Page 61 of Beau
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“I cannot believe you are carrying triplets.” Marla handed her the glass of milk, before settling back in the ladder-back chair with her glass of hot chocolate. “And you really should not have come, it’s not like I am dying or anything.”
She fussed with the decorative pillows on the sofa in front of her, before stretching her legs out. “I am still awaiting the results. You have your pregnancy to worry about.”
“I am not a child anymore and I wished you would stop treating me like one. You are not my mother, Marla, you are my sister and when news came that you have cancer, I would like to believe that I am supposed to drop everything else and come running to support you.”
Tears blurred the older woman’s vision, and she very carefully and deliberately blinked them away.
“It’s hard to think of you as a wife and soon to be a mother. I brought you up when our parents died. I became a mother for the family.”
“And spent most of your teenage life taking care of us,” Georgie added softly. “Now it’s time for us to take care of you.”
She shook her head. “I can’t. It’s not who I am. Do you know why I became a teacher?”
“To discipline children?” Georgie teased.
“Because I love taking care of people. I am a nurturer. Benjamin and I wanted a house filled with children laughing and playing. A disorganized chaotic household with crayons on the walls and toys strewn all over the living room. We were blessed with one child. A son. Brian is a gem, but he is now at college and hardly ever comes home.”
She sniffed into her beverage. “Brian works all the time and when he is not working, he is out playing golf with his business associates. Which leaves me here,” She gestured vaguely around the comfortable and cozy living room. “All by myself. I am fifty years old and feel as if I have not accomplished anything.”
“That’s ridiculous and you know it.” Sandra had called to tell her the news about the diagnosis and Georgie had not hesitated in coming over.
“You brought me up as well as the others. You are an excellent teacher and a wonderful mother and wife. Beau and I have the resources to make sure you get the best possible care. It’s not a death sentence, we will get through this.”
Marla smiled at her fondly.
“I don’t know if I have ever told you how proud I am of you.”
“Once or twice. Why in particular? And please don’t tell me that it’s because of me marrying Beau.”
Her sister shook her head, with a laugh. “It’s your sense of determination and drive. You decide you want to do something, and you never allow anything or anyone to get in your way.”
Finishing the milk with a grimace, Georgie put the glass on an end table next to her.
“I think that trait might have gotten me into trouble.”
“How so?”
Rubbing a hand over her swollen abdomen, she stopped to weigh her words. “I decided that I wanted to do IVF, knowingthere was a possibility that I would be carrying multiples. I never gave Beau a choice.” She shook her head.
“I am heading into my danger zone as I would like to refer to it as. I keep crossing my fingers and holding my breath. The doctors warned that for the next month, I might see some drastic changes. I am rapidly putting on weight and I am hungry every five seconds.”
“Which is a good thing. Honey, when we came to the clinic and saw you, we all came home and cried. You looked like death.”
Georgie nodded. “These babies might have to be delivered at thirty-two weeks, and I am afraid that is not going to be enough time for them to be fully developed.”
“Nonsense! I have seen more than my fair share of preemies. Do you remember Diane from across the road?”
“Diane Bedford?”
“Yes. She had twins and they were both premature babies, weighing a little over four pounds and those girls are six years old now and thriving.”
Georgie shuddered out a breath and leaned back against the cushions. “Beau is worried. He is not saying anything regarding the birth, but I know he is not looking forward to the process.”
“Your husband adores you.” Marla reminded her softly. “Never forget how very fortunate you are.”
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