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“I think we should make some kind of toast,” Nancy announced. “Our say a prayer.”
“I’ll start,” Stan said, his voice wavering as he raised his glass of wine and closed his eyes— not sure if he was praying or toasting. Maybe he was doing his best. “I just want to thank God above for bringing me into this beautiful and welcoming family. I was lost for so many years. And I don’t know if I deserve the love I’ve recently found… But my goodness, I’ll take it.”
After that, Maggie spoke. “And I want to thank God for my sister, who brought Leo into the world. It’s been a complicated, tumultuous year, but Leo is gorgeous and healthy, and I’m over the moon. Besides that…” Maggie eyed David beside her, “I want to thank God for bringing David and Heidi into my life. Heidi’s bookstore completely changed my professional trajectory, and David’s love completely shaped my view of the world.” Maggie swallowed and then turned her attention to Janine, who hardly kept it together as Maggie added, “And of course, I want to thank my mother for loving me, for being there for me in everything, and for taking Alyssa and I on that wild goose chase to Italy. I’ll remember those golden weeks forever.”
The thanks continued— words spoken over that glowing table, laden with a glistening turkey, stuffing, freshly-baked rolls, sweet potatoes, butter layered with shards of salt, Brussels sprouts cooked in white wine, mashed potatoes, and gravy— and even more helpings of other varieties of sides, of a tofu dish Elsa’s youngest daughter had made because she’d decided to be a vegetarian this month. And in the kitchen sat heaps of pies, cakes, brownies, and lemon bars, all lying in wait for a long afternoon of sipping wine, of second and third helpings of desserts and conversation. Janine’s heart swelled in expectation for all of it. She just prayed it wouldn’t go too quickly.
ChapterTwenty-One
For a very long time back in Manhattan, Maggie’s doctors had told her she probably would never be able to conceive. Perhaps due to this doubt, when Maggie went into labor one month ahead of schedule, during a Christmas shopping extravaganza with Janine on December 17th, she fully panicked.
“The baby’s too early,” Maggie whispered, wincing in pain in the front seat of Janine’s car as she drove them to the hospital.
“Only three and a half weeks,” Janine told her. “That’s nothing. Really.”
“Too early,” Maggie whimpered. “It’s not time.”
“The baby looked really healthy at your last appointment!” Janine reminded her. “And you’ve read it over and over again in your baby books. This is a fine time to bring the baby into the world. And you’ve been so uncomfortable, Maggie. It’ll finally be over!”
But Maggie was very good at worrying, and the early delivery had brought a new dimension to that worry. Unlike the other babies, the ones she’d lost in a number of miscarriages, this baby felt far more real— and Maggie was terrified that she’d counted her blessings before they’d hatched.
Maggie’s hospital room was just a few doors from the one Alyssa had delivered Leo in. Her face drawn, she sat at the edge of the bed and stared at the floor, willing David to get here soon. All the while, Janine did her best to talk her daughter down, to remind her that she had a very good doctor, that she and the baby were healthy.
In truth, Janine was very pleased when David appeared at the door, ready with kind words and kisses. The pair of them hadn’t been together much longer than that embryo had been implanted (the natural way, this time), but they’d built a gorgeous relationship together, one of trust and understanding. And when Maggie looked at David, Janine allowed herself a sigh of relief— and stepped into the waiting room to give them some space.
Not long after Janine left the delivery room, Alyssa, Nico, and baby Leo arrived at the hospital. As Nico held Leo gently, Alyssa threw her arms around her mother, saying, “Maggie must be freaking out.”
“Oh, she is,” Janine told her.
“But three and a half weeks early isn’t bad!”
“I told her that,” Janine said.
“She doesn’t like to listen to reason.”
“You know her better than anyone,” Janine offered.
“We both do,” Alyssa said.
For the majority of the labor and delivery, Maggie and David kept to themselves— with Maggie infrequently asking for her sister or mother to come in to say hello. Eventually, Henry came by the hospital with sandwiches, and Nico brought Leo back to the Remington House so that they could both sleep more comfortably. Still, Alyssa and Janine remained, pacing the halls of the hospital, and talking, talking, talking.
“How does it feel?” Janine asked Alyssa, sometime past midnight, after six or so hours of Maggie’s labor. “To be a mother?”
Alyssa pondered this for a moment. “Everything is in flux right now, you know? Because Leo is technically Maggie’s. But she’s been so tired with her own pregnancy and nervous about this next step…”
“Having two little ones?”
Alyssa nodded. “But Nico and I have talked about having a baby of our own. And I’m not averse to that at all.”
Janine was surprised. “So soon?”
“No, no,” Alyssa said, waving her hands. “I talked to Maggie last week about all of this. The plan is that Nico and I will go back to Italy later this year when Leo doesn’t need me as much anymore. We’ll be there for the last months of the museum refurbishment, and we’ll help as it opens up for good.”
“Wow.” Janine’s heart filled with hope for them, for what they could accomplish together.
“I was so convinced that I could just stay at the Remington House, to be with Leo and Maggie forever,” Alyssa said. “But it’s true that I found my footing in Venice.”
“I’ve never seen you like that,” Janine said.
