Ch 25

Bette was coping with the death of Nat as best as she could. She has missed her terribly and often called out her name saying Nat I am home or Nat dinner is ready. Nat was on her mind by day and in her dreams by night. She was almost haunting her life everywhere she goes and whatever she did. Every little thing reminded her of the time she spent with Nat but most of all Sasha. Sasha had his mothers eyes and every time Bette looked at him her heart would skip a beat. He started to look so much like his her and his side of the family. Bette doted on him and was devoted to him completely and couldnt bear to let him out of her sight. He was the apple of her eyes and she loved him beyond comprehension. Shasha was getting bigger slowly but surely he was a happy and content boy, and he was a good sleeper too.
Kit and the girls decided to give Bette a break; they wanted her to go back to work in order to help her stop dwelling and mourning the death of Nat.
They came up with a brilliant idea and wanted to put it forward to Bette. So they gathered at her house and called a conference as usual to discuss the matter further.
Alice: I declare this meeting open.
Bette, Kit, Dana, and Mary as well all laughed together to break the ice.
Bette: Alice what is this meeting about?
Kit: Well Bette, we are gathered her your family and friends first because we all love you.
Dana: We do we all do, and second because we cant bear to see you all alone up to your knees in baby milk and diapers.
Mary: Yes that is right, so we are here to help you and to relive some of the burden off your shoulders.
Bette: Sasha is my boy and he is not a burden at all, I love being with him.
Alice: We know Bette, we know, we are here to help you and we want to do this. In short we think that it is better for you if you go back to work at the CAC.
Kit: Yes and we in turns will look after Sasha.
Bette: Well I cant do that you guys, I cant leave Sasha I need to be with him.
Mary: Bette we understand honey we really do, but you have to look after yourself too. It is no good you being tired and exhausted all the time and looking after children can have that effect on mothers.
Alice: We all have decided to take one day off from work, in turns, and come here and look after Sasha for the day. I will take Mondays, Dana has no practice on Tuesday, Mary doesnt work anymore so she can do Wednesday, and Daniel as well decided to chip in and help on Thursday which leave Friday open for Kit.
Dana: Which leaves you with the whole weekend and all evenings and nights. That is a huge part of Sashas life Bette. So please we would like you to consider our offer.
Bette: Look you guys it is very generous of you but I dont want to confuse the little chap. He wouldnt know if he was coming or going with a different face every day. Besides I got used to being with him every day and I dont think I can part with him.
Alice: Bette we know how close you are to Sasha and we are not trying by any means to jeopardise your relationship with him. We see how brave and strong youve been and still are but we also recognise the fact that you need a break.
Kit: Bette Alice is right, please you have to listen to us we only want what is good for you and the baby. Dont worry about Sasha he is going to just fine and dont forget that Sasha will have 4 mothers whod love him instead of one, and a father figure in his uncle Daniel if he needed one. Now what more could you need for your little angel?
Bette was thinking, she is getting rather tiered and wanted a break, she was longing for some adult conversation and yes and she was nearly 2months pregnant. This she still hasnt told any one about apart from Daniel. She still kept her pregnancy a secret but soon she will be showing and then she wouldnt be able to hide it anymore. So she decided to tell them, now that they are all at her place.
Bette: You guys I thank you again very much for your kind offer. If I agree to your arrangement it will only be a temporary thing. You have to understand that he has been my only reason for living and for being since Ive lost Natasha and because I cant bear to be parted from him for too long I would prefer to see him at the CAC every day for couple of hours at lunch time. I want to be able to feed him and take him out to the playground next to the museum. This in effect will give you the chance to have a break and to eat your lunch in peace. I cant deny that I havent missed my work. I would love to go back to the CAC.
Alice: Well thats settled then I dont mind having a couple of hours off for lunch, that suites me fine. How about you, you guys.
Kit: Yes that is fine by me, but Bette hang on, what do you mean by temporary? Are you leaving the CAC?
Bette: No Kit, I am not. This is going to come as a surprise to you all. I havent told you this because Nat urged me to keep it between us.
All the girls were intrigued now and raised their eyebrows and looked at each others. What could Bette be hiding from them? They knew everything about her!!!
Kit: Are you talking about the thing you discussed with Nat when she was having the baby?
Bette: Yes thats it Kit and I told you that I would tell you later on, will now is the time to tell you all what I have been keeping from you.
Alice: Come on Bette the suspense is killing us spit it out.
Mary: Yes Bette I would like to know too.
Bette: Well months ago Nat and I decided to have a brother or a sister for our baby boy. So we looked for a suitable donor and found him. What I am trying to say is that I am pregnant and will have a baby in less than 7 months all goes well.
They girls couldnt believe their ears.
Alice: Get out, noooooo waaaaaaaaay, you Bette pregnant?????????!!!!!!!!
Kit: My God Bette how could you hide such a thing from me? Oh honey I am so happy for you, oh my you do keep surprising us all-right!!!!!! When, where and who is..?
Bette: Well the father will be kept a secret for now, I have to take his permission to reveal his name because it could bring some unwanted circumstances and we dont want this to happen.
Mary: Does he know that you are expecting his child?
Bette: Yes Mary he knows and he is very happy for me.
Dana: Do we know him have we met him?
Bette: Again I cant tell you this Dana I am sorry.
Kit: Never mind who he is whats more important that we are happy for you and for Sasha. He is going to have someone to play with and soon by the look of things.
Alice: Which takes us back to our original plans. We must help you out Bette; soon you are going to be as big as a whale.
Dana muttered something under her breath and nudged Alice with her elbow and sent her flying over the sofa. Everyone laughed and giggled and teased Bette about her pregnancy and the weight that she is going to put on, besides all the sleepless nights and the swelling all over.
Bette was in tears for laughing so much so was all the women present there.
Bette: Thank you Alice I love you too. So that is settled then. Now if you dont mind I have a hungry boy to feed. Alice you can stay, itll do you good to start practicing from now, in fact you can all stay. So are you going to be the mammy Alice?
Alice and Dana laughed again at Bettes comments and followed her to Sashas nursery.
Kit and Mary kissed Bette and Sasha and excused themselves and promised to turn up for their babysitting day starting from next week.
Bette and Sasha adjusted to the change very quickly and the arrangement worked out quite well for both mother and son. Bette was very happy to be back at work and out of the house. Everyday one of the girls would drop Sasha at her office and she would spend an hour feeding him and then she devotedly takes him out for a walk in his stroller and spends the rest of the time with him in the playground surrounded by other children and babies playing and doing various activities. Bette couldnt be happier she loved spending her lunchtime with her boy and was very comfortable being his only carer over the weekend. She didnt want anyone to interfere with her time with him it was their special time.