Harriet Beamer Strikes Gold (14 page)

“It looks like the kids are still out,” Harriet said as she parked the car. “The BMW is missing.”

“This is a nice house,” Martha said. “Is that your scooter?”

Harriet laughed. “Sure is. Cute isn’t she?”

The two friends sighed at the same time and said, “I’ve missed you so much.” They hugged. Humphrey let go a loud woof.

“Come on,” Harriet said. “Let’s go inside. Believe it or not, I have more news.”

“You’re kidding. I don’t know if I can take anymore, not after the gold mine. I still can’t believe you actually did that.”

“Wait until you meet Lily and Win. You’ll feel so much better about it.”

Harriet opened the door and stepped out.

“Lily?” Martha said. “Who is Lily?” She tugged open the lift gate.

“Win’s daughter. She’s a teenager. You know the type—seventeen, dark, brooding, probably writes poetry late at night.”

“Weren’t we all dark at that age?”

“Well, let’s get your bag inside and I’ll show you around.”

Harriet unlocked the front door as Humphrey scooted around to the back of the house. “Welcome,” she said, “to Chez Beamer.” She went in and dropped Martha’s bag on the floor.

Martha stepped farther into the house. “This is lovely. Prudence did a nice job decorating.”

“It is nice,” Harriet said. “And it’s going to get a whole lot nicer.”

“How so?”

“Come on in the kitchen and I’ll tell you.”

“I could sure use a cup of coffee,” Martha said.

“It’s been quite a day for you.”

Harriet prepared the coffee as Martha looked around. “Now, this is a great kitchen. And look at the deck.” She moved closer to the sliders. “Oh, Humphrey looks like he wants in.” She pushed open the door and in he went, heading straight to his water bowl.

“Henry said it was added on a couple of years before they bought it. And speaking of adding on …”

Martha sat down at the table with a little bit of thud and sigh. Obviously travel weary.

Humphrey finished lapping his water and stretched out his long body on the floor at Martha’s feet. “How are you, boy?” She leaned over and gave him a good rub behind the floppy ears. “Oh, I’ve missed these ears.”

Humphrey smiled.

The coffeemaker gurgled and the aroma of coffee swirled through the room. She opened a cabinet. “Little Debbies. That boy is in for a rude awakening one day. He eats them like they’re going out of style. I don’t suppose you want one?” She showed Martha a box of oatmeal creme cookies.

“No, thanks. Something about flying that always makes my stomach funny for a while, although lunch was good. Just the coffee.”

Harriet set two coffee cups on the table. She chose cups with saucers instead of big, heavy mugs. A reunion between close friends called for cups with saucers.

“Any-hoo,” Harriet said, “my other news is that the kids are having an addition—”

“I know that,” Martha said.

Harriet chuckled. “No, no, let me finish. They aren’t just having a baby. They’re also having an addition built—a mother-in-law suite. Can you believe it?”

“Oh, Harriet,” Martha said. “That is good news.”

“I call it the Grammy Suite.”

“Harriet, you are one terrific mom. And now you’ll have a place for your collection. Sounds to me like the kids are trying to take extra good care of you.”

Harriet was tempted to explain that she was paying for it, but decided it wasn’t really about the money. It was about the love.

The coffeemaker gurgled at last and Harriet filled their cups. She set a small pitcher of cream on the table.

Martha added a splash and then lifted her cup. “Here’s to a grandbaby, a Grammy Suite, and a gold mine. It’s been a great day. Gee, that’s a lot of g’s.”

“I’ll say,” Harriet said. And they laughed.

They clinked cups. “And here’s to my dearest friend in the world,” Harriet said. “Together again.”

Martha sipped her coffee and leaned back in the chair with closed eyes. She let go a long sigh. “I hate to fly.”

Harriet laughed. “I never knew that.”

“It’s the take-offs. Rattles my cage something fierce. My head still feels fuzzy.”

The coffeemaker made a strange final rattle like it sometimes did, as though it had discovered a drop of water yet to filter. Harriet turned in its direction on instinct. “I wouldn’t know. I’ve never flown.”

“Don’t,” Martha said. “Unless it’s the only way.”

In a few minutes, Harriet refilled their cups, and this time she set the box of oatmeal creme cookies on the table. “Just in case your stomach is settled.”

“So tell me the truth now,” Martha said. “How is it, really, living with your kids? Is it strange at all?”

Harriet picked off a corner of a cookie. “Sometimes. I mean, we’re family and I know that, but still, it’s
their
family, if you know what I mean. I’m the fifth wheel, the square peg, the stinky fish.”

“Yeah, I guess it would be hard.”

Harriet felt pensive a moment. “I wonder if that’s why I bought into the gold mine.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I guess the mine is … well, mine. And I’m hoping, no, praying that it will pay off big time so I can do more for them. It’s time to leave something behind, something they’ll look at and say, “Mom did this. Mom left this for us.”

“But you’ve done that, Harriet. Henry is so much like you.
You just don’t know it. He’s your legacy, and now with the baby on the way, well, if there was ever something you contributed to, that’s it.”

“But what if I could send Henry to culinary school and he became a world renowned chef? He just started talking about school. Or I arranged the baby’s college education?”

“I think you should let Henry decide his own future. You tried that once before, and look what happened.”

Harriet felt the hair on her neck tingle. “He sold the business. In secret.”

“Because he was afraid to tell you. Please, let them decide. And if you really do strike gold and get rich, then that’s gravy.”

Harriet reached out her hands to Martha. Martha held them and squeezed. “The best legacy you can leave them is to be happy, enjoy the time you have left, at least thirty years.” She smiled. “That’s what they’ll remember.”

“But … but …”

“No buts, Harriet. You have a wonderful son. You raised him well.”

“And you have Wyatt,” Harriet said.

Martha looked into her coffee cup as though it held the answer to an age-old question. “Wyatt,” was all she said.

“
MOM
,” H
ENRY CALLED THE INSTANT HIS FOOT HIT THE
porch steps. “Mom!”

He pushed open the door. “Mom, we’re home.” Prudence followed behind.

“Coming,” Harriet called. “We’re coming.”

Humphrey skittered out of the room before Harriet and Martha.

“Wow,” Martha said. “He’s excited.”

“He should be,” Harriet said. “He’s going to become an uncle.”

“Martha,” called Henry. “It’s so good to see you. How was your flight?”

Martha moved close enough to Henry to hug him. “Henry, you look wonderful, and congratulations.”

“Thank you. We’re excited.”

Martha pulled away and hugged Prudence. “Hi, Prudence. You are gorgeous. I can’t believe it. A baby.”

“Thank you, Martha. Welcome to California.” Then she laughed.

Harriet stood near the couch and felt her eyebrows crinkle. “What’s so funny?”

Prudence sat in the big chair. Humphrey trotted close and
Prudence patted his side. “I see I’m not the only one getting fat around here.”

Henry clicked his tongue. “You are not getting fat. And we won’t ever say that.”

“Okay, okay,” Prudence said. “Do you want to tell them the news?”

“News?” Harriet said. “You have news?” She sat on the couch. “I guess it’s good news, because you two look terribly excited.”

“It is, Mom, but you should sit,” Henry said. “This is pretty exciting.”

Martha sat next to Harriet on the couch. “Okay, we’re sitting, son,” Harriet said.

“Right, right.” He looked at Prudence. Humphrey sat with his head resting on her knee. Sandra Day sauntered past and leaped onto the back of Prudence’s chair.

Henry nearly sucked all the air out of the room. “Okay. Are you ready?”

“Ready,” Harriet said. She couldn’t imagine what was so exciting.

“Do you want to tell, honey?” he asked Prudence.

“No, no, I think you should tell.”

Henry took another deep breath and said, “Twins. We are having twins.”

This time it was Harriet who nearly sucked all the air out of the room. She grabbed onto Martha. “Did you hear that? Twins. We’re having twins. Well, they’re having twins, but me, also, sort of, twins. I’m going to be Grammy to twins. Twins. Oh my goodness.”

She leaped up and wrapped her arms around Henry. “Congratulations, Henry.”

Then she gave Prudence an equally substantial hug.

“That is exciting,” Martha said. “Twins. Wow. Two of everything.”

“We were stunned,” Prudence said. “But there they were on
the ultrasound monitor. Two … babies. Two heartbeats. And that’s why I really am beginning to show.”

Henry sat on the arm of the chair next to Prudence. “Yep. Baby A and Baby B. That’s what the technician, Jennifer, called them. Isn’t that cute?”

Martha laughed. “He’s so happy. That’s nice.” But then she got kind of a faraway look in her eyes that Harriet could feel in her heart. She made a mental note to ask Martha about it later.

“This calls for a celebration,” Harriet said. “We should all go out for dinner. To that lodge, you know the one, with all that rusticness—what’s it called?”

“Half Moon Lodge?” Prudence said. “That’s a fabulous idea.”

After Harriet caught her breath and sat back down she said, “Well? Did you ask?”

“Ask what?” Henry said.

“Boys? Girls?”

Prudence shook her head. “No. The technician said it was too early to tell with any amount of certainty. All we know is that they are not identical twins.”

“Oh, well that’s just fine,” Harriet said. “Now we need to get double everything.”

She nudged Martha and whispered, “That gold will come in handy now.”

“What was that, Mom?” Henry asked. “Did you say something?”

“I’m just glad we’re building the extra rooms. It’s really going to come in handy.”

Harriet and Prudence locked eyes. Harriet felt so much emotion well up inside of her she thought she might burst. “Oh, Prudence,” she said, “I am so happy for you.”

“I know you are, Mother. I just wish …”

“Wish what?” Harriet asked.

“Well, you know, my own mother …”

“Yes,” Martha said. “This must be bittersweet for you.”

Prudence said. “It’s okay.”

“Now, you should try not to think about it too much,” Harriet said. “We might never know why it worked out like this, but try to rest assured that God has got you and those dear sweet babies in the palm of his hand. He’s got his reasons.”

“I know, Mother,” Prudence said. “Do you really think he has my mother in the palm of his hand?”

Harriet looked at Henry. “Maybe not the same hand,” she said. “But I know he loves her too, and if you two are meant to be reunited someday then you will be. For now, all you need to do is take care of yourself.”

“Thanks, Mom,” Henry said. “In fact, why don’t you rest before we head out for dinner, honey? I’ll wake you in plenty of time.” He kissed her head.

“Okay. I am a little tired.”

“That actually sounds good,” Martha said. “It’s been a long, trying day. I’d like to rest before dinner also. There is the time difference to contend with.”

“Oh, that’s right. And was your flight especially tiring?” Prudence asked.

Harriet laughed. “Let’s just say we had to play a little game of hide-and-seek. Martha dropped her phone at Midway Airport in the toilet and had no way of getting in touch with me.”

“Oh no,” Prudence said with a little giggle. “I did that once. Sometimes if you set the phone in a bowl of rice it will start working again.”

“Really?” Martha said. “I hadn’t heard that.”

“Hide-and-seek?” Henry said as though he was just hearing it. “You mean Martha was lost or you got lost? I knew it. I knew you’d have trouble.”

“No,” Martha said. “I was the one who got lost. Your mom was terrific. And here I am, safe and sound.”

Harriet smiled at Prudence. “Are you okay, dear?”

Prudence touched her stomach. “I’m glad you’re here to … teach me. I don’t know anything about taking care of a baby and now all of a sudden I have two. Two, Mom. Two babies. What if I don’t wake up when they cry? I usually sleep like a rock. What if I drop one? What temperature is the right temperature for a bottle? And … should I use the bottle or breast-feed. Can you nurse twins?”

“Prudence,” Harriet said. “Calm down, honey, before you explode. You will know. I’ll teach you some things, like routines and schedules and the proper way to swaddle an infant. They like that, you know. But most of it will come to you because God gives it to you. He’s the best mother of all. And the best teacher.”

“Mothering is an instinct,” Henry said. “I think you’re going to do great.”

Prudence looked at Henry. “Sometimes I … sometimes I worry that I might not be able to do it, like my mother. She had to run away. I won’t do that, will I?”

Harriet shook her head so hard she thought it might snap off. “No, of course not. For one thing, I won’t let you and, for another, you’re not your mother. Your father did a pretty good job raising you all by himself.”

“That’s right,” Henry said. “And you’ll have me.”

“My father did the best he could,” Prudence said. “I miss him too. I know he would be so happy to meet his grandchildren.”

Harriet’s thoughts quickly turned to Lily and Win. For a split second she considered telling Prudence. Not on account of the gold mine but because maybe Prudence could help Lily.

But no, Prudence didn’t need that right now.

“Now, look,” Harriet said, “you go take a nap. You need your rest. I’ll call you for dinner.”

“Come on, honey. I’ll tuck you in,” Henry said.

Harriet and Martha waited until they heard the bedroom door shut before speaking. “What do you really think?” Martha asked.

“About what?”

“Prudence’s mothering skills.”

“Let’s just say I wouldn’t be surprised at anything. Remember, this is a woman who wears Versace to the grocery store and has a near fit if one of the couch pillows lands on the floor.”

Martha laughed. “She’s in for a few surprises. And with two? I’m glad you’re here.”

“Me too. But you know, the poor dear never had a mother of her own to show her what to do.”

“That’s true,” Martha said. “But the learning curve is steep, and even those of us who had role models made mistakes.”

“Come on,” Harriet said. “You haven’t even settled in yet. Let me show you our room.”