supply of black market drugs that are wreaking so much havoc on our community.”

“You’re right,” Geoff conceded reluctantly. “I shouldn’t let my personal bias against Mari’s ex-boy-friend interfere with necessary police business. I just wish he could do his work without causing Mari so much stress.”

“Yes, so do I.”

“Do you have any big plans for the evening?”

Cecilia thought of the teenager sobbing so angrily next door. The crisis that was none of her business, actually, but in which she felt obligated to get involved. “No. No big plans.”

“I envy you. Actually, I’d like to be there with you. We could have a nice, quiet pizza-and-television night. Or I could bring my guitar and serenade you.”

“You play guitar?”

“Contrary to what my sister might tell you, yes, I do play guitar. Mostly oldies—Beatles tunes, especially. My mother was a Beatles fanatic. Other kids heard lullabies at bedtime, I heard ‘Hey, Jude.’”

“What about ‘Golden Slumbers’? That’s a Beatles tune that makes a very nice lullaby.”

“You’re a Beatles fan?”

“Of course. They were brilliant songwriters and musicians. ‘Norwegian Wood’ is one of my all-time favorite melodies.”

“And one of my favorite songs to play.”

“Then you’ll definitely have to play it for me.”