Part 31 (2/2)
Dina jerked a bit with the contact, then nodded. ”Yes, just a bit. There's nothing wrong is there?”
Salome reached out and hugged Dina. ”You poor thing. How long have you been married?”
Dina looked up at her step mother. ”You know how long I've been married. It's been a little over two months since we . . . oh!”
Salome smiled at Dina's excited face. ”It's really too soon to tell, but if you are, I suggest you see one of the American doctors about a delivery in theLeahyMedicalCenter . Take the word of someone who knows, anesthesia during childbirth is the only way to go.”
Dina touched her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, then her belly. ”Phillip. Oh, I have to tell Phillip. He'll be so pleased.”
Salome reached out to stop Dina. ”No, not yet.” She led Dina to a chair and sat her down before sitting beside her. ”Don't raise your hopes just yet. Many times I thought I was pregnant when I wasn't.”
Dina sighed. Then she nodded. ”Yes, I'll wait until I'm sure.” Her gaze switched from her step mother to the quilted cloth on the table. ”Phillip gives me a generous allowance, and it would please me to give you something you want. Please, let me buy you one of the new sewing machines.”
Salome swallowed. Her vision was all blurry. Wiping the tears from her eyes, she nodded. ”Thank you, Dina.”
Hearing her brothers' pet name for her on her stepmother's lips reduced Maria Blandina to tears. She walked up to Salome and wrapped her arms around her. ”Mama, if there's ever anything you need, please, just ask.”
Salome choked back tears. ”You called me Mama . . .”
Salome watched her step daughter join her husband and son-in-law out in the courtyard. Phillip Gribbleflotz was no longer the monument to bad taste he had been. That was probably due to Dina's influence. He still wore expensive clothes, but now they were better coordinated and less gaudy. Dina, she noted, had succ.u.mbed to some of the American fas.h.i.+ons. The colors, Salome was forced to admit, suited her. They gave her a glow that hadn't been there before. Mind, Salome thought, watching the affectionate way Dina's husband slipped an arm around her, maybe the glow had another source.
She moved away from the window and took in the rolls of fabric and clothes Dina had given her. Most of it was the sort of hard-wearing material that she would buy herself, just never so much at one time.
She picked up the fine linen s.h.i.+ft Dina had made for her and just stood there admiring it for several minutes before finally wrapping it in its paper. Then she returned her attention to the fabric on the table. If Dina did buy her a sewing machine . . . She gave a contented sigh. That would cut out the endless tedium of st.i.tching together clothes and leave her with a little time for herself.
Salome gave the little bundle of knitting and crochet needles Dina and Phillip had given her a contented look before calling for the servant she was training to help put things away.
Pastor Ludwig Kastenmayer sat back in his armchair. ”It was very nice of Dina and Phillip to bring the presents for the boys, wasn't it, Salome?”
”Yes, Ludwig.” She hesitated a moment. ”What do you think of Dina's husband?”
Pastor Kastenmayer pursed his lips. That was a difficult question. Phillip could support Dina. That was good. They seemed very happy together. That was always nice. It didn't appear that his wealth was pus.h.i.+ng him on the slippery slide to d.a.m.nation. And with Dina as his wife, that was even less likely now.
There was the matter of the mysterious doctorate to still be considered, but Phillip had said he had legal proof supporting his claim to the t.i.tle of Doctor of Philosophy. And finally, there were the letters from the university commenting on how well the boys were progressing in their studies since they had moved in with Dina. Professor Hofmann had been particularly generous in his appreciation of the help young Phillip Kastenmayer had been with the new physics and mathematics.
”I think we did much better than we imagined marrying Dina to Phillip Gribbleflotz.”
The Fortney Residence, Grantville Phillip stopped to examine the two-storied, white, timber house. There were, he noticed, a lot of windows. But no more than most other houses in Grantville. He shook his head at the wastefulness of the Americans, walked up the path, and rapped on the front door. He didn't have to wait long before he could hear footsteps from within the house. There was a rattle of bolts and the door opened a few inches to show a chain across the door. A young face stared at him through the gap.
”Yes?” the woman asked.
”Is this the Fortney residence?” She nodded. ”Herr Dr Gribbleflotz.” Phillip pa.s.sed the woman one of his business cards. ”Is Jonathan Fortney available?”
The woman looked at the card, then up at Phillip. ”I'm sorry, Herr Dr. Gribbleflotz. Herr Jonathan is not available. Herr Caleb is at home if you would like to see him.”
Phillip hesitated, then nodded. ”Yes, I'll see Herr Caleb.”
The woman smiled. ”If you'll just go round the back, you can't miss him.” Then she shut and bolted the door.
Phillip looked at the closed door for a moment, then shrugged and followed the woman's instructions.
Round the back of the house he immediately understood what she had meant about not missing Jonathan's father. A section of sail had been strung up to provide shade while he worked on a small motor vehicle.
”Herr Fortney.”
A man in a soiled blue coverall turned at the sound. He pulled a rag from a pocket and wiped his hands clean before approaching and offering his hand. ”Hi. Caleb Fortney. How can I help you?”
Phillip reached out and grasped Caleb's hand. The hand shake was firm, but he was thankful that Jonathan's father didn't attempt to show off his physical strength as so many of the Americans tended to do. ”Phillip Gribbleflotz. I really wanted to see Jonathan about some information he sent me recently.”
”Yeah, Jonathan's spoken of you. Which information are we talking about?”
”It's for making gems. Some of the senior laborants have voiced an interest in the process, so I was wondering if Jonathan could talk to them.”
”Ah, the gemstones. Well, you're in luck. I've actually made some rubies. I wanted to make a ruby laser, so I made a furnace to make the ruby. If you'll wait a moment, I'll see if I can dig it out.”
”No, Herr Fortney.” Phillip raised an arm to restrain Caleb. ”There is no need for you stop what you're doing. Would you be willing to talk to some of my laborants about the process?”
”Sure. Where and when?”
”The company has a facility here in Grantville that we can use whenever suits you, Herr Fortney. We will be happy to pay for your time.”
”Hey, you don't have to pay me. And enough of this Herr c.r.a.p. Call me Caleb.”
”Please, call me Phillip. And I really do insist that we pay for your time. You have no idea of how much preparation you'll need to do, Caleb. These seminars are a teaching exercise and the laborants are encouraged to ask questions. Some of the questions can be surprisingly acute.”
Caleb raised his eyebrows. ”That the voice of experience I hear?”
Phillip nodded. He'd only been caught out a couple of times. Fortunately he had years of experience to draw on and made a close guess on the answer both times. After those close shaves he'd never gone into the seminar room so badly prepared again.
”In that case, I'll be happy to accept a fee.” Caleb nodded towards the car he'd been working on. ”I'm just about to go for a test drive. Is there anywhere I can drop you off?”
”Drop me off? You mean, travel in your car?”
”Yeah. Where're you staying?”
”The Higgins. If it's not too much trouble.”
Caleb led Phillip over to the pa.s.senger side and opened the door. ”You sure you wouldn't like to go a bit further afield? The Higgins is only a few minutes away.”
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