She had booties, sweaters, hats, an ashtray, three drawings, a cradle someone's father had built for them, and a tiny pair of wooden shoes, along with all the gifts the other teachers had given her. Her class gave a baby shower for her, and everyone brought something they'd made. She couldn't have stood another day of trying to stand on her feet, keeping the kids in line, or teaching them simple math or their ABC's. By the end of March she was so uncomfortable, she could barely move, and she was grateful that she didn't have to go to work anymore. And eventually, Liz didn't care about making love anyway. He was afraid he would hurt the child, especially if they got too enthusiastic, which they often did. But it didn't seem to be a time for that, although she complained sometimes. He thought she looked sweet that way, although he was aware that his desire for her was waning. And she always looked neat and well dressed. Her face had filled out a little bit, but it didn't spoil her looks, she just looked younger than she usually did. “God, Bernie, sometimes I feel like I'm never going to be my old self again.” She had gained more than thirty pounds, and she had two months to go, but she still looked cute to him. The pains in her back and hips were the worst, but that was normal too. Or almost, except for heart-burn, insomnia, back pains, swollen legs, and increasing fatigue, all of which were normal the doctor said. And when they returned, she was brown and healthy and relaxed, and she felt like her old self again. He faced her with a fait accompli and three days later they left. But he came home from the store with stacks of tropical maternity clothes for her, and the reservations already made. It might do her good to get away before the baby comes.” And for once, he took his mother's advice and took Liz away to Hawaii for a few days, and this time they didn't take Jane, although she pouted at them for several weeks because of it. As aggravating as his mother was at times, it was still nice to know that someone gave a damn about him. “Whose mother are you, anyway? Hers or mine?” He felt sorry for Liz sometimes, she had absolutely no family at all, except him, and Jane, and his parents in New York. “Don't overlook your responsibilities, Bernard.”Īnd he laughed at her. His mother wagged an angry finger at him. He was going to have to put it off until after the baby came, and somehow he had much more to do at the store just then. The baby was due exactly when he made his usual trip to New York and Europe. “I guess I should.” He'd been working so hard, he hadn't really thought of it, and it was going to be difficult for him this year. And she'd been complaining of pains in her hips and back for the last month. They had a wonderful few days, but when Ruth and Lou came back, Ruth told Bernie she thought Liz looked terrible. On their anniversary they went to L'Etoile, and came home and made love until all hours, the following night they went to a huge charity affair given at the store, and on New Year's Eve they went out with friends, and wound up in the bar at L'Etoile again. They stayed for a week, and then went to Disneyland with Jane, to leave Bernie and Liz alone for their anniversary. She had advice for her that dated back to her own grandmother, and after a close look at Liz' profile in the baggage claim she announced that it was a boy, which delighted everyone. And Ruth had brought everything from a layette from Bergdorfs to pamphlets about her health that she had forced Lou to bring her from the hospital. She was five and a half months pregnant by then. Bernie's parents arrived the day after Christmas vacation began, and Liz and Jane drove out to the airport to pick them up.
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