In the late afternoon, the telephone rang. It was Adam.
“Jennifer! Where have you—”
She tried to put energy into her voice. “I’m sorry, darling. I had to go to Monte Carlo to see a client and I couldn’t reach you.”
“I’ve been worried sick. Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. I—I’ve just been running around a lot.”
“My God! I was imagining all kinds of terrible things.”
“There’s nothing to worry about,” Jennifer assured him. “How’s everything going with the campaign?”
“Fine. When am I going to see you? I was supposed to leave for Washington, but I can postpone—”
“No, you go ahead,” Jennifer said. She did not want Adam to see her like this. “I’ll be busy. We’ll spend the weekend together.”
“All right.” His tone was reluctant. “If you’re not doing anything at eleven, I’m on the CBS news.”
“I’ll watch, darling.”
Jennifer was asleep five minutes after she had replaced the receiver.
In the morning Jennifer telephoned Cynthia to tell her she was not coming into the office. Jennifer had slept rest-lessly, and when she awakened she felt no better. She tried to eat breakfast but could not keep anything down. She felt weak and realized she had had nothing to eat for almost three days.
Her mind unwillingly went over the frightening litany of things that could be wrong with her. Cancer first, naturally. She felt for lumps in her breast, but she could not feel anything amiss. Of course, cancer could strike anywhere. It could be a virus of some kind, but the doctor surely would have known that immediately. The trouble was that it could be almost anything. Jennifer felt lost and helpless. She was not a hypochondriac, she had always been in wonderful health, and now she felt as though her body had somehow betrayed her. She could not bear it if anything happened to her. Not when everything was so wonderful.
She was going to be fine. Of course she was.
Another wave of nausea swept through her.
At eleven o’clock that morning, Dr. André Monteux called from Monte Carlo. A voice said, “Just a moment. I’ll put the doctor on.”
The moment stretched into a hundred years, and Jennifer clutched the telephone tightly, unable to bear the waiting.
Finally, Dr. Monteux’s voice came on and he said, “How are you feeling?”
“About the same,” Jennifer replied nervously. “Are the results of the tests in?”
“Good news,” Dr. Monteux said. “It is not the bubonic plague.”
Jennifer could stand no more. “What is it? What’s the matter with me?”
“You are going to have a baby, Mrs. Parker.”
Jennifer sat there numbly staring at the telephone. When she found her voice again she asked, “Are—are you sure?”
“Rabbits never lie. I take it this is your first baby.”
“Yes.”
“I would suggest you see an obstetrician as soon as possible. From the severity of the early symptoms, there may be some difficulties ahead for you.”
“I will,” Jennifer replied. “Thank you for calling, Dr. Monteux.”
She replaced the receiver and sat there, her mind in a turmoil. She was not sure when it could have happened, or what her feelings were. She could not think straight.
She was going to have Adam’s baby. And suddenly Jennifer knew how she felt. She felt wonderful; she felt as though she had been given some indescribably precious gift.
The timing was perfect, as though the gods were on their side. The election would soon be over and she and Adam would be married as quickly as possible. It would be a boy. Jennifer knew it. She could not wait to tell Adam.
She telephoned him at his office.
“Mr. Warner is not in,” his secretary informed her. “You might try his home.”
Jennifer was reluctant to call Adam at home, but she was bursting with her news. She dialed his number. Mary Beth answered.
“I’m sorry to bother you,” Jennifer apologized. “There’s something I have to talk to Adam about. This is Jennifer Parker.”
“I’m pleased that you called,” Mary Beth said. The warmth in her voice was reassuring. “Adam had some speaking engagements, but he’s returning tonight. Why don’t you come up to the house? We can all have dinner together. Say, seven o’clock?”
Jennifer hesitated for a moment. “That will be lovely.”
It was a miracle that Jennifer did not have an accident driving to Croton-on-Hudson. Her mind was far away, dreaming of the future. She and Adam had often discussed having children. She could remember his words. I want a couple that look exactly like you.
As Jennifer drove along the highway, she thought she could feel a slight stirring in her womb, but she told herself that that was nonsense. It was much too early. But it would not be long now. Adam’s baby was in her. It was alive and would soon be kicking. It was awesome, overwhelming. She—
Jennifer heard someone honking at her, and she looked up and saw that she had almost forced a truck driver off the road. She gave him an apologetic smile and drove on. Nothing could spoil this day.
It was dusk when Jennifer pulled up in front of the Warner house. A fine snow was beginning to fall, lightly powdering the trees. Mary Beth, wearing a long blue brocade gown, opened the front door to greet Jennifer, taking her arm and warmly welcoming her into the house, reminding Jennifer of the first time they had met.
Mary Beth looked radiantly happy. She was full of small talk, putting her visitor at ease. They went into the library where there was a cheerful fire crackling in the hearth.