Home Free - Fern Michaels [56]
“I know, dear, it is perplexing. Nikki seems to think that visiting Mr. Tookus will help us. We do have names. We just have to find out what they mean. Like Maggie said, there has to be a common denominator somewhere. Isn’t it wonderful that Maggie has fallen in love? I’ve never seen her so happy.”
“Yes, it is. Myra, did you think Yoko looked . . . under the weather? I know she’s under a lot of stress with the nursery and Harry’s training and all that money they lost to those awful people Harry hired to train him. I hope we alleviated some of that stress by helping out these past three days. This week, she has some college kids from Georgetown helping out after class. To me Yoko just looked . . . Remember how our mothers used to say we looked peaked when we were coming down with something or other? Usually a good bellyache. To me, Yoko looked peaked.”
“I do remember, and yes, I agree the little dear looked peaked, but I think it’s something else entirely. I can’t be sure about this, Annie, but I think our little lotus flower is pregnant. When I was in the storage room yesterday morning, getting those balls of wire, I heard her in the restroom, and she was throwing up. I didn’t let on I was even in the storage room and left after she did. She was also nibbling on saltine crackers most of the morning. One only does that when one is pregnant. I know this for a fact, and not only because Lizzie told me about her own case of morning sickness.”
“But . . . why didn’t she tell us?” Annie asked fretfully.
“I don’t know, Annie. Maybe she wants to be sure. She’s probably scared to death that she might have another miscarriage, and she might think that by talking about it, she’ll jinx herself. I’m just guessing here, Annie.”
“Well, it all makes sense. What can we do for her, Myra?”
“Nothing, Annie. When she needs us, I am sure she won’t have any trouble asking for our help or our support. She does need more help at the nursery. The college students, according to Yoko, work a few hours here or there, between classes or after class. At best it’s iffy. Plus, most of them will be leaving to go to their homes for the holiday break just when her business will need them the most. If there’s a way for you to find some people and pay them on the side without offending her, that might take off some of the pressure. Maybe some youth group from one of the churches. We could make a secret donation, something along those lines.”
“I can do that. I’ll get on it as soon as I get back home. You are a fearless leader, Myra, and the best part is you aren’t tugging on those damn pearls. By the way, when do you get them back?”
“The jeweler said this coming Friday. I miss them. Stainless-steel chains don’t work for me, and I don’t care if they are in fashion or not. A person could choke on those horrible things, and they clank, Annie. Fashion or not, those chains are for young, hip people. Pearls are for people like me.”
The rest of the conversation into Georgetown was about the weather and whether or not they would have a white Christmas. Annie even proposed having a pool on when any of the Sisters would first hear Bing Crosby’s version of “White Christmas” on the radio.
Just as they were pulling into the parking lot at Nikki’s law firm, Myra reared back and said, “Annie, I have an idea. Charles told me last week that the head of security at my candy company is retiring at the end of January. We’re going to have to find someone to replace Mr. Unger. Do you think Fergus might like the job? It’s not a demanding one, and he can delegate and make his own hours. The pay is good, with a year-end bonus plus really good benefits. I’m not sure how that would work legally since Fergus isn’t a U.S. citizen, but I’m sure Charles would know. Or,” she said slyly, “you could marry him and stop living in sin.”
“You mean like you did with Charles?” Annie quipped.
“Exactly!” Myra laughed.
“It would solve a lot of problems.