rated
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Making Lemonade
by Michelle
Part One
Diana Lynch walked briskly down the busy New York sidewalk, oblivious to the many admiring glances from fellow strollers. She had just finished a quick lunch at the Delisle Café, and was headed back to work at Discovery Travel. Pushing open the glass door of the agency, she walked past the receptionist, Lara, with a quick hello.
Di sank gratefully into the comfortable chair behind her desk. Glancing at her watch, she decided she had enough time to check her personal email before her one o’clock appointment arrived. “You have 1 unread message” flashed on the computer screen. Seeing the name of the sender, “MartB”, made her heart speed up, with anticipation and nervousness.
“Hey, pretty lady, just thought I’d let you know that my train gets in at 7:00pm today. If you can get off work in time, I’ll see you at the station. If you’re not there, I’ll meet you at my apartment.
Love,
Mart”
Di could hear the words in her head as if Mart was there to speak them. Martin Belden was Diana’s fiance of two months. They had gotten engaged in Central Park on October 5, and it was now the beginning of December. Their first official date had taken place three years ago, while they were both still in high school in Sleepyside. They had gone to see Drew Barrymore in Ever After, and by the end of the evening, Diana was sure she was in love. Those feelings had only grown stronger, and she had had no hesitation in replying “yes” to his proposal.
“Miss Lynch, your one o’clock is here,” Lara’s voice interrupted Di’s musings.
“Thank you, Lara. Please send them in.” Di quickly closed her email box, and turned to smile at the couple approaching her desk. “Hello Mr. and Mrs. Walker. Please, have a seat.”
“Hello Diana, dear,” Mrs. Walker replied. She and her husband were friends of Diana’s parents, but that wasn’t why they gave their travel planning over to Di. She was one of the hardest working travel agents they had ever met, always prepared to make sure her clients’ every need was met. The Walkers went to Di whenever they had to travel, which was quite often.
“I have your trip itinerary right here. I think you’ll really like some of the day trips that are offered.” Di explained every detail they would need to know about their anniversary trip to Greece. The Walkers left very pleased, both with Diana’s pleasant manner and efficient planning.
At six o’clock, Discovery Travel locked its doors behind the last client of the day. Diana’s boss, Kimberlee Braun, called Di to come into her office. Kim had hired Di as part-time help during Di’s first year of classes at NYU. Di had quickly shown great aptitude for the business, and when she had decided not to continue her education after her first year, Kim had offered her a full-time position. Diana was the only employee that never received any complaints- she worked long, hard hours to ensure that clients got the vacation or business trip they wanted.
“Diana, please sit down. I have some good news- for you and for the whole office,” Kim stated.
“Really? What?” Di asked.
“As you know, some owners of small travel agencies have been meeting to see what we can do to improve our businesses to compete with the franchise and chain agencies. It’s hard to keep good employees when they can get higher wages and better benefits elsewhere. Fortunately, an insurance company has offered to provide dental and health benefits to all the employees of our agency and a few others, provided we recommend them for all our customers travel insurance,” Kim explained. “The premiums that we owners have to pay will be greatly reduced from their standard fee.”
“That’s great, Kim!” Di was glad to finally get benefits through work. She didn’t have any medical coverage of her own- she rarely got sick, and never sick enough to go to the doctor.
“The good news that’s just for you is that you will be receiving a raise on your next paycheck. It’s not a huge raise, mind you. Only a dollar an hour more.” Kim paused. “I wish I could offer you more, but the money just isn’t there.”
“Oh Kim, I appreciate the raise, no matter how small,” Di assured her. “Besides, the great travel deals we get are better than bonuses. Mart and I wouldn’t be able to take much of a honeymoon if I couldn’t get cheap rates on flights, hotels, restaurants, and everything else.”
“I’m glad you feel that way, Diana. You’re a great asset to the agency, and I would hate it if you left. Now, are you going to be staying late tonight, or should I turn down the lights?” Kim asked. Since Mart had been out of town, Di had been staying late to work, usually going home at 9 or 10 pm.
“Mart is coming in on the train tonight, so I’ve got to run right now to meet him,” Di answered.
“Wow, four weeks flew by really quickly! Tell Mart I said hello.”
“I will. Have a good weekend, Kim.”
Diana waved goodbye as she shut down her computer. She grabbed her jacket off of its hanger, and left the agency. She walked quickly down to the corner and entered the Pharmasave. Mart’s email and Kim’s news about the benefits package had spurred her to finally take action. She made her purchases quickly, and expertly hailed a taxi in front of the drugstore. Relaxing in the back seat of the cab as it made its way to the train station, she let the exhaustion held at bay all day flood her body. When the taxi dropped her off, she could hardly summon the energy to leave the cozy interior.
Di checked the information board. Mart’s train was right on time and should be arriving any minute. She sat down on a hard plastic chair to wait, and within moments had fallen asleep. The next thing she knew, Mart was bending over her, shaking her gently to wake her up.
“Hey Sleepyhead, wake up!” Mart called softly.
Diana opened her violet eyes slowly, blinking up at the man standing over her.
“Mart!” she exclaimed. “Oh, it’s so good to see you!” She threw her arms around her fiance and practically pulled him into her lap.
Mart responded with a slow, lingering kiss, then pulled away to look at her. Her long black hair was tangled, but soft and silky to the touch. He was always surprised at just how beautiful she really was. There were lots of girls at NYU, but none of them could hold a candle to his fair lady.
“How was the symposium? Did you blow everyone away with your project?” Di asked him as they strolled hand in hand through the station. Mart had gone to Philadelphia to present his work on hydroponics. The project had started out as just a university assignment, but his professor was so taken with Mart’s theories and findings that he had sent him to an international agricultural symposium.
“Well, actually, a Canadian company offered me a grant to continue my research,” Mart admitted. “They really like what I’ve done with the wheat.”
“That’s fantastic! Did you accept their offer? When will you have time to work it?” Di was excited for him. She knew how much time and effort he had been putting into his project, along with keeping up with his other classes.
“I did accept, because they are willing to let me wait until summer. I won’t have to get a summer job because they’ll pay me to work with wheat, barley, canola, and flax in the lab.” Mart was as excited as Di, but was trying to play it cool. He never thought that his love of farming would lead him into scientific experiments and discoveries, but sometimes life was surprising.
Di again used her excellent skills to hail a cab- she whistled shrilly and gave cabbies that innocent, big violet-eyed look. It worked every time. The lovebirds took the taxi to the apartment that Mart shared with Dan. Dan Mangan was enrolled at NYU as well, majoring in psychology. He was an old friend from Sleepyside who planned on becoming a police officer after getting his degree.
When they got to the apartment, Dan was nowhere to be found. He spent most of his spare time at the library, studying. Diana was quite relieved that they had privacy. She needed to talk to Mart, and the sooner the better.
“I’m starving!” Mart announced. “Do you want to order in, or should we go down to that little bistro that makes the great pasta?”
“I think we should order in. Mart, I need to tell you something, and it’s really important.” Diana’s eyes looked worried- and very serious.
“Sure, Di. You know you can tell me anything. What is it?”
“I think I’m pregnant.”
“What?! How?! When?!” Mart yelled. “Di- I mean- I- I know how, and I know when, but- are you sure?”
“I don’t know for sure, Mart. That’s why I bought this,” Di said, holding up the bag from Pharmasave. She pulled out the home pregnancy test to show him. “I thought you would want to know. I wanted you to be with me when I found out.”
“Di, you’re right. I’m glad you told me, and I want to be here with you. Why don’t you pee on the stick, or whatever, and after we get the results, we’ll discuss this. Maybe there won’t be anything TO discuss,” Mart finished hopefully. “Do you have any symptoms?”
“My period is late, and I’ve been so tired. I don’t have morning sickness, though. But not every woman feels nauseated. I just don’t know-,” Di couldn’t explain her worries and anxieties, or how terrified she’d been these few weeks. She’d started suspecting right after Mart left for Pennsylvania, but she didn’t want to tell him over the phone or, God forbid, in an email, so she’d decided to do nothing until he returned.
“Diana, sweetie, we will deal with this together. But please, let’s find out for sure before we get all panicky.”
“Okay,” Di replied. Mart’s calmness was working on her already. She gave Mart a scared smile and stepped into the bathroom.
Mart was anything but calm, inside. His mind was racing, with thoughts scurrying in every direction. Pregnant. She can’t be pregnant. What if she is pregnant? What will we do? Moms will kill us. Mr. Lynch will kill me. This can’t be happening. She just can’t be pregnant. But if she is pregnant- we’ll be having a baby. Our own baby. With violet eyes and black hair. Or with blue eyes and-
Diana opened the bathroom door, and said, “Now we have to wait two minutes. If there’s a line in the square, it means I’m pregnant.”
“Hey, it means we’re pregnant,” Mart replied. “We’re in this together, no matter what. I love you, and you’re going to be my wife. That makes us a team.”
“Oh Mart, I love you, too. I really hope-,” Di couldn’t finish the thought.
Two minutes later, Di and Mart went into the bathroom to look at the fateful square. There was a definite line across it. Diana was pregnant.
Mart put his arms around his fiancee, and stroked her smooth hair. Di felt a terrible heaviness in her heart. She wanted to have kids, someday in the future, but this was too soon. Yet she already felt like a bad mother, having unkind thoughts about the baby inside of her.
“We need to take you to a doctor, Di,” Mart said into her hair. “He will confirm the pregnancy, and tell us anything we want to know. We can go to that medical clinic on Colony Street. They’re open until ten pm.”
“You think we should go tonight?” Di was reluctant to take action. It still felt unreal, like a nightmare.
“Yes, the sooner the better. There’s nothing to gain by putting this off. We have a lot of talking and decision-making to do.”
“Mart, you don’t think- you don’t want to terminate the pregnancy, do you?” Di held her breath, waiting for his answer.
“Di, you should know me better than that. All life is precious to me. But there are still decisions that have to be made,” Mart scolded gently.
Mart and Di walked to the nearby clinic. The autumn air was crisp and cool. They made their way in silence, feeling a closeness that did not need words.
The doctor requested a urine sample. It proved Diana was indeed going to have a baby. Then blood was taken to check for MMR immunities and various other things. The doctor gave the due date as June 30. Di made an appointment to come in for a complete physical next week, and they were sent on their way with a selection of pamphlets.
Once they got home, Mart ordered soup and sandwiches from the deli and made Di eat. She still felt like her head was full of cotton- all dreamy and woozy. Mart spread the pamphlets out on the kitchen table.
“Open adoption- the loving choice,” Mart read aloud. “What’s an open adoption?”
“It’s when the birth parents choose the adopting couple and keep in touch with them. They can get pictures of the baby, and sometimes they’re even a part of the baby’s life,” Di told him.
“Do you want to give the baby up for adoption?” Mart looked into Diana’s eyes, wanting to know what she was really thinking.
“Part of me does. And another part doesn’t think I could bear to. We’re so young, and we didn’t plan for this.”
“Di, if we do decide on adoption, it’ll be because we know that’s the best thing in the world for our baby. But just because we didn’t plan on this baby doesn’t mean it will ruin our lives.” Mart caressed Di’s hand with his own. “Moms and Dad have never said anything to us kids, but I heard them talking once, and they had never planned to have Bobby. Moms was going to take art classes in White Plains when she found out she was pregnant again. Moms might wish she had had the chance to work on her art again, but I know she never regretted having Bobby.”
Di looked at Mart in surprise and with newfound hope. “Mart, do you want to keep this baby?”
“I do. It was a huge surprise, but I think we could make it a good surprise. But, Di, I don’t want to pressure you into making a decision that you aren’t sure about.”
“Mart, I want this baby too. I’ve been so worried because I was afraid you wouldn’t want to start our family now.” Di felt a huge weight lifted from her heart. She knew that the next year of their lives wasn’t going to be easy, but with Mart by her side, she knew it wouldn’t be impossible.
“I’d better get home, Mart,” Di told him. “Trixie and Honey will be wondering what I’m up to if I don’t get home soon.”
“Wait, Diana. We should decide on the wedding. Do you want to get married before the baby comes, or do you want to wait until after? We could have a simple wedding next month, or the big fancy wedding your mother wants to plan sometime next year.” Mart smiled and said, “I don’t care either way, so the choice is completely yours, my sweet.”
“Let’s get married next month. We could even have the wedding New Year’s Day. That way, Brian and Jim will be home for the holidays and all of the Bob-Whites will be there. Plus,” Di added with a mischievous grin, “it’ll give our mothers something to do besides fume about how irresponsible we are.”
The next morning, Saturday, Diana was eating a bowl of Honeycombs when Trixie came out of her bedroom. Trixie Belden was Mart’s sister and one of Di’s best friends. Honey Wheeler was the other best friend and also part of the club they’d had in Sleepyside, the Bob-Whites of the Glen. The three B.W.G.s roomed together in an apartment owned by Honey’s parents. Honey and Trixie were both enrolled at NYU in the College of Arts and Sciences. Honey planned on being a teacher, and Trixie was on the track to becoming a forensics scientist.
“Morning,” Trixie mumbled as she pulled a bowl out of the cupboard and poured herself a bowl of cereal.
“Good morning, Trix,” Di responded. “You two were out late last night.”
“Yeah,” Trixie smiled, brightening considerably. “We were in the computer lab, logged on to a chat room. We were ‘talking’ to Brian and Jim.”
“Awww, that’s sweet, Trixie,” Di teased. “How’s Jim doing?” Jim Frayne was Honey’s brother and Trixie’s long-distance boyfriend. He was getting his Masters in Education at Stanford University in California. Trixie had spent part of the previous summer visiting him out west, then they had both come back to Sleepyside to visit with everyone else.
“He’s really busy. His finals start on Wednesday, so we won’t have much contact until he comes home for Christmas.” Trixie and Jim worked hard to stay a solid couple- Thank God for email.
“I thought I heard voices out there,” Honey called, and stepped out of her bedroom. “I can’t believe I’m up so early.”
“Honey, it’s 9am,” Di told her. “You’re usually up at 6:30.”
“I know, but I couldn’t get to sleep. I just kept remembering every word Brian said- I mean, typed.” Honey had always been sentimental, but she was getting more so every year. Her boyfriend, Brian Belden, who was the brother of Trixie and Mart, had started his residency in Obstetrics/Gynecology that September at Sacred Heart Hospital in Boston. He wasn’t as far away as Jim, but he had long hours and little time off, so Honey didn’t see him as much as she’d like.
“Mart got in last night,” Di informed them. “He’d like to meet for lunch with the three of us and Dan.”
“I’m free,” Trixie said. “Is there some special reason he wants to have lunch?”
Di suddenly got busy tidying her breakfast dishes. “Is Poverino’s okay?” she asked the other girls.
Honey and Trixie exchanged glances. “Sure, it’s fine,” Honey replied.
“Okay, I’ve got to go get ready,” Di said. “I have some errands to run this morning. Dibs on the shower!”
Diana quickly went into the bathroom and started the water running. Trixie and Honey looked worriedly at the closed bathroom door.
“Do you think they’re calling the wedding off?” Trixie wondered.
“I don’t think so. But there’s definitely something going on. Di turned sort of pink, and she sure got away from us in a hurry.”
“Oh well, we’ll find out at lunch, I guess,” Trixie sighed.
When Diana came out of the shower, Trixie and Honey were both reading textbooks. She went into her room and got dressed in jeans and a blouse. Grabbing her purse and jacket, she called out, “See you at Poverino’s at twelve o’clock!”, and left the apartment. She knew if she stayed in there, she would tell her friends everything, and Mart wanted to tell Dan, Honey, and Trixie together.
Di walked to Discovery Travel, knowing that Kim was likely to be there. Kim took Sundays off, but worked every other day of the week. Di didn’t always get Saturday off, but she had known Mart would be back this weekend so had switched days off with Carol-Lynn, a co-worker. The sky was a brilliant blue, with wisps of clouds sailing across, but never obscuring, the sun.
Diana went into the agency, smiling and greeting clients and staff. She made her way back to Kim’s office. Knocking on the door and peeking in at the same time, Diana was waved in by Kim, who was on the phone. She quickly wrapped up her call, and greeted Diana.
“Kim, do you have time to talk right now? It’s important,” Diana told her.
“Sure, Diana. What’s on your mind?”
“You know Mart and I are engaged. Well, we are going to have the wedding in less than a month. And we’re going to have a baby in June or July,” Di explained in a rush.
“Congratulations!” Kim was excited. “That’s wonderful news- right?”
“We are happy about it. It wasn’t planned, but sometimes life just takes over. I wanted to let you know because I will have take maternity leave when the baby comes, and maybe a week or two before. But I definitely will be coming back to work.”
“Diana, I can give you 6 weeks paid, and another additional 6 weeks unpaid. That’s what we’ve always done here. Well, only one other person has ever gone on maternity leave, but that’s besides the point.”
“I really appreciate it, Kim. With Mart still going to school, we’ll need every cent we can get.” Di was so relieved that Kim wasn’t mad at her. She’d been scared that her boss would be angry that she would need time off.
“Diana, you know you’re a very valued employee. Maybe we could work something out where you could bring your baby to work, at least for awhile. We could have you working on the computers, doing research and data entry and anything that will free up other agents to meet with clients,” Kim suggested. “You could work when the baby sleeps, and I would just pay you for the time that you are actually working. That little back room has space for a playpen.” Kim was enthusiastically making plans while Di listened wide-eyed.
“Kim, that all sounds great, but are you sure that you’d want a baby here every day?”
“I really would, Diana. I was married once upon a time. When my husband found out that I couldn’t have kids, he filed for divorce,” Kim confided.
“That’s terrible. I- I don’t know what to say.” Diana’s eyes were troubled. “Didn’t he even want to try adopting a baby? I’m sorry, it’s none of my business.”
“I found out he only married me to have a wife for bearing children and taking to social events,” Kim explained. “I used the divorce settlement to start Discovery Travel, and to tell you the truth, I love the agency more than that marriage.”
“I’m glad you did start this business. I don’t know what I’d be doing if I wasn’t working here.” Di knew that her parents would have expected her to return to Sleepyside after dropping out of university. But once she was employed full-time, the Lynches had to let her stay.
“Your eleven o’clock is here, Kim,” Lara said from the office doorway.
“Thank you, Lara. Please send them in.” Kim turned back to Di. “I have nieces and nephews, and I know I could adopt on my own. Who knows, maybe having a baby around will help me to decide if I ever want to be a mother.”
“Thank you, Kim. You’re the best!” Diana stood up as the Duncans came into Kim’s office.
“We’ll work out the details in a few months, Diana. Have a good weekend,” she called as Diana exited.
Di had never imagined being able to take the baby to the office. She thought it sounded like a great idea, and she could work as much or as little in a day as she wanted. Then, when the baby was older and started crawling, she and Mart could find a daycare. She felt like skipping down the sidewalk. In fact, she did skip a half dozen steps. First her worries about Mart wanting to give the baby up for adoption had been dispelled, and now her boss was being more than generous. Knowing Kim had no children and wasn’t married, Di had thought of her boss as a career woman with no understanding of someone who wanted a career and family. Yet, Kim seemed quite content with her business. Maybe Kim would adopt someday, and maybe she wouldn’t, but she was happy either way.
Di still had 45 minutes before she had to meet everyone at Poverino’s, so she decided to window shop for baby stuff on the way. By the time she arrived at the restaurant, she had seen more ridiculously priced baby clothes than she had imagined existed. Oh well, she thought, we don’t need Baby Gap or brand names or designer labels for the baby. After all, I never wore fancy stuff like that, and I’m pretty sure that Mart never did either. Di got a mental image of a 21 year old Mart wearing a Baby Gap sleeper and giggled.
“Hey, beautiful lady, may I get the door for you?” Mart asked from behind her.
“Hi Mart! I have great news,” Di told him excitedly.
“We’re having twins?” Mart asked eagerly as he held the door for Di.
Di gave him a Look. “Mart, I’m serious. Kim said I could bring the baby back to work with me when my maternity leave is up.”
“That IS great news,” Mart conceded. “There’s Trix and Honey. Dan’s parking the station wagon. Ah, speak of the devil.”
“Hello Di.” Dan brushed a kiss on her cheek as he gave her a quick hug. “I haven’t seen you for awhile.”
“Hi Dan.” Di returned his hug. “I tried calling you while Mart was out of town, but I just couldn’t reach you.”
“Yeah, I’ve been busy, with school and everything.”
“Oh? Does everything have a name?” Di teased.
Dan just smiled and led the way into the restaurant. Mart hugged both his sister and Honey, and they asked eagerly about his trip to Philadelphia.
“It was great, and I’ll tell you all about it. First, let’s order. I’m starving!” Mart declared.
After placing their orders with the waitress, their was a brief silence at the table. Trixie, however, could not contain her curiosity any longer. “Why did you invite us out to lunch, Mart? I know you must have a reason.”
“You’re right, Trix. I- well, Di and I, have something to tell you.” Mart paused while the waitress passed around the drinks they’d requested. “The thing is- Di, do you want to tell them?”
“No, you go ahead, Mart. I know you’re dying to spill the beans.”
Trixie, out of patience, said, “Somebody tell us, please!”
Mart looked at the two girls and Dan. “We’re going to have a baby. Di’s pregnant.”
Dead silence. Then Trixie yelled, “What?!! I didn’t even know that you guys were- I mean, that you had- I mean…”
Even tactful Honey couldn’t find the words to try to ask Trixie’s question politely.
Dan looked carefully into Diana’s eyes, and then into Mart’s. What he saw made him smile, and extending his hand across the table for Mart to shake, he said, “Congratulations! That’s terrific.”
Honey quickly put in, “Yes, that’s great. Congratulations.”
Trixie, still quite stunned by the very unexpected news, realized that she was going to be an aunt. “Aunt Trixie,” she said out loud. “That has a nice ring to it. Congrats, Di. And Mart,” she added.
The rest of the lunch was spent discussing due dates, obstetricians, baby clothes, and cribs. Mart asked them all if they would come to the wedding on January 1st. Then they talked about Christmas presents and when Brian and Jim would be coming home.
After leaving Poverino’s, Dan offered them all a lift in the Bob-White station wagon. It belonged to all of the B.W.G.s, but Mart and Dan used it the most. They kept it parked in a building owned by Honey’s father that was only a block away from Mart and Dan’s apartment, so it was more convenient for the two boys. Everyone used the car to take weekend and holiday trips to Sleepyside.
“Have you told Moms and Dad yet?” Trixie asked her brother as Dan drove them home.
“Not yet. We only found out last night, Trix,” Mart answered. “Di, do you want to go out to Crabapple Farm tomorrow? We have to let our parents know that the wedding is going to be in less than a month.”
“Yeah, I think tomorrow is the best chance we’ll have. If we leave it any later, we’ll have to get married at City Hall.” Di laughed. “Though that might be the easiest solution. But I don’t think your mom or my mom would ever forgive us if they didn’t get to plan some kind of ceremony.”
Dan dropped them all off at the girls’ apartment. Trixie invited him up for the afternoon, but he had other plans, which he didn’t care to elaborate. He just smiled and waved as he pulled back into traffic.
Mart offered to run down to Baskin-Robbins for ice cream. As soon as he was out the door, Trixie blurted out, “Di, how on earth did this happen?”
Honey, seeing Diana’s hurt look, said, “I think what Trix means is we didn’t even realize that the two of you were that intimate. Which is none of our business, right, Trixie?”
Trixie hastened to give Di a warm hug. “Di, I think it’s great, especially since it’s so obvious that it’s what you two want. And Honey’s right- I didn’t know that things had gone so far between you two. Did you plan to have a baby?”
“The baby wasn’t planned, Trixie. And it was a huge shock when I realized that I could be pregnant. The night Mart proposed, we were both feeling so loving and so excited. We went back to Mart’s apartment and Dan was out for the evening. We got caught up in our feelings and…. You can guess the rest. After that night, we had a talk and decided to wait until we were married to make love again.” Diana smiled ruefully. “But I guess what they told us in school was true- it only takes once.”
“We’re happy for you, Di,” Trixie told her. “And Honey and I will be there for you, whenever you need us.”
“That’s right,” Honey declared. “This is going to be the first baby B.W.G.”
Mart returned with two containers of ice cream just as the three girls were wiping away each other’s emotional tears. He shook his head once again at the female of the species and scooped four big bowls of vanilla and strawberry.
The four friends settled in the living room to watch an old movie. Di snuggled up to Mart on the couch and was soon drifting off to sleep. She could dimly hear the voices of her two best friends, and she could feel the heartbeat of the man she loved. There was no place she would rather be.
To Be Continued