Part 33 (1/2)
”He looks kinda cute, doesn't he?” Ronella asked, pointing to the sleeping Phillip.
Dina nodded. Yes, Phillip did look cute sleeping slumped in his chair. He must have dozed off while he waited for her. There was an open book on the floor that must have slipped from his grasp when he fell asleep.I wonder what he was reading? She bent to pick it up, and almost burst out laughing. She showed Ronella the book.
”The Expectant Father.” Ronella grinned. ”What else has he been reading?”
Dina looked through the mountain of books beside Phillip. All but the book on pyramid power were about pregnancy. Reading the t.i.tles she started to get worried.What to Expect When You're Expecting ,What to Eat When You're Expecting ,Pregnancy for Dummies ,Fit Pregnancy for Dummies ,Dr Spock's Baby and Child Care. Even one t.i.tledThe Womanly Art of Breastfeeding . Then there were the ones on raising twins.Raising Multiple Birth Children: A Parents' Survival Guide . Ouch. Dina wasn't sure she liked the idea of needing a survival guide. Even worse was the idea that Phillip had, or intended, to read these books, and maybe try to implement the ideas put forward. Heck, look at the effort he'd put into his research into pyramid power. Dina wasn't sure she wanted Phillip that focused on her babies.
Ronella looked up after looking at the t.i.tles. ”Girl, you've got problems. Whoever gave Phillip these is either too well meaning for words, or they have it in for you.”
Dina didn't get to respond, because just then Phillip jerked awake.
”Dina, where have you been? I expected you home hours ago.”
Dina flushed. ”I'm sorry, Phillip. We got talking and just forgot the time.”
”Well, you're home now.” He turned to Ronella. ”Thank you for seeing my wife safely home. Can I escort you to your home?”
Ronella turned expectantly to Dina.
She took the hint. ”Phillip, the reason I'm so late is we got talking about the chemical engineer you said you wanted. You know Jerry Trainer?”
”What?” Phillip was suddenly all attentive. ”Herr Jerry Trainer? He is willing to work for us?”
”No, Phillip.” Dina shook her head. ”But he has an apprentice he's been training for the last few years.
Lori Drahuta. Mrs. Penzey thinks she might be interested.”
February 1636, 1:00 am Phillip had thought he was prepared, but right now, he was on the verge of panicking. He'd woken up when Dina jerked and cried out. At least her waters hadn't broken yet. There was still time to get to Grantville if they hurried. ”I have to get you to the hospital, Dina.” Phillip slipped out of bed and made for the bell pull. He pulled it and could hear the distant ringing of a bell. He grabbed some clothes and made for the dressing room door. ”Don't go away, I'll be right back.”
Frau Mittelhausen bustled into the bedroom. She could see immediately that the doctor had grabbed some clothes and made for his dressing room. She spared the mess he'd made a single sigh before turning her attention to the mistress. Helping her out of bed she helped Dina into a fresh nightdress and started to wrap her in a dressing gown and coat to keep out the cold. ”How do you feel, Frau? I've sent Hans out to get the car ready. Would you like anything to eat or drink?”
Dina shook her head and let Frau Mittelhausen take charge.
Dina let Phillip help her into the car. ”I'm all right, Phillip. Are you sure it's safe to drive to Grantville at night?”
”Of course it's safe, Dina. Jonathan and his father fitted the extra lights just in case we had to make a night run. It'll be just like driving during the day, but without the traffic.”
Dina nodded. That sounded safe. She tried to make herself comfortable in the car seat. The seat belt wasn't very comfortable, but Phillip insisted she wear it, so she made the best of it.
It was a still winter's morning. The moon was high in the sky, moonlight illuminated the countryside.
Phillip, she could see, was fiddling with the radio-ca.s.sette player. Then he started the car moving forward. He was driving a little faster than normal, but as he had said, the road was clear of other traffic.
Dina tried to relax. Suddenly she jerked. Another contraction. She didn't need Phillip's watch to know they were getting closer together.
Dina noticed Phillip flicking a switch. She thought nothing had happened until she looked up at the road ahead. It was well illuminated for hundreds of paces ahead. She could see the beam hitting the windows of the neighbors. She sighed. She'd have to placate them when she got back from Grantville.
”We'll soon be out ofJena , Dina. Then I'll be able to go a bit faster.”
”That'll be nice, Phillip.” Dina snuggled deeper into her heavy fur coat. Phillip had one just like it. Sable, if she remembered what the furrier said. A special delivery fromRussia . Whatever, it was very warm.
Dina jerked awake. She tried to work out where they were, but she wasn't used to seeing the countryside by moonlight. She turned to ask Phillip, but stopped at the sight of him concentrating on the road ahead. She looked out the side window, and rapidly turned back to face the front. Surely the landscape was going past overly fast. She edged over so she could see the speedometer, and immediately wished she hadn't. She sat back firmly in her seat, with both hands gripping it firmly.
”You're awake, Dina? Don't worry, we'll soon be in Grantville.”
Dina swallowed. Surely Phillip shouldn't be looking at her when he was driving. ”Keep your eyes on the road, Phillip.”
”Of course dear, but there's nothing to worry about. I know this road well.”
There was a screeching of tortured tires and Dina felt the car sliding.
”Whoops! Sorry about that. Went around that curve a little fast. Nothing to worry about. There was nothing coming the other way. We'll soon be there, Dina. Rudolstadt should be just around this next curve.”
Dina could feel her nails digging into the upholstery.When would this nightmare trip end?
She could hear the muted roar of the car engine reverberating back off the buildings as they sped through Rudolstadt. And Dina was sure they were speeding. Everything was wizzing past so much quicker than when Phillip normally drove through Rudolstadt. Even the sound of tires on cobblestones suggested excessive speed.
Before she'd realized, they were through Rudolstadt. The hospital was only a few miles away.
LeahyMedicalCenter Phillip screeched to a halt outside the admissions area at theLeahyMedicalCenter . He leaped out of the car and ran around to the pa.s.senger door. Even before he got to Dina, medical orderlies were approaching with a trolley. ”It's my wife. She's about to have a baby. Two of them!”
The orderlies carefully lifted Dina onto the padded trolley and set off for the medical center. Phillip ran alongside, holding Dina's hand. She was wheeled into a delivery room and transferred to a hospital bed.
Dr. s.h.i.+pley arrived and immediately suggested Phillip might like to wait outside.
Dina looked tired but happy. Dr. s.h.i.+pley had claimed that it had been a remarkably easy labor. Phillip wasn't so sure. If that had been an easy delivery, he wasn't sure he wanted his Dina going through a difficult one. He'd already talked to Dr. s.h.i.+pley about that. She had suggested that there was a simple medical procedure that could prevent him fathering another child. She had suggested he talk to Dina about the option. Phillip had been terrified for Dina. The way she screamed and yelled, she must have been in extreme pain. And the blood. He'd almost fainted at the sight of so much blood. But after the nurse had given her the two wrapped bundles, Dina had been all smiles. It was as if the pain had never occurred.
He looked over at his children. A boy and a girl. He smiled. That meant there was one each. Not that a parent should place a claim on a child. But he was sure his daughter would take after her mother. His son, maybe he would have the look of his mother, too. That was all for the good. They'd have to think of names. Dina had suggested Salome Blandina for a girl, after her mother and step-mother. She had asked Phillip if the boy should be called Theophrastus, but he'd managed to dissuade her. Anyway, there was plenty of time to worry about names. Dina and the children were healthy. That was what was important.
A Week Later, HDG Enterprizes (Jena) The car drew to a halt just outside their apartment inJena . Dina waited for Phillip to open the door and help her out. That was when she saw the two women. One of them was a young American. That was probably Lori Drahuta. She'd indicated interest in finding out more about what the position at HDG entailed, and been invited to visit. The other woman looked much the same age. She had rich black hair and an unlined porcelain white face. Her clothes left little to the imagination.Who was this woman?
Dina watched silently as the female approached a clearly embarra.s.sed Phillip. She looked over at Frau Mittelhausen. The housekeeper looked embarra.s.sed that the homecoming had been disrupted, but she wasn't looking at Phillip with condemnation. It struck Dina that Frau Mittelhausen's look was more one of pity.
Dina looked back at the woman. There was something unnatural about her. Dina stepped closer.