by Angharad
“Would madam like some camomile tea, it’s supposed to have a calming affect?”
“No I would not, thank you, Lady Grey will do fine.” I could have slapped the woman who enquired, it certainly did not have a calming affect to watch Tom trying to stifle a snigger. “And you can stop it as well,” I snapped at him.
“Me? What have I done?”
“Ooooh, men!” I said and continued tearing my hair out.
“I’d be careful, if I were you, young lady, they may have a spare room here.”
“Oh shit!” I took a deep breath and sat down. Where was she? We’d been here half a bloody hour!
The tea helped to calm me down, that and Tom threatening to have me admitted. It wasn’t a bad cup or two, Tom seemed to enjoy it as well. We had just finished the tea when Stella deigned to arrive.
“Cathy, Tom–what are you doing here?” She hugged us both.
“Simon, told me you wanted to see me urgently.”
“Did he now? Oh yes, now you’re here, I’d like a chat.”
“I have work to finish, if I might borrow the car keys, young lady.” I gave him the keys and Stella and I went to her room.
“I’m dying for a cuppa, would you like one?”
“Stella we’ve been here an hour already, my tonsils are floating I’ve drunk so much tea.”
“Oh, okay, I’ll have one after you go.”
“If you want one, have one by all means, I don’t want one though.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, please do it.” How I controlled my temper, I don’t know, but I did. Sometimes Stella’s dithering drove me nuts.
We made small talk until her tea arrived, she poured herself a cup and sipped it, “Ahh, that is so good, sure you don’t want any?”
“I am certain, Stella. What is it you need to talk with me about?”
“It’s quite personal.”
“I’m hardly going to tell anyone else am I?”
“I didn’t mean it like that, I meant it’s difficult to tell, even to my sister.”
“I’m sorry, it’s been a hard day,” and it doesn’t appear to be getting any better.
“Oh dear, would you prefer I didn’t tell you?”
Maybe I would kill this woman? “Stella, I’ve spent two hours on a hot day, driving here…”
“Yes it is beautiful, isn’t it?”
What do I have to do to get her to tell me? Torture? Truth serum? Sarcasm? A comfy chair? Spanish Inquisition? Monty Python? I was so busy with my own internal dialogue, which was getting quite surreal that I missed what she said next. “What, did you say?”
“I said, I have to tell someone, and you’re my sister.”
“Tell me what?”
“I’ve m….”
“You’ve what?”
“This is so embarrassing, but I thought you’d understand.”
“I might if you told me.”
“Especially, after what happened before.”
“Eh?”
“You might think I was wicked or something.”
“You’re talking in riddles, Stella.”
“Am I, it’s so personal.” She got up from her chair and walked nervously about the room.
“Do you want me to go?”
“Oh no, please stay a bit longer.” She seemed even more agitated.
I went through her conversation in my head, “Why should I think you were wicked?”
“Because of what I did before.” She wrung her hands and walked up and down.
“What did you do before?”
“God punished me.”
“Stella, that is not true. There is no God, so how could he, she or it, punish you?”
“He did, and I deserved it for what I did.”
“What you did?” I was racking the few brain cells which were not exhausted to give some answers. I watched her walk up and down the room. Only one thing stood out in my mind.
“When did you first discover it?”
“Two weeks ago.”
“You’ve lost quite a bit of weight, that can do it?”
“I know. For someone who doesn’t suffer, you know quite a lot.”
“You’re sure?”
“Pretty well. I’ve been sick as well.”
“Have you done a test?”
“That’s where I was, I have it in my bag. Will you wait with me while I do it?”
“Of course I will.” I hugged her and she sobbed on my shoulder. I felt my eyes fill with tears as well. Eventually, she went off to the bathroom, and I heard a muted cry, I knocked on the door, it wasn’t locked. She was sitting on the toilet and weeping copiously.
“Hey, come on, Sis,” I took her hand and led her into the room. “I take it, it was positive?”
She nodded, and we hugged again. She cried for several minutes and so did I. I wasn’t sure what the implications were, except she mustn’t do what she did last time.
“What shall I do, Cathy?”
“That’s for you to decide. I can’t tell you, but you know you have my love and support.”
“Yes, thank you.” She kissed me on the cheek, “Good old, Cathy.”
“You’re going to need to tell them here, in case any medication affects it.”
“See, ever practical, you’re far more cut out to be a mother than I am.”
“I doubt it, Sis. But I’ll help you all I can, as will Simon and Tom, and I’m sure Henry and Monica will too.”
“He won’t have a father, Cathy, that’s what’s so wrong.”
“I can’t do that for you, Sis, but Simon and Tom will help, and how do you know it will be a boy?”
“I don’t, it just sounds better than calling it, it.”
“True, so you are sure that you are pregnant?”
“As sure as I can be, and those kits are ninety nine per cent accurate.”
“We need to tell them here, do you want me to stay while you do it?”
“Would you?”
“Yes, of course I will. This time we need to tell the others, not keep it a secret. They will want to help, don’t exclude them, will you?”
“No, not this time.”
“Good. Send for the nurse in charge and see what she has to say.”
Actually, she didn’t say much at all, other than ‘Are you sure?’ and ‘I’ll inform doctor, we might need to stop certain medication.’ Then she shot off like a scalded cat.
As Tom was nearby, we called him in and he was pleased for her. He did however agree to keep it under wraps until she had spoken to Simon and her father.
Finally, after Tom went back to the car and Stella and I were alone again, I hugged her again, “Congratulations, Sis, I’m sure Des would have been so proud of you. I am, as well as a bit envious.”
“I’m, I mean, we’re, going to need our Auntie Cathy to help quite a lot, will you be his godmother?”
“What, do you think I’m a fairy or something?”
“No, you silly cow, be serious, because I’m asking you seriously.”
“I don’t believe in God, so am I the right person for the job?”
“Absolutely, you’re a far more godly person than many I know who claim to be so.”
“Thanks, I think. I must go. Take care, get plenty of rest and look after yourself. If you need me, I’m only a phone call away.” We hugged and I went back to the car.
“Hello Auntie Cathy,” Tom smirked at me.
“Don’t you start,” I fired back at him.
Comments
Surprise!
Well, now, nobody saw that coming, eh? ;-)
KJT
"Life is not measured by the breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.”
George Carlin
There's lovely now—
Aaaaaaaaahhhhh, sweeeeeet. So Des will live on in his child and Cathy can arrange for her niece/nephew and Stella to inherit Des's estate. Simon, Henry, Monica, Cathy and Tom must do all they can to keep the rather fragile Stella on the rails.
Super chapter, Ang.
Cofleidiau,
Gabi
Gabi.
Ah, a child
I've always suspected that somehow Stella was going to present Cathy and Simon with a child. This just makes me worry more about that poor woman.
Um. Sooo!?
now she'll live? I mean, not to sound callous, but she's hardly stable, has a history... Oooh how bad this will sound, but it's not reassuring, is it? Gawd, Stella will need support more then ever, and then there is Des's will which will not help to alleviate her worries about Des truly loving her, stead of, or over, love of/for Cathy. In her desperate state that could mean added aggravation, which is (like we all know) not very conductive for the well-being of the fruit of her loins.
The increased tension and awful shattered state of mind of Stella could even lead to a number of problems for the unborn. Like *shudder* such an imbalance in her hormonal system it'd cause a gender-dysphoric child... Naaaah!
Oh not THAT! Really. Who'd imagine such a horrible challenged future. Oh, please no.
Um. Sorry, got carried away a bit here. Of course we _never_ want something like that, do we? The sheer horror. Ugh.
I sincerely hope Stella will come out with a healthy lovely child, which she can cuddle and enjoy. With the help and love of her sister Cathy. Tom and Simon standing aside, benevolent and supporting to the max. I picture it now, and sigh contently. Aaagghh...
Jo-Anne
Golly.
Angharad, I just had another thought. You need to package this and sell it to one of the major US TV networks. This could replace The Young and The Restless. I think you've got the next greatest Soap on your hands. You could actually hire someone to type it instead on making poor Bonzi do it for you. Of course, he would have to maintain editorial control, behind those fancy sunglasses. Just keep him away from the three martini lunches.
Well Now, Looks Like Cathy
Is gonna get to spoil Little Des. Now if ony she can have a child.
May Your Light Forever Shine
May Your Light Forever Shine
But Baby Des…
…might be baby Desdemona!
Gabi
Gabi.
Mea culpa
Ang,
I have been most remiss in commenting on yor series and for that I apologise. I must concur with one of the previous commentors and think Bonzi (or you) should write a screenplay and sell this to a network. I do so love the interactions of the characters and their depth. Once again, sorry for the lack of comments but I thought this was such a fine episode that it truly deserved praise.
Hugs,
Diana
Yes, You **Are** the Goddess ...
.. of your universe. You do a divine job of keeping us entertained what with new plot twists which we mere mortals didn't see coming.
I hope this will work out for Stella although I worry, along with some of my sisters, about Stella's ability to stay steady for little Desmond/Desdemona.
Yours from the Great White North,
Jenny Grier (Mrs.)
x
Yours from the Great White North,
Jenny Grier (Mrs.)
I don't think
even I am perverse enough to call a child Desdemona. Having said that I did call the cat Bonzi (short for Bonzibub - lord of the fleas).
Angharad 8)
Angharad
Well, you did . . .
Name that child Jemima, which has got to be at least as bad as Desdemona. Of course, as obnoxious as Jemima is, perhaps she deserves to be saddled with that moniker.
Hmmm, make it Desdemonia, and Stella's baby could grow up to be a Goth Mistress.
KJT
"Being a girl is wonderful and to torture someone into that would be like the exact opposite of what it's like. I don’t know how anyone could act that way." College Girl - poetheather
"Life is not measured by the breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.”
George Carlin
Interesting....
... And Des' will will muck stuff up even more.
Stella DID sound a wee bit "spaced" in this episode as well.
Now, I'll go read the next exciting episode.
Annette
PND
I sincerely hope, for the sake of the sanity of both Stella and the readers, that in nine plot months' time we don't find Stella suffering Post Natal Depression...
As the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, then only left-handers are in their right mind!
Actually
I thing that is a given, and Stella will require further hospitalization. The girl has been through a lot, but at some point she needs to get her feet back under her. She wasn't that unstable at the beginning of the story.
unstable at the beginning...
Uh... do we know the same Stella? She was right bonkers from the beginning, she was just this side of being institutionalized until those Russians destroyed her.
Unfortunately, I really can't hold out any hope for her ever getting truly "stable" again. At least as stable as a Cameron gets.
*giggle* I just noticed this is almost exactly three months after your post... smudge the hours.
Abigail Drew.
What did Stella ever do to
What did Stella ever do to you, Ang ? Jeeze !
Cefin
Stella
This should make things interesting considering how volatile Stella is, I have a feeling she will be even more so as the pregnancy progresses, and that doesn't even take into account the possibility of post natal depression. She needs LOTS of hugs and love!
I'm sure it will be quite a task to keep her stable, as many medications are contra-indicated for pregnant women. I would also be worried about the possibility of Stella drinking, she needs to consider the child first and abstain from drinking.