Come Pour the Wine (26 page)

“Well,” Dr. Stevens went on, “here’s to my beautiful daughter … Happy I’m not late for this occasion.”

“Thank you, daddy. Me too.”

Effie had been silently taking it all in, but now Dr. Stevens said, “Let’s hear something from Effie.”

“Oh … well, I don’t set much store in just being
pretty.
Got to be a real person and Janet’s that. Didn’t think anybody’d be good enough … but you found you a country fair husband.” Her pronouncement complete, she sat back and folded her arms, but her face was mottled from the embarrassment of paying a compliment, however sincerely felt.

Bill looked at his watch. It was quarter of two and he had to get back to the office. He kissed Janet, said his good-bys and was gone.

As they lingered over coffee, Dr. Stevens said, “I agree with Effie—you have quite a fine young man, Janet. I suppose it’s the hope of every parent to see his child settled in life. You two have your own special world now. Nothing compared to that, is there? I don’t know why I’m asking. All anyone has to do is look at your face.”

Janet smiled and looked down at the table. “I didn’t know it was that obvious … I still have to keep kicking myself to make sure I’m not dreaming.”

It was two-thirty when Dr. Stevens motioned to the waiter for the check. “Well, I’d say this is the longest lunch I ever took—”

“It’s been good for you, James. Now we’d better let Janet go. I know she has a lot of last-minute things to do before tonight.”

Indeed she did. She had to stop at Godiva’s for chocolates, then race over to a Madison Avenue gourmet shop to pick up some fancy frilled toothpicks for the hors d’oeuvres and some other odds and ends, and then to her dressmaker on 57th and Fifth Avenue to pick up her gown. By the time she hailed a cab for the ride home she was ready to collapse.

After depositing her purchases with the caterer, she was walking through the living room on her way to take a bath when she saw the roses Bill had sent. “Twenty-two for the love of my life,” the card read.

As Kit might say, she’d buy that.

By five she was dressed in her mauve silk gown and waiting nervously for Bill. There wasn’t a picture, a pillow out of place, but she walked from room to room and back again, inspecting.

When she heard Bill’s key in the latch she ran to him. “Darling, the flowers are lovely. Thank you.”

She looked flushed, radiant, and Bill had the feeling there was something somehow different about her, not disturbing but … different. But all he said was, “No more so than you. Now, I’d better take a quick shower if I’m going to be ready for my debut as a family host … too bad you’re all gussied up, we could have taken a shower together.”

“Is that a standing invitation?”

“Hey! I’m not touching
that
line!” he answered as she led him by the hand into the bedroom.

His suit, shirt and tie were laid out on the bed, black socks were actually
tucked
inside his shoes.

Once he’d showered and dressed, they stood together surveying the living room. Their turf.

Janet’s heart skipped a beat when the bell rang and Bill opened the door on the McNeil family.

Violet was regal in a gray lace dress and pearls. She kissed Bill first, then turned to congratulate Janet. “Happy birthday, dear. You look lovely.”

“Thank you. I’m so pleased you’re here. And Betsy, darling …”

After all the greetings to the McNeil clan, they walked into the living room and settled down with cocktails.

The Stevenses and Effie arrived a few minutes later, Mrs. Stevens wearing a striking emerald green satin dress and Effie the same dress she’d worn to Janet’s wedding.

The rest of her guests arrived shortly afterward, and as Janet greeted them she thought it was beginning to look like a fashion parade. Kit was wearing flowing black chiffon, her raven hair swept back into a soft chignon. Carol’s pregnancy had given her a lusty glow highlighted by her demure white maternity dress, and Mrs. Weiss, in a rose satin taffeta, wore star rubies for her elegantly coiffed white hair. All this finery set the stage for a very special evening.

Soon there was a buzz of conversation as the drinks and hors d’oeuvres were passed … “You look like a combination of the Cheshire cat and the Mona Lisa,” Kit told Janet.

“I don’t know what I look like,” she said with a laugh. “All I know is what I feel—which I guess is what they call wedded bliss. I must be looking really loopy, because my father said practically the same thing to me this afternoon.”

“The
miracle
is the way Bill is acting. Like an old professional husband. I’d never have believed it. But the shockeroo is Mama Violet. I could be wrong but I think she really likes you. It goes to show, I guess, don’t ever try to second-guess people …”

Their conversation was interrupted by Betsy. “Congratulations, Kit. I mean about the twins.”

“Thanks,” Kit said, instantly extracting a dozen snapshots from her evening purse. She had brought them deliberately, knowing what a yawn it would be once Betsy got started on her own children.

After viewing a few, Betsy lost interest, as if Kit’s children were the product of a mere amateur in the motherhood game. “They’re very sweet … Pardon me, I want to say hello to …”

“Be my guest,” Kit said under her breath as Betsy drifted away.

When dinner was announced and everyone took their places, Janet sat at one end of the long table, looking from her guests to her husband at the opposite end. It was a sight to be remembered, the two families united, her best friends together …

Bill opened the festivities. “This is to my wife, who’s made me—I confess—the happiest man in the world.” He got up, walked down to Janet and handed her a small box from his pocket.

When Janet took off the wrappings and opened the box she almost fainted. Inside was a ring with a ten-carat square-cut gem. As Bill slipped it on the ring finger of her right hand she glanced at her wide gold wedding band. Of the two rings the band was still the more beautiful—to her, anyway—and the dazzling jeweled ring was but a small part of all Bill had given her.

“You like it?”

She was almost speechless, but managed “… I love it … you most of all.”

Violet was looking distinctly uncomfortable during this exchange, which wasn’t lost on Kit. The Queen Mother had been dethroned. Sad woman. Children were just on loan. Enjoy them while you can, she thought.

Harriet’s thoughts ran parallel to Kit’s at that moment. But what her mother was feeling now was nothing to what Harriet and Gordon were putting up with living in that big house with her, hearing the same complaints from mama over and over. And over. “I didn’t shut my eyes last night. Do you think Janet is deliberately keeping Bill away? Sometimes I wonder … since he got married …” And it went on and on. Harriet knew if it weren’t for Janet, Bill wouldn’t call even as infrequently as he did….

When dessert was cleared away, Janet got up from her chair and faced her guests, her eyes sparkling. “This is just the happiest birthday of my life. And I can’t imagine a better time to announce … that Mr. and Mrs. McNeil are going to have a baby.”

Ignoring the cheers and customary huzzahs, Bill got up, went over to her and kissed her soundly. “You held out on me, lady.”

She gave him an arch smile. “Not really … only on the announcement….”

And later that night, lying in bed beside her … “How long have you known? I mean how far along are you?”

“One month.”

“By God, I didn’t know I was that good. Must have taken the first time.”

“Some man,” she said, winked and pulled herself on top of him.

A
S THE MONTHS WENT
by, Bill watched the changes in Janet as though observing a miracle in the making. The more she showed, the prouder he became.

When he arrived home one evening from the office to find her in a maternity dress, he whooped, turned her round and round. “That’s the best-looking thing I’ve ever seen you in.”

“You really think so, do you?”

“You bet.” He put his hand under the tunic. “Here, let me feel that little guy—”

“It
could
be a girl.”

“Maybe … but remember my virility … just one time and—”

“And aren’t you lucky I wasn’t that fertile before? It does take two, you know.”

“I know, and I also know we’re going to celebrate.”

“But I cooked—”

“Put it away. I want to show off my son’s mother.”

When Janet was going into her sixth month, they began looking for a place to live. The apartment was out of the question, but nothing they saw really suited them. Bill was getting quite upset about it but Janet kept trying to appease him, telling him something would be available soon, that it wasn’t all that crucial.

On a crisp Sunday in November they drove out to Long Island to spend the day with his family. Janet loved this time of the year, with the trees displaying their fall colors. Living in the country … but she knew Bill would never move from the city, so she pushed the thought down, didn’t mention it.

As they sat in the living room after lunch and watched the fire glow, her eyes wandered beyond the French doors to the garden, where Gordon and Bill were taking a stroll.

“You look a little sad, Janet,” Harriet said.

“No, not really, I was just thinking how beautiful the country is in the fall.”

For a moment Harriet remembered the house she had given up to come and live here. “It is lovely, isn’t it? By the way, how’s your house hunting going?”

“We’re having trouble finding something we like.”

“Really?” Violet asked, and the wheels in her head started turning. “What are you going to do if you don’t find a place soon?”

“I don’t know. Make do until—”

“Ridiculous. You can’t bring a baby home to Bill’s bachelor apartment. One bedroom, one bath … that’s nonsense with all the space here.”

Janet quickly wished the subject had never come up, while Harriet was beginning to wonder if Bill’s marriage might give her a reprieve.

“It’s sweet of you to offer, mother, but Bill wouldn’t like commuting,” Janet said, knowing that was only part of the truth.

“Nonsense. He did it before and never complained—”

“Complained about what, mother?” Bill said as he and Gordon came into the room.

“Commuting.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I was saying you never minded commuting to the city when you lived here.”

“Yes?”

“Well, Janet was telling me what a difficult time you’re having finding a place—”

“And?”

“I suggested that you come out here and live. My word, there’s enough room for six.”

Long pause. “Thank you, mother, we appreciate it … but every woman needs her own home—”

“Every woman, Bill?” Harriet’s tone was light but she gave him a sharp look.

“Well, I guess it’s different with you—”

“Yes, sure, I know what you mean. Oh, the joy of being so free, with no family to tie one down.”

He wished he could crawl into a hole. Harriet had saved his life and now, thanks to him, she was in a tight spot. A spot called mother …

“Tell you what. This summer we’ll bring the baby out and stay so you and Gordon can take a long vacation.”

“You’ve got it all arranged. How nice. But I suggest you check with Janet first, dear brother …”

He looked to Janet for her reaction.

“Yes, it sounds … just fine,” she said slowly, knowing the conflict Bill was feeling. Not to mention herself …

Violet’s eyes became extra bright.

“This is wonderful news … to have my son’s baby right in this house … that is, yours and his, Janet … Well, now that that’s settled, let’s all go in to dinner.”

Bill hounded every real estate office in the city with new determination, but the houses they saw were either too old and run-down or too new and boxy, with rooms the size of telephone booths. The one he did like wasn’t for sale, but it could be leased for six months. He didn’t, though, much like the notion of moving around, so that was out. He wanted a permanent place. His place.

And now it was getting down to post time, so to speak. It was February and Janet was in the middle of her eighth month.

“I don’t know what to do, honey—”

“Suppose we buy that one on West Ninety-fifth—”

“I hate it.”

“But if we remodel it could be—”

“A crummy old house remodeled. It’s dark, no view … nothing. Just a lot of money down the drain.”

“Then I guess the only thing to do is stay here until something comes up.”

Lousy way to bring home a new baby, he thought. The nursery furniture couldn’t be delivered because they had nowhere to put it. And the layette was stacked in its original boxes … “How can we manage with a nurse and all?”

“The nurse will be here only two weeks and she can sleep in the living room.”

“And where will the baby sleep, in the bathroom?”

Janet laughed. It seemed he was taking it much more seriously than she was.

“What’s so funny?”

“You. The baby will sleep in the living room until the nurse leaves, then we’ll move the bassinet into the bedroom and …”

Not much of a solution, Bill thought. But …

Janet looked at the clock on the nightstand. It was five in the morning and the pains had been coming at ten-minute intervals since three-thirty. She shook Bill gently awake.

“Darling … I think it’s time—”

He bolted up in bed. “You mean it’s started?”

Jumping out of bed, he started to dress in a rush, his hands fumbling at the buttons on his shirt.

Janet lay back watching, amused. Bill was having labor pains.

He groped in the closet for her fur coat.
“Okay,
let’s go—”

“Not until you kiss me.”

He gave her a quick, apprehensive kiss, then helped her out of bed.

“Bill, let’s have a cup of coffee before we go.”

His mouth fell open. “Are you having labor pains or were you just kidding?”

“I am and I wasn’t, but it’s not that bad—”

“Then get into this coat right now or I’ll have a nervous breakdown.”

He called downstairs to have his car brought around.