First Class Farewell (4 page)

Stepping off the plane at La Guardia International Airport
with two very cranky children was not a great start to the day. Rachel, aged
thirteen months, was desperately tired but refused to go to sleep. Lindsey had
sung to her softly, given her the dreaded pacifier, tried massaging her, and
even graciously accepted the lavender oil from a nearby passenger to rub on her
hands…all to no avail. She was a stubborn little thing. Very much like her
mother. Amanda, aged four, tucked safely in her daddy’s arms, was also tired,
but being more like her father, she just slumped in his arms and whined…a
little.

After passing through immigration, they marched for miles to
the baggage claim and waited, somewhat impatiently, for their luggage.

They’d spent the last ten days in Italy. Lindsey loved to
experience the culture and food there, and David the art. They both wanted to
expose their daughters to their passions and decided to include them in their
vacation, even though Maureen had offered multiple times to have the girls stay
with her. It was the first time they’d traveled with the girls and as the trip
neared the end, Lindsey had questioned her decision several times, but now that
they were back in New York, she was glad they’d gone as a family.

After her second daughter was born, David and Lindsey had
decided that they needed to reprioritize their life. Lindsey had scaled back at
the restaurants, still holding the title of Executive Chef, but with more of an
advisory, mentoring role. She spent a few hours at the restaurants each week,
but worked on the new menu items in her own kitchen, making it possible for her
children to be with her most of the time.

David had also changed careers. No longer the curator for
the Atherton Gallery, he was their top-selling artist. Audrey Atherton had
begged and pleaded and whined and pouted until he’d agreed to sell some more
pieces. To date, David held the honor of being the artist whose painting had
sold for the highest price in the gallery’s history. He now stayed home
full-time and painted when the desire hit him. Some days he sequestered himself
in his studio and painted for hours. Other days the girls painted with him. And
there were even days, and weeks, that he painted nothing, and loved every
minute of it. Their home was filled with drawings and paintings of their girls.
David and Lindsey’s successful careers meant nothing when compared to their
little family.

Growing up in foster homes, Lindsey took on the role of
motherhood with a commitment that at times scared David. But with their second
daughter now one year old and the talk of perhaps adding one more soon, as
Lindsey’s child-bearing years were coming to a close, she had relaxed a little
and was the most loving mother David had ever seen. They were a happy family
and delighted in their time together.

Finally loaded into a cab, they rode into the city and were
relieved to get into their building and the girls and all the luggage into
their apartment. With Amanda tucked into her bed, with her favorite stuffed
animal in the crook of her arm, she was asleep in seconds. Rachel, on the other
hand, wanted nothing to do with her bedroom. Even stepping through the doorway
made her scream.

“How about a bath?” David smiled as he took his baby girl
from Lindsey. “Shall we go play in the tub?”

Rachel tilted her head to one side and grinned. David kissed
his wife and wandered off to the bathroom. Lindsey began dragging the suitcases
through to the master bedroom in hopes that at some point during the day she
could get them unpacked. She didn’t have to be back in the restaurant until
Monday so that gave her four days to get the laundry done and their lives back
to normal.

“I need a vacation,” she sighed as she heaved the girls’ bag
onto the bed. “I’m so tired.”

Their plan had failed…miserably. She’d suggested that they
fly home at night and that way the girls would sleep on the plane. It hadn’t worked.
It was 6:45 a.m. according the alarm clock next to the bed. Jet lag was going
to be a bitch. Of that she was sure.

The giggling wafted through the apartment. She couldn’t help
but smile as she heard the sweet sounds of her husband and daughter laughing,
singing and playing. Tiptoeing down the hall, Lindsey leaned in the doorway and
watched David blow bubbles as Rachel giggled and lunged for the uncatchable
little balls of air. Bare footed, David sat on the floor next to the tub and
entertained Rachel until she finally yawned. He swooped her into a fluffy towel
and kissed the bottoms of her feet. He smiled at Lindsey as he swung around.
“Diaper?” he whispered, which sent Lindsey running to the bedroom. David
lowered Rachel to his bed, Lindsey diapered and dressed her in pajamas and
then, after shoving the bag onto the floor, they both laid down with Rachel
between them. Taking one of her parents’ hands in each of hers, Rachel closed
her eyes as Lindsey hummed a lullaby and David rubbed her tummy. Within
minutes, Rachel was asleep and David lifted her from the bed and carried her
through to her crib.

“How long do we let them sleep?” he asked as he returned to
his wife.

“Doesn’t matter,” Lindsey frowned. “We’re screwed no matter
what.”

David chuckled. “Well, we can sleep or have a good time,” he
said as he wiggled his eyebrows.

“Sleep
is
a good time,” Lindsey smiled.

David undid the buttons on his jeans and shoved them down
his legs. Kicking them off, he pulled his shirt over his head and jumped on the
bed and stretched out alongside his wife. “You sure you can resist this?” he
grinned. Lindsey yawned. “You wound me!” he laughed. “But how about we take a
nap?”

“Yes, please,” Lindsey answered. “You can impress me later.”

*****

“Holy shit!” David exclaimed, sending Amanda into fits of
screams and immediately waking Lindsey from sleep.

“What?” Lindsey sat up, her eyes not able to focus properly.
“What?”

Amanda ran around the bed to her mom and threw herself into
her protective arms.

“Honey, it’s okay. What’s wrong? Shhh,” Lindsey soothed.

“Dammit!” David muttered as he sat up, taking a couple of
deep breaths. “I’m sorry Mandy girl,” he offered. “You scared me, that’s all.”

Lindsey looked at David asking the unspoken question. Amanda
was still crying into her mother’s breast.

“I opened my eyes and she was right there!” David explained.
“Inches from my face. Scared the crap out of me…for half a second,” he added.

Lindsey bit her lips, trying not to smile, difficult because
she found it quite amusing. “Amanda? Daddy’s sorry for scaring you. Are you
okay?” A muffled sob escaped from her daughter, but Amanda lifted her head and
nodded. “Good girl,” Lindsey smiled. She looked over at the clock. It was just
past eleven. She closed her eyes and yawned and wondered if she could just go
back to sleep…just for a few more minutes. Her eyes felt full of grit and her
eyelids refused to stay open but then she heard Rachel yelling. “I guess
naptime is over,” she sighed. “Do you want to get into bed with Daddy?” she asked
Amanda.

“I’m hungry and I’m thirsty.”

“Let’s get you something to eat then,” Lindsey said,
swinging her legs off the bed and stretching as her daughter skipped from the
room.

“Sorry,” David frowned. “She scared the shit out of me
though.”

Lindsey laughed and left to get the baby. Returning a few
seconds later, she handed Rachel off to him and headed after her other
daughter. 

In the kitchen, Amanda had climbed up onto one of the stools
at the counter and was impatiently waiting for her mother. “Milk, please,” she
commanded.

The refrigerator was not stocked. “No milk, honey. Juice?”
Lindsey asked.

“I want milk!” Amanda wailed.

“How about…”

“Milk!”

Lindsey watched the meltdown rapidly approaching. Obviously,
no one had had enough sleep yet. “Milkshake?”

Amanda’s eyes opened wide. “Chocolate?” she asked.

Lindsey smiled. “Chocolate it is.”

Ice cream, ice, chocolate syrup and some canned evaporated
milk in the blender and milkshakes for breakfast averted the crisis. With
Amanda now on the couch with a shake and watching cartoons, Lindsey returned to
the bedroom. David and Rachel were sound asleep. Tiptoeing back out of the
room, she made her shopping list and called it in to the market, hoping for
delivery later in the afternoon.

Refilling Amanda’s cup, Lindsey nestled into the corner of
the sofa, Amanda snuggling into her side. Maybe the day could be salvaged after
all.

*****

With the whole family awake and happy, David entertained the
girls by dancing to The Wiggles in the living room while Lindsey unpacked
suitcases and sorting everything into piles. The laundry got shoved in the
wicker basket in the bathroom, the clean clothes were quickly put away in
dressers and closets, and souvenirs were put in the spare room until Lindsey
could decide what to do with them later. The gifts for her foster mother and
David’s parents she left on the bed. They would probably go and see Trudy on
Saturday, and they would see Peter and Maureen on Sunday.

With the bag of art supplies in her hand, Lindsey opened the
door to David’s studio and stepped inside. The huge canvas stood directly in
front of her. David had started it before they’d left on vacation, and although
it was not finished, Lindsey already loved it. Staring back at her were two
sets of beautiful blue eyes, with auburn ringlets tumbling over small
shoulders. He had the amazing talent of capturing such emotion and personality
in his paintings. This particular piece was going to Peter. David still had to
add the whimsical elements to it, and then the “sprites” would be ready for
Grandpa. That’s what he called his two little granddaughters – sprites. David
had taken the idea and created this magical painting that she was sure Peter
would treasure. She couldn’t wait to see his face when he saw it for the first
time. Both Peter and Maureen doted on all their grandchildren, but Peter had
something a little extra for all his little granddaughters. He had six now and
each one adored him, too.

Lindsey placed the bag on the desk and left the painting
behind her as she closed the door and went to join in the silliness in the
living room. Dance parties were a regular occurrence at this Lathem home. She
had no idea David was such a good dancer when she’d married him. She loved to
watch his moves and so did the girls. But she didn’t get the chance because the
buzzer sounded. Their groceries had arrived!

Lindsey waited by the door and let the delivery man in with
all the bags and generously tipped him on his way out. As she put cartons of
milk in the fridge, Amanda got a hold of the remote and turned up the volume on
the television, prompting Lindsey to cover her ears. Rachel screamed with
delight and jumped right into the coffee table, smacking her forehead and
bounced off, falling to the ground screaming in pain. David leapt to his baby
girl and scooped her up checking her for blood.

“No blood!” he yelled, as Lindsey scrambled for the remote.
Amanda ran in the opposite direction, delighted with the game now in play.

“Amanda!” Lindsey yelled. “Give me the remote control!”
Amanda just laughed louder and ran faster.

It was at that moment that the phone rang. With the
television screeching, Amanda laughing almost uncontrollably, Rachel screaming
and holding her head, it was a surprise Lindsey heard it. Running to the TV,
she pushed the power button, eliminating one of the noises and ran to the
phone. It was Janie.

“Hi, Janie! How are you?”

Ben awoke to the all-too familiar sounds coming from the
master bathroom. Heaving, wrenching, and vomiting. The sounds broke his heart….just
as it did every time he heard his wife being sick. Alas, he was used to it by
now. In the four years they’d been married, Sophia had spent many months of it
in the bathroom, worshipping the porcelain god. Having recently received the
joyous news that they would be adding baby number three to their growing
family, they were both resigned to the fact that the next few months would be a
challenge.

Alex was now sixteen and growing into a fine young man. Ben
loved him beyond words and they had bonded immediately over baseball. But that
bond, once a small strand, was now a thick and indestructible rope of love,
trust, loyalty and respect. While Alex saw his biological father regularly, it
was Ben whom he considered his father. It was Ben in whom he confided.

Alex loved his two younger siblings, too. Charles, or
Charlie as he was called, had just turned four, and Lisa was now two...a
terrible two, according to her mother. With the family expecting another baby
in just five months, Alex had told Ben many times that he couldn’t be happier
with their growing family. Neither could Ben.

Walking through to the bathroom, the sight of his beautiful
wife grabbing her hair, and her head all but in the bowl of the white toilet,
Ben felt helpless. He crouched down next to Sophia and held her hair back as
she finished throwing up. With his other hand, he reached for a washcloth and
managed to twist the faucet on, soaking the cloth in cold water.

“Here, babe,” he whispered, as she took it from him and
wiped her forehead and mouth.

Ben fell backwards into a sitting position and spread his
legs wide, pulling Sophia back into his arms. “I wish there was something I
could do,” he sighed as he kissed her hair.

“Me, too,” she chuckled. “It would make it so much easier if
I carried the babies but you had the morning sickness.”

“I would,” he said seriously.

“I know,” she smiled and twisted around to face him. “I love
you.”

“Love you, too. Go back to bed and I’ll make sure Alex gets
off before I go to work.”

Sophia nodded, grateful to be going back to bed. Ben helped
her from the grey marble floor and tucked her into bed before going back into
the bathroom to have a shower.

*****

“How’s Mom?” Alex asked when Ben padded barefoot into the
kitchen.

“In bed. I’m wondering if maybe your grandparents would
watch the kids for a couple of hours this morning.”

“That bad, huh?”

Ben frowned and nodded.

“You know, if you didn’t keep knocking her up she wouldn’t
be sick,” Alex teased with a chuckle.

“Ha ha,” Ben replied. He poured himself a glass of orange
juice and slid onto the stool next to his stepson. He’d always been sure he
would never get married and certainly never have a family. Yet here he
was…married with three children and one more on the way. And according to
Sophia, they weren’t done. She wanted a dozen children with him. She’d said it
hundreds of times. She was even prepared to be sick for nine months to get each
baby here.

Ben wasn’t sure about a
dozen
kids, but he loved the
three they had with all his heart, and was already falling in love with baby
number four. Sophia would grab his hand and place it over her belly every time
she felt it move. It was still too small for him to feel it yet, though. As he
chugged his juice, he recalled watching Charlie’s foot press against the confines
of the womb and Ben would push back, only to have his son kick back at him.
When he turned three, they enrolled him in soccer.

Lisa was a little princess. She was the most beautiful girl
Ben had ever seen. She looked just like the pictures of Sophia as a baby. But
when she’d turned two, it was as if a switch had been flicked and she turned
into a beautiful little monster. Ben was counting down ‘til her third birthday.
Maybe the switch would flick back and his sweet little Lisa would return.

“Do you want me to call Grandma?” Alex asked, interrupting
Ben’s thought.

“No, it’s okay. Thanks. Do you need money?”

Alex shook his head. “I’m good. I have jazz band practice
after school and I have money for a cab to get home.”

“Home for dinner though, right?”

Alex grinned. “Yep.” He finished his bowl of cereal and took
the bowl to the sink. “Gotta go. Ray will be here any second.”

“Have a good day,” Ben smiled as Alex grabbed his backpack
and left the apartment.

Miraculously, Lisa was still asleep. Charlie was in his room
playing with Legos. “Whatcha making?” Ben asked when he went to check on him.

“A boat.”

“Can I make one, too?”

“Okay,” Charlie nodded.

Ben sank to the floor and leaned against Charlie’s bed and
began pulling pieces from the bucket while Charlie chattered away about his
boat and the car he’d already built. While Lisa was a perfect miniature Sophia,
Charlie was all Ben, right down to the little cowlick in his hair. Ben was
absent-mindedly connecting blocks while gazing at his happy little boy. He
pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed his in-laws. Fortunately, now
mostly retired, they were happy to come over and watch the children so Sophia
could rest. They doted on their grandchildren and were very grateful that they
lived across the street. Aldo and Gloria were welcome in their home anytime,
day or night, and while Sundays were spent with the Lathem side of the family,
many weekdays were spent with the Mannings. Ben was indebted to them for the
care they took of Sophia and his family while he was working.

Each morning when Ben headed off to work, he understood why
his brother had retired. Matt had worked extremely hard to build his company to
what it was, and Ben had continued that work when he’d taken over. But as he
left his family each day, he longed to be with them. He counted down the hours
‘til he could return to them. And today was no different. He kissed Sophia
tenderly on the cheek, told her that her parents had just arrived to watch
Charlie and Lisa, and left the apartment, already missing them.

*****

By ten o’clock, Sophia had managed to crawl out of bed and
stagger through to the living room. Sipping on some ginger tea and some dry
toast, her spirits were lifted by the antics of Lisa, dressed in her princess
skirt and tiara.

“Sing!” she commanded to her mother as Sleeping Beauty sang
to the animals on the television.

“I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream…” Sophia
began. “I know you, the gleam in your eyes is so familiar a gleam.”

“You sing so pretty, mommy,” Lisa said as she leaned on the
seat cushion of the sofa where Sophia lay and fiddled with her hair.

“Thank you,” smiled Sophia. “So do you.”

“But if I know you, I know what you do,” Lisa sang with
heart. “You wuv me at once, the way you did once upon a dweam.”

Sophia couldn’t help but smile with joy as Lisa danced
around the room waving her wand she gripped tightly in her chubby little hands.

“I see the next American Idol,” Gloria chuckled as she came
into the room. Sophia scooted her feet up and Gloria sat at the end of the
sofa. “How are you feeling?” she asked her daughter.

“Better,” Sophia smiled. “This helps,” she said and nodded
at Lisa still dancing and singing.

“She is adorable,” Gloria agreed.

“What’s Charlie up to?”

“He and your father are still playing with Legos. I think
he’s having more fun than Charlie,” she chuckled. “Can I get you anything?”

Sophia shook her head.

“You need to try and eat something,” Gloria said as she
looked at the half-eaten piece of toast on the coffee table. “You’re all skin
and bone. That baby needs some fat!”

“Whatever I eat just comes back up. I go back to the doctor
on Monday. I’ll talk to him about it again.”

The phone rang and saved Sophia from the same old
conversation with her mom.

“It’s Ben,” Gloria smiled and handed her the phone.

Sophia stood up and wandered down the hall to her bedroom.
Once inside, she shut the door behind her and fell into the armchair by the
window. They talked for a few minutes. He wanted to know how she was doing and
if her parents were still there, to which she answered “fine” and “yes”. Gloria
and Aldo had no plans for the day and were more than happy to spend the hours
with their grandchildren. Ben was relieved to hear that perhaps she would get
some rest. He told her he loved her, which she repeated back and then they said
their goodbyes.

As Sophia clicked off the phone, she let her head fall back
against the plush fabric.
Maybe they won’t mind if I just close my eyes for
a minute,
she thought, and drifted off to sleep.

*****

Ben always tried to call home periodically throughout the
day. He’d turned into his brothers…doting husbands and fathers, and he didn’t
mind…not one bit. He called to hear his wife’s voice. He called to calm his
heart. Sadly, however, the call was short today as he had a day chocked full of
meetings. He still had three more before the day would be over and he could
return home.

Emily buzzed to let him know his next appointment was
waiting. As the door opened, he looked up from his desk to see his good friend
Maria enter his office. He hadn’t seen her in several weeks but as she walked
towards his desk a smile lit up his face.

“You look fantastic!” he gushed as he stood and rushed
around the desk to give her a warm embrace.

“No, I don’t,” she muttered. “I look like a whale.”

“Nonsense! Pregnant women are beautiful. Can I get you
anything? Water? Coffee?”

Maria shook her head. “The last thing I need is something to
drink. I already go to the bathroom every twenty minutes,” she huffed.

Ben chuckled. He completely understood. Well, he mostly
understood.

Maria had married Alan Welton, one of the attorneys that
represented MEL Holdings, a couple of years ago. Ben felt quite smug when he
thought about their marriage. After all, he was the one who’d played
matchmaker. And fortunately, once Ben was married, Sophia was more than happy
to socialize with Maria now that she had her own man. Now, here sat Maria,
happily married and expecting a baby any day.

“I thought Evan was coming?” Ben asked.

“He’s sick with the flu so he asked me to represent the
department. Is that okay?”

“Absolutely. Let’s get the business over with then, shall
we?”

*****

With lunch eaten and the kitchen cleaned, Gloria put Lisa
down for her nap. She’d been at a full run all morning, so Sophia was sure she
would sleep for at least a couple of hours. Charlie sat happily on the recliner
and watched a classic Disney cartoon. Ben was adamant that his children grow up
knowing about Donald Duck and his nephews, Mickey and Minnie and the rest of
the gang. The music of Fantasia filled the room as Charlie clung to his blanket
and was engrossed in the explosions of color on the screen.

“Really,” Sophia insisted. “You can go home and rest,” she
chuckled. “You’ve earned it.”

“Are you sure?” her mother asked again.

“I’m sure. Thank you so much for staying as long as you did.
I love you both.”

Aldo kissed his daughter on the cheek and he took Gloria by
the hand and led her home. Sophia was feeling better. Her stomach had finally
settled after a glass of ginger ale and with Lisa asleep all was quiet. It gave
her a couple of hours to work on homework.

Taking college classes over the internet had been a
brilliant idea. It had been Ben’s idea and he
was
brilliant so it all
made sense. She figured she had two more semesters and she would have completed
her degree, something that she hadn’t even imagined would actually come to
fruition. Having a husband and a family made it difficult to get her studying
done, but they’d worked it out. Ben was completely supportive of her decision
to finish her education, and even though he’d reminded her over and over again
that she would never have to worry about money, she needed to graduate…for
herself. A few of the classes had required her to actually go to campus, but
this semester, her two classes were both online, which was just as well given
her propensity to worshipping the porcelain god. She could study when the
children were asleep and that worked well.

Eighteen more credits was all she needed to graduate. Alex
had decided to attend NYU and she wanted to be finished by the time he began.
That only gave her one more year, as Alex was almost a senior in high school.
How the years had flown by.

As Sophia worked away on her laptop, writing a twenty page
paper, the words flowed and references that she had noted to use seemed to
weave themselves together seamlessly. In some ways, she felt she had an
advantage in her major of early childhood education, as she already had three
children. But she was learning so much and feeling proud of her accomplishments
so far. She was averaging an A- GPA and not feeling like she was neglecting her
family.

After two hours of typing away, only getting up three times
when her bladder refused to be silent, she had made an excellent start to her
paper and hoped to have it finished by Sunday evening. The phone rang and she
grabbed it quickly, not wanting the shrill sound to wake Lisa. She was enjoying
the peace.

“Hey!” she smiled into the phone. “I thought you had a crazy
afternoon.”

“Sophia,” Ben said. “Matt just called. Something terrible
has happened.”