Part Two
Sunday morning at eight, Mart arrived at the girls’ apartment to pick Di up for the drive to Sleepyside. Honey and Trixie sent the pair off with hugs and wishes for good luck with the Lynches and the Beldens.
As Mart skillfully pulled into traffic, Trixie, watching from the balcony, commented to Honey, “I don’t think Moms and Dad are going to be too thrilled. When Mart and Di got engaged, Moms tried to get Mart to promise that they wouldn’t get married until Mart convocated from university.”
“I bet Di’s mom is going to be so excited,” Honey replied. “I think she’ll want to help out with the baby. She just loves kids, and hers aren’t babies anymore. Terry and Larry are twelve, and Mary and Carrie are almost eleven.”
“I hope that Di and Mart have more sense when it comes to naming their children,” Trixie sighed. “Rhyming names, especially for twins, are so weird. I’m surprised that Di’s name isn’t Geri.”
Honey giggled. “Would you rather they named the baby after its dear aunt Beatrix?”
Trixie shook her head vigorously from side to side. “No way! One Beatrix is one Beatrix too many.”
Honey linked her arm through dear aunt Beatrix’s, and pulled her into the living room, the two girls enjoying a lively discussion on what to name the baby.
Meanwhile, Di and Mart had finally left the heavy traffic of New York City and were traveling swiftly along the road to Sleepyside. They’d both been very quiet, which wasn’t normal for Mart at all.
Di broke the silence. “We’d better decide exactly what we’re going to tell our parents, and have answers ready for all of the questions they throw at us.”
“We’ll tell them the wedding is January 1st, and that the baby will be here in the summer,” Mart offered. “Those are the two important details they need to know.”
“They’re going to ask us how we’re going to afford a baby, and where we’re going to live, and who’s going to look after the baby when I go to work, and-.” Di took a deep breath, and continued, “I’m just really scared to tell them. I was finally showing everyone that I’m not just a pretty face. I love my job and I’m good at it. I wanted my parents to be proud of who I am, not of how I look.”
Mart looked incredulously at his fiancee. “Di, your parents ARE proud of you, and not just because you’re beautiful. I didn’t know you felt like that.”
“All my life, I’ve been the pretty one. Honey is the nice one, Trixie is the brave one. At work I really felt like people liked me for what I was doing. I wasn’t just a decoration to be admired.” Di’s violet eyes were full of unshed tears. “I just don’t want Mom and Dad to think that this is one more thing that I’ve screwed up.”
Mart abruptly pulled into a rest stop. He turned to the beautiful woman beside him, and gently took her hands in his own. “Diana Lynch, you are many things- pretty is only one of them. You’re also full of love and caring for your fellow human beings. You aren’t judgmental of other people. You aren’t afraid to try new things, even if other people advise you against it. You’re loyal to your friends. You don’t gossip about people behind their backs. And you are more intelligent than anyone ever gives you credit for. I wouldn’t want to marry someone just because they look good. Your inside is more beautiful than the outside can show. Your parents know that, too.”
Di threw her arms around Mart and hugged him tightly. “Ever since I was little, I’ve felt like no one ever expected me to be able to do anything or to be anything. You’re the first person who has ever helped me to believe that I have more to offer to the world. When I liked working at the travel agency so much but hated my classes, you were the one who let me know that it was okay not to get my degree. Oh Mart, I love you so much!”
Mart stroked Di’s shining black hair. “I love you, too.” He was silent for a moment, then said, “We’ll tell them we’re making lemonade.”
“What? Lemonade?” Di was confused.
“Yeah, you know, that phrase that people say- When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.”
“Mart, are you calling our baby a lemon?!” Diana was ready to let loose with a few choice words.
“No, no. Well, kind of.” Mart explained, “Lemons aren’t necessarily bad. You use lemons for lots of things- tea, to squeeze on dry ribs. But we’re taking the lemon we’ve been given and we’re going to make something really special from it- lemonade.”
Diana laughed at Mart’s strange thought processes. “You can be the one to put forth that theory to our parents,” she told as him as she kissed his cheek. “Let’s get going and get this over with. The sooner we tell them, the better.”
Mart pulled back on to the road, and they were once more on their way back home. Mart glanced down at Diana every few minutes. She was leaning against him, her eyes staring into space, her thoughts far away.
As the sign for Sleepyside flashed by, Mart said, “If they want to know how we will afford the baby, we can tell them that I will be applying for student loans. When you have a wife and child, it’s really easy to qualify. And a higher percentage of the loan can be forgiven if you have any dependents. There’s a few married guys in my class who live off of student loans.”*
“Really? I always thought it was hard to get those loans, but it makes sense that people with a family to support would have an easier time getting the money.”
“And,” Mart went on, “if they want to know where we’re going to live, I’ve thought of that too. Dan would be willing to switch places with you. He can move in with Honey and Trixie, and you can move in with me.”
“Mart, I can’t believe that you’ve already thought of these things. Last night I just thought about the baby, and what our parents are going to think. Dan really wouldn’t mind?”
“He’s going to talk to Trix and Honey today. I’m sure they won’t mind. Dan is a great roommate. He’s neat, responsible, quiet.” Mart added mischievously, “Trixie has shared living space with me and Bobby. She’s sure to find Dan a big improvement.”
As they turned into the driveway of Crabapple Farm, Di took a deep breath, and tried to slow her rapid heartbeat. She had known Mr. and Mrs. Belden for years, and this was the first time she was afraid to talk to them. As long as she and Mart put up a united front, the parents would have to accept what was going to be. They might not like it, but they would have to deal with it.
Helen Belden came hurrying out on to the front porch. After hearing it for 7 years, she recognized the sound of the station wagon. She was drying her hands on a towel, but not because she had been up to her elbows in soapy water. The Beldens had installed a dishwasher the year Trixie graduated. Now, Mrs. Belden spent any spare time in the darkroom that Peter and the boys had built for her for her birthday three years ago. She had discovered a hidden talent for photography when she took portraits of the Bob-Whites at Brian’s graduation. Her artist’s eye could translate everyday people, animals, and scenes into wonderful photographic compositions.
“Mart, Diana! What a lovely surprise! I didn’t think you would visit this weekend since Mart had just gotten back to New York.” Mrs. Belden was always glad when any of her children came back home.
The couple hugged Mrs. Belden warmly, and she led them into the kitchen. Sitting them down at the table, she loaded a plate with oatmeal cookies and served glasses of milk. “Mrs. Vanderpoel made these,” she explained. “She sends some home with Bobby whenever he does any chores for her.”
Diana bit into the thick, delicious cookie, and cast an anxious glance over at Mart. Mart took her hand under the table, and pressed it reassuringly.
“Where’s Dad, Moms? Is he around?”
“He and Bobby went into White Plains. Bobby needs some new hockey equipment, and there’s a sale on at the Mayfair Sports store.” Mrs. Belden looked questioningly at the two young people. “Did you need to talk to Dad today?”
“We need to talk to both of you,” Mart explained. “We have some things to discuss. It’s really important that we tell you today, so we can’t wait for Dad to get back.”
“I can fill your father in on anything important. Go ahead, Mart.”
Mart took a strengthening look at Di, then turned to his mother. “We’ve set a date for the wedding. January 1st.”
“You can’t mean- not this January that’s coming up, right?”
“Actually, we do want the wedding right away. Less than a month away, in fact.”
“Why? I thought you were going to have a longer engagement. What reason-,” Mrs. Belden stopped abruptly, suspicion providing a very good reason why a couple would need to get married in a hurry.
Mart saw the idea flit across his mother’s face, and informed her, “It’s exactly what you’re thinking, Moms. We’re going to have a baby.”
Mrs. Belden sucked in a surprised breath, and leaned back dazedly in her chair. I can’t have heard that right, she thought. One of my babies can’t be having a baby already.
She didn’t know what to say. She could berate them, and ask how they could be so careless. But she saw the frightened look on Di’s face, and knew that what was done was done, and no amount of lecturing was going to change anything.
“It sounds like you have already made your decisions about the baby and the wedding. What can I do to help?”
Di felt a wave of relief rush through her body. Helen’s calm acceptance was unexpected, but definitely welcome. Knowing that at least one of the four parents would support their choices was an invaluable gift.
“Thanks, Moms,” Mart said with a grin. “I knew we could count on you.”
“Not so fast, Martin Belden. There are a lot of details to work out. A baby is a huge commitment and responsibility. Not to mention the financial concerns.”
“Oh Mrs. Belden, Mart and I have already made some arrangements,” Di told her. “I’m going to go on maternity leave for 12 weeks, and then I can bring the baby to work with me. We’ll look for a really good daycare so that when the baby starts crawling, I can go back to work full time.”
“You’re going to bring the baby to work with you?” Mrs. Belden sounded skeptical.
“It was really my boss’s idea. She said I could do less work with clients and more computer work, and that we’ll keep track of the hours I spend working. She even has a spare room that we can put a playpen in.”
“And I,” informed Mart, “am going to apply for student loans. I have a really good chance of qualifying for one, and I can get some of it forgiven by the government because I will have a wife and child.”
"Mart suggested that Dan move in with Honey and Trixie, and they're going to discuss it today. It seems like the perfect solution for everyone- the girls won't have to find a new roommate and neither will Dan. And we will have somewhere to live, and an extra bedroom for the baby."
Mrs. Belden gazed speculatively at her middle son. He had never been the mature, sensible child like Brian, but he had always been very loyal to those he loved, which clearly included Diana. He also wasn't as prone to get emotional and fly off the handle as Trixie, which was a definite blessing in the present situation.
"It sounds like you're well on your way to overcoming any obstacles," she conceded. "Have you told your parents yet, Diana?"
"No, we're going to go over there this morning. We knew that if we wanted to get a wedding together in less than a month, we would need help from you and my mom."
"Why don't you bring your mother here for lunch, and we'll start the planning right away," Mrs. Belden suggested. "If we can make some decisions about the wedding today, we won't have to spend hours on the phone with you later."
"Moms is right, Di. Let's go over to your folks' place right now and break the news."
"All right, Mart."
Di stood up, and Mrs. Belden hugged her tightly. They all went out on to the porch, but Mrs. Belden held Mart back as Di made her way to the car.
Mrs. Belden turned Mart to face her and said, "I am so proud of the way you've handled this situation. Not only are you accepting responsibility for your actions, you are also dealing with the consequences like a man. I've seen too many young people ignore pregnancies or try to hide them. I'm glad you both had the courage to come to us this soon." She gave Mart a fierce, maternal embrace.
"Thanks, Moms. But I can't take all the credit. You and Dad showed me how to be a good man. Growing up in this house, how could I have learned anything else?" Mart kissed his mother soundly on the cheek, and waved goodbye as he jumped into the driver's seat.
"That wasn't so bad, was it?" he asked Di.
"Your mother is the best, most kindest, nicest person I have ever met." Di was almost in tears as she thought of how Mrs. Belden had always made her feel welcome in the family, even on a day when she got surprising news.
Mart grinned. "Yeah, she is. I love that lady. But Di, your parents are pretty cool, too. They might not be super excited to find out that they're going to be grandparents, but they'll accept it."
"I sure hope so. Can you believe the expression on your moms' face? She looked exactly the way Trixie looked when we told her, Honey, and Dan."
The drive to the Lynch estate took only a minute. As Di and Mart got out of the station wagon, both sets of Lynch twins came running from the backyard.
"Hi Di! Hi Mart!" Terry, Larry, Mary, and Carrie ran over to their sister and her fiance, shrieking excitedly.
"Hi twinnies!" Di teased. The boys especially hated to called 'twinnies'.
"What are you guys doing here today? Did Mom know you were coming?" Carrie asked as she hugged her sister.
"We just decided to surprise them. We have a few wedding things to talk about," Di explained half truthfully.
"They're out on the east patio, having tea," Mary said.
"We'll talk to you guys later," Mart promised. "We need some privacy with your folks."
Mary and Carrie looked disappointed, but consented to let Di and Mart exclude them from the conversation with the Lynch parents.
Mart laced the fingers of his right hand with Di's left, and led her around the mansion to the east patio. Mrs. Lynch often breakfasted, lunched, or brunched on that patio, as it got the fullness of the morning sun, but was enclosed on all sides by glass.
"Diana! Mart!" Mrs. Lynch exclaimed as they rounded the corner of the house. She eagerly held the door open for them at the top of the patio stairs. "What a wonderful surprise!"
"Hello, kids," Mr. Lynch added.
"Hi Mom, hi Daddy," Di said as she kissed both parents on the cheek.
"Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Lynch," Mart added.
"What brings you two out to Sleepyside today?" Mr. Lynch asked as he settled back into his chair.
"We have some news to tell you," Mart stated.
"We're going to have the wedding January 1st!" Di blurted out.
"January 1st!" Mrs. Lynch exclaimed. "Don't be ridiculous, Diana. There is no way that we can get a proper wedding together in a few weeks. We'll need at least nine months to schedule everything."
At the mention of nine months, Diana threw an agonized look at Mart.
"Mrs. Lynch, we really want to have the wedding sooner. In nine months, we'll have a two month old baby."
Mrs. Lynch stared at Diana and Mart in disbelief. She turned to her husband, who simply looked stunned. For a few seconds she was actually speechless. Once she found her voice, however, she had plenty to say.
"A baby! Are you crazy? What possessed you to get pregnant? What will people say?"
"Mom, we didn't plan on having a baby this soon," Di tried to explain. "But since we are going to have one, we're going to make the best of it."
"The best of it? What does that mean? The best would be you not being pregnant!"
"Now, Carolyn, calm down," Mr. Lynch soothed. "What's done is done. Let's discuss-"
"Thomas, do not tell me to calm down! I have a right to be angry! I can't believe you would be so careless, Diana! Sometimes I think your head is stuffed with cotton!"
"Mrs. Lynch," Mart interjected. "Di didn't do this on her own. And we are trying to take responsibility for the consequences of our actions. We were hoping that you and my Moms could-"
"If you think that I am going to support you in this, you are sadly mistaken," Mrs. Lynch interrupted. "How am I going to face the ladies in the Sleepyside Society Club? This- this- behaviour of yours is simply disgraceful!"
"Carolyn, go lie down in our bedroom," Mr. Lynch ordered. "You are being unreasonable, and I can't believe you're talking this way."
Mrs. Lynch glared at her husband. "I can't believe that you're taking their side. I bet they're going to be asking for money, too. Did we raise our children to bring this kind of shame on us?"
"That's enough, Carolyn! Please leave so I can talk to Diana."
As Mrs. Lynch stomped into the house, Mr. Lynch took Di into his arms and stroked her hair. Di had listened disbelievingly to her mother's tirade. She had known her parents wouldn't jump for joy, but to hear such venom from her own mother was mind boggling.
"Damn that Society Club! Ever since she joined last year, she's been getting very fixed notions on propriety."
Diana's face was wet with tears. "Oh Daddy, she's so angry at me!"
"Mrs. Van den Hoogenband started a group three years ago, and she finally asked your mother to join. They think they're proper society ladies who have to monitor and comment on the morals of everyone in town," Mr. Lynch informed Mart and Di. "They've changed Carolyn so much, sometimes I hardly recognize her."
Mart added, "Moms told me about them. When Trixie visited Jim in California, they lectured Dad about it whenever they went to the bank. They didn't care that Trix stayed with Linnie Moore; they thought is was just disgraceful that she was out there unchaperoned."
"I hadn't realized they had brainwashed her so much." Mr. Lynch shook his head. "They have her convinced that they know what's best for everyone in Sleepyside."
"Mrs. Belden is expecting all of us to have lunch at Crabapple Farm. How can I tell her that my mother pretty much disowned me?"
"I'll call Helen for you, sweetie. I think you and Mart should go back to the city to give your mother some time to think about her childish behaviour. Also, it's starting to snow, and I don't want you caught in a blizzard on the road."
"Mr. Lynch, we came here today to tell you that we're going to get married and move in together before the baby comes.," Mart told his future father-in-law. "We explained to my mom how we're going to make everything work. She can let you in on our plans, and we'll start back to the city right away."
"I'll call her as soon as you leave. Maybe she can help talk some sense into Carolyn." Mr. Lynch gave his daughter a warm hug, and whispered, "Whatever happens with your mother, I'll be there for you. If you need anything, call me."
"Thanks Daddy," Diana replied as she returned the embrace. Knowing at least one of her parents was rooting for her was some comfort.
Di and Mart walked slowly back to the station wagon. Mart knew Di was hurting, but he wasn't sure what to say. He couldn't believe Mrs. Lynch had yelled and carried on like that.
As Mart helped Di into the passenger seat, her brothers and sisters came out of the house.
"Di, where are you going?" Terry called.
"I thought you were going to visit with us," Larry added.
"We've got to get going back to the city," Mart explained. "It looks like there's going to be a snowstorm, so we want to get on the road as soon as possible."
"Tell Daddy to explain everything to you," Di told both sets of twins. "He'll know what I mean. We'll see you guys again soon."
With waves and "goodbyes", Mart turned on to Glen Road. He glanced over at Diana, who was slouched in her seat, pale and drawn.
"Mart, I am so sorry for the way my mother acted. I never in a million years thought she would react that way!" Di burst out.
"You don't have to apologize. She should be the one apologizing to you. I know the news was unexpected, but she acted like we told her we were going to become mass murderers."
"It just makes me realize how great your moms is," Di mused. "She may not have liked what we told her, but she dealt with it."
"Your dad was great, too," Mart told her. "I thought he might throw some disapproving glares my way, but he didn't."
Diana sighed and leaned her head back. Snow started to fall in large, wet flakes. Before they were even in Sleepyside, Mart could hardly see out of the windshield. He slowed to a crawl, and inched his way towards the village.
"I think we had better stop in town," Mart decided. "I can see less than a foot in front of us."
"There's the turnoff," Diana announced.
Mart had just started to turn left when headlights glared out of the thick wall of snow. A car was speeding down Glen Road and plowed into the passenger side of the station wagon.
Diana screamed.
To Be Continued