ROMANOV AUTUMN
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Jack and Alyiah had a wonderful
time in New York. The opera was very well done--Jack was more enthused with the
set design and costumes than the singing itself. He and Alyiah discussed it
afterwards, and she admitted her ears were still ringing from the lead woman's
shrill voice.
"I did enjoy the experience
of being in a grand theater with all of those people dressed in lavish
outfits--it is nice to watch and not be the center of attention."
Mr. Rockefeller threw a party on
Christmas Eve, inviting members of his family. His son recognized Jack, and the
two of them exchanged memories about Europe. Alyiah got on well with the
guests, dancing when invited, but always returning to sit by Jack's side.
There was enough food to feed an
army, which left Jack and Alyiah ready to roll home. It was quite a letdown to
return to Wisconsin, but comforting to see familiar surroundings. Olivia, of
course, begged them for details about the trip when she and Esther came to
dinner.
Jack tried to provide his sister
with as many details as possible, but worried over how tired and feeble his
guardian continued to appear. He pulled her aside while Olivia spoke with
Alyiah, and Esther smiled.
"What is bothering you,
dear?" Esther asked, and Jack massaged his forehead.
"How exactly are you?"
he asked. "You just...you seem so tired."
Esther sat down, fiddling with
her glove. "It's--it's my heart, Jack. I have never been truly healthy--I
managed to mask it for a long time, now."
Jack swallowed. "Are
you..." He couldn't bring himself to finish the sentence, and lowered his
head.
"Not today, Jack, but Olivia
and I are preparing. She is interested in the midwife profession and has been
to see Dr. Owen numerous times. She will begin an apprenticeship when she
finishes her education. My biggest fear was for you, Jack, but now I see I need
have that fear no longer."
Jack felt his eyes misting.
"Esther, I..." he began, and she shook her head.
"Jack, you don't need to
feel apologetic. I am so proud of the man you've become. I know your parents
would have said the same thing."
Jack nodded, going to give her a
hug. "You're like a son to me," she continued. "I never want you
to forget that." She touched his cheek tenderly. "Now, let's go back into
the parlor before they suspect we may have flown out a window."
Jack managed a laugh and tried to
compose himself before following her. Alyiah noticed his change in mood and
took his hand comfortingly.
When winter dissolved into
spring, Jack felt as though a wheel were turning, but he couldn't quite place
why. He continued working at the hotel and the Herald, while Alyiah
began taking charge around the house again. She received a letter in the mail
from Harry and Bridget, announcing the birth of their firstborn son. His name
was Thomas, and he was doing very well. Alyiah wanted to scream--she and Jack
were no closer to having a child than when they first met.
She tossed the letter onto the
kitchen table, anger billowing inside of her. She knocked the fruit bowl to the
floor, watching as everything crashed to the ground. Sobbing fitfully, Alyiah
sat at the table for a good twenty minutes before she was able to calm down,
wiping her cheeks with her fingertips.
The only consolation about this
dilemma was no one in her family--brothers or sisters--had children, either. In
fact, she'd been the first to marry as well. It just angered Alyiah that she
and Jack had been so close, yet so far.
She managed to pick herself up
slowly, taking the fruit from the floor. Jack was so good--he didn't show his
disappointment, but she could feel he was disappointed by their shortcomings.
He came home at 7:30, calling her name when he came through the door.
"Alyiah?" Jack set his
portfolio on the bench in the hall--she normally came running to him when the
door opened. "Is everything all right?" He went into the kitchen,
where she was busying herself with the last touches of dinner.
"Your friends wrote
today," she spoke in a broken voice. Jack frowned, confusion etched in his
face.
"Who?" he asked, and
she nodded to the piece of paper on the counter. He cleared his throat and went
to read it, understanding her mood completely. "Alyiah." He went to
hug her, but she moved away.
"I must be cursed," she
choked as she put the silverware down. "I mean...what have I done to
deserve such a punishment?"
Jack folded his arms.
"Alyiah, I know this has been hard for you...but do you think it's any
easier for me? Sweetheart, stop crying. It'll be okay."
Alyiah held onto him, her body
trembling. "I'm sorry," she apologized. "I saw the letter and
it--" She took a deep breath. "They have a son. A beautiful, glowing,
healthy son."
Jack kissed the top of her head.
"Sit down for a few minutes," he encouraged, and she did so, feeling
a bit lightheaded. "I feel something in the air--something different--like
the world is about to change. Alyiah, it's May--we've been married for two and
a half years. That's not a long time--I'm glad we're getting to spend time
alone together first."
Alyiah hiccoughed, glancing down
at her lap. "You can't tell me you're not disappointed."
Jack sighed. "Not with
you," he insisted. "Alyiah, never with you."
Alyiah lowered her head, glancing
at the meal on the countertop. She stood again and hugged him before going to
bring it over.
That summer, Alyiah focused on
her garden, growing different fruits...raspberries, blueberries, strawberries.
She loved working with the fresh earth, watching new life grow. When fall
approached, she attempted to get back into teaching ballet, but started to feel
a bit ill around mid-September.
Jack worried when she could
barely get out of bed in the morning. "Alyiah, what is it?" he asked
when she let out a soft moan. He went to feel her forehead.
"I'm just so tired,"
she whispered. "And sore." She touched his hand. "But Jack, I
think those are familiar feelings."
Jack's eyes widened, and he
leaped to his feet. "You mean--" he gasped, and she managed a weak
smile. "I'll have to fetch the doctor," he added, and kissed her.
"Try not to move too much...I won't be long. Try not to move too
much."
Alyiah watched as he left,
listening to his footsteps on the stairs. She felt a light stab of pain in her
back when she moved and shut her eyes tightly.
Dr. Owen was brought to the house
later that morning and Jack explained that while her symptoms were similar to
before, she seemed worse.
The physician gave Alyiah a full
checkup, pronouncing her to be pregnant. Jack felt as though he would break
into tears...was this possible? Were they finally receiving the answer to their
constant prayers?
"Dr. Owen, could I speak
with you out in the hall for a moment in private?" Jack asked as he
watched Alyiah's eyes slowly drift shut. They left the room and shut the door
so she wouldn't hear their conversation, and Dr. Owen encouraged Jack to say
what was on his mind.
"Does my wife seem unusually
thin to you?" he asked, and Dr. Owen raised an eyebrow. "She seems to
be shrinking away to nothing. I have a feeling all of those years she wore
corsets while dancing have broken her figure. Will giving birth really be
safe?"
Dr. Owen touched his arm with an
encouraging smile. "Jack, I have cared for many women of her build who are
raising school age children now."
Jack nodded, glancing towards the
room. "Is there anything I can do to make it more comfortable for
her?" he asked.
"She'll start to feel more
like herself in a couple of weeks," Dr. Owen replied. "In the
meantime, I would recommend she refrain from doing anything strenuous."
Jack cleared his throat...he knew
for a fact that Alyiah would have to resign her position as a ballet
instructor. He eventually shook the doctor's hand, unable to stop smiling.
"We really are thrilled,
sir," he continued. "It's been a rough couple of years--we've been
trying so hard to have a baby." He blew out his breath. "Thank you
for coming--I'll bring you back to town."
Dr. Owen was grateful for the
offer, and made Alyiah promise to take care of herself. Jack couldn't return to
the house fast enough--Alyiah was sound asleep in bed, appearing like a small,
porcelain doll. He covered her with the quilt before bending low to kiss her.
Smiling faintly, Jack decided to distract himself with his artwork, watching as
a steady rain began to fall.