Annette did not feel like a model now, and she wasn’t getting
the kind of looks she used to do as she waited on the patrons at
the Stomping Grounds. Her flattering outfits had given way to
maternity wear, and her carefully styled hair had taken on a
stringy look. She was tired all of the time, and her feet hurt
constantly. Her normally pleasant demeanor had slipped in favor of
an attitude with a bit of an edge.
It wasn’t easy to be expecting and to care for her stepson Adrian
while Buddy was out on the road. Finally, she’d had enough. She
walked into Len’s office.
“Len,” she began, “I’m tired. I can barely keep up each day, and
I’m afraid I need to take some time off. Maybe a lot of time. The
baby’s going to be here soon, and I don’t know if I can come
back.”
Len understood, and even was a bit relieved as some of his
customers had stopped coming in and he felt it might be related to
Annette’s attitude.
“I’ll be sorry to see you go,” he offered, “Can you stay on a few
days until I can get a replacement?”
Annette conceded and they set her last day for the end of the
week.
When Buddy called her that evening, he was surprised to hear of her
decision, but also a bit glad that she would be home more with
Adrian. His babysitter was complaining that he was getting a bit
rough with the other kids, and hinted that she no longer wanted to
care for him. Perhaps Annette’s attention would calm him
down.
Adrian spent his first three years mostly with Buddy’s parents, and
only occasionally with his mother’s parents. They had a tough time
accepting him, because of their unspoken blame for him as the cause
of their daughter’s death. Now with Annette in the picture, they
had practically severed all contact.
Annette had loved Adrian as if she was his own, even if he was a
handful at times. Now that she was at home, she was getting a first
hand look at his rambunctiousness. He got into too many things, and
when he didn’t get his way, he cried until Annette finally gave
in.
Annette was exhausted even more after a day with Adrian than she
had ever been on her shift at the Stomping Grounds. She began to
wonder if taking time off was a good idea.
One particularly trying day, Adrian could not be calmed down. He
would run across the room, knock over a lamp then run back and
throw a pillow. Annette had had enough; she grabbed him, stared him
right in the face and firmly said, “Stop it!” Adrian struggled to
get away, but Annette held tight. Adrian dodged one way and when
Annette shifted her weight to keep up with him, he dodged the
other. Annette took a stumble and landed hard. Suddenly, a pool of
water gathered beneath her. She knew what that meant; the baby
would not be far behind.
Struggling to get up, she finally reached the phone and called
Buddy’s parents. “The baby! It’s coming!” Buddy’s dad assured her
he would be over right away to take her to the hospital. In the
excitement, Adrian was concerned and cried “Mommy, what’s
wrong?”
Annette hugged him, and said “It’s OK, little one, you’re about to
have a new brother or sister.” A cramp made her gasp as she said
“Grandpa is coming to take me to the hospital and Grandma will be
here to watch you.”
“Mommy! Don’t go!” he cried. “Don’t go!”
Annette hugged him even tighter and he calm a little. A few minutes
later Buddy’s parents were there.
“Thanks, Dad,” Annette was relieved. “It’s getting very
close.”
They climbed into the car and rushed to the hospital. “No need to
speed, Dad. There’s time to be safe.”
When they arrived at the hospital, Annette was admitted right away,
and taken directly to delivery. Two hours later, she was the mother
of a beautiful baby girl.
When Buddy called at his usual time in the evening, he was
surprised to hear his mother answer the phone. “What’s wrong?
Where’s Annette!”
“Annette’s fine. The baby came early,” his mother said.
“But it’s still two weeks before she’s due,” Buddy protested.
“These things happen,” his mother tried to comfort him. “You have a
new daughter.”
Buddy told her, “I’m leaving right away. She needs me now!”
He was home by morning.