Larry and Linda Arrive, part four

"I'm going to have a baby."

Leta could hardly believe what she heard. Her daughter Vivian was 37 years old. She had only one child—Don—who had just turned 12. Her doctor had told her after her last miscarriage that it was not wise for her to continue to try. After that, she had developed the symptoms of being pregnant, but it was a false pregnancy. Vivian and her husband Ed both agreed to stop trying. Now, several years later, Vivian was actually pregnant.

There was joy and anxiety. Vivian and Ed always wanted more children, and now this was about to occur. However, Vivian’s body might react strongly. When she was pregnant with Don, she had to be careful, and with this new pregnancy, the doctor gave her strict orders about rest, activity and stress. She mostly needed to relax as much as she could.

And Leta declared that she would assist her. Two days per week, she had her husband Claud take her to her daughter’s home, where she would clean for Vivian and keep her company. Even though Leta offered to cook, Vivian insisted that she continue with those duties. Both her husband and her son were particular about their meals, and Vivian spent many years developing an assortment of foods they would eat. Leta thought it was all a bit too finicky, especially under the circumstances, but she agreed. On the days she was there, she helped Vivian as much as she could in the kitchen. And she joined them for supper. In the evening, after they had finished, and Leta washed the dishes and cleaned the kitchen, Ed would drive her home while Vivian rested.

This went on for four months. Vivian was uncomfortable, but careful. She rested, she ate well, and she walked to keep her blood flowing. Twice she was checked for bleeding, but the baby was fine, had a heartbeat, and even moved around quite a bit. In her last six weeks, after one bout of false labor, the doctor ordered her to bed rest.

Initially, Leta only increased her time there to four days per week. Ed was at work, and Don was in school. This gave Leta plenty of time to do the housework and prepare the meals, and Vivian obviously relished the company. One afternoon, however, Don returned from school and promptly asked his mother how she was faring on his school project. Leta was in the kitchen, pouring him a glass of milk to have with the cookies she made and overheard the reminder that the project was due in three days, and he was getting anxious about the sewing she was doing for him. While sewing by hand was a task that Vivian could do in her state, the project required use of her sewing machine, which was in the basement. With Don’s assistance, Vivian rose from bed immediately. Leta met them at the end of the hall. She had a kitchen towel in her hands.

“What’s going on here?” Leta inquired.

“Mom’s helping me make a banner for school,” Don answered.

Leta scowled and gripped the towel tightly.

“Using the sewing machine? In the basement?”

“How else is she going to do it?” Don asked.

“It’s just a little project, Ma,” Vivian said sheepishly.

“You’re going up and down them stairs in your condition?” Leta demanded. Vivian did not need to answer.

“Not any more you’re not,” Leta declared. “Donald Edward, help your mother sit on the sofa.”

“But, Grandma—“ Don whined.

“Do as I say, right this minute,” Leta snapped. “You ought to be ashamed of yourself. You know your mother isn’t supposed to be going up and down the stairs. It could hurt her or the baby. Or both of them. I’m ashamed of you. You’re supposed to be helping your mother. And now I learn that I can’t leave the two of you alone at all!”

“But, Grandma,“ Don whined again, “what about my project?”

“That’s enough,” Leta interrupted. “Do as I say. I’m going to make your mother a cup of tea, and you’re going to take it to her. Do you understand me?”

Don had turned away. Using her hands, Leta turned his face toward her.

“Do you understand, Donald?”

“Yes, Grandma.”

Then Leta turned to her daughter. Vivian was also embarrassed, but getting weak from standing so long.

“Either you can tell Ed or I can that I’m moving in until this baby is born,” Leta stated. “I’m not going to have any more of these kinds of shenanigans.”

If Ed protested, he never did to Leta’s face, and the following Sunday evening after supper, her husband Claud left on his own. Ed and Don disappeared to the second floor where Ed had his ham radio equipment, and Don had been relocated, so the baby could have the first floor bedroom. For the next month, Leta took over the household, and Vivian stayed safe.

On June 30, 1951, in the early morning, Larry Alan was born. He was a bit small, but healthy, and Vivian had no complications with the delivery. A little over a year later, just after he started walking, Vivian learned that she was pregnant once again, and on August 24, 1953, she gave birth to Linda Leigh, her first girl and third child.