Chapter 27: The world turns

Christmas that year was loving and enjoyable. After our gift exchange Christmas day, Lisbeth had gone to Kayla's house to spend the night. Anyone care to guess what they were planning? Or doing? I thought not. I kept my nose out of it too.

Mom was visiting friends in Bismarck, and she'd said she'd be home late. Donny and I were sitting near the fireplace, enjoying the quiet companionship of simply being close to one another. I had a brandy snifter in my hand, and Donny was drinking imported beer. I was freshly showered and gloriously naked under my old flannel nightie. Donny had his running shorts on.

He hugged me with one arm and said, "I love you."

I buried my chin in his neck and murmured, "I love you too."

It was quiet for a minute, then he asked, "Would you be willing to have kids?"

I swung my legs around so he was holding me in his lap and said, "The pregnancy part doesn't bother me, but I don't know if I'm responsible enough. Kids scare me."

He laughed softly and said, "They scare me too, but I've talked to Sylvie. Once you get over the terrible twos, they're a lot of fun."

"Yeah, like a root canal without Novocain," I laughed.

He went silent for a moment, thinking. "Another thing," he said. "I've been promoted at work. You're now married to Lieutenant Strum. They moved me to Station Four, down by Sibley Park near the river."

I playfully punched him in the shoulder and squealed, "Why didn't you tell me before now? We have to celebrate."

I was leaning against him playing with his chest hair when he said, "I want you to quit working in town and stay home."

I said, "Jeez, Donny! First kids, then your promotion, now I should quit my job and stay home. Anything else on your mind?"

I didn't know where this was leading, and I wasn't sure I'd like the outcome. Money wasn't exactly a problem, but we were frugal with our dollars and saved every nickel we could. I thought, 'We might be heading right into our first real argument'. I wasn't pleased.

Donny said, "I've talked to a few people, and they say accounting is their worst nightmare. They get poor service and it costs too much; you could open your business right here in the house and save them some money. And I'd get to see more of you."

It was true; lately the office had been requiring more and more of my time, and I often brought work home to do after supper. It wasn't fair to Donny or me.

"We have a spare bedroom that I could turn into an office," I mused, "and we already have a phone and the internet." It was dialup service, but it was reliable.

"We can get office supplies and stuff for you, a file cabinet and a desk. What do you think?"

"There's a little bit more to it than a desk and a file cabinet, but I'll talk it over with Roberta and let you know. She's been very kind to us and I don't want to just leave without notice."

We snuggled down with each other and kissed. "Do you really want kids?" I asked. He nodded and I said, "Okay. Well give it a shot."

Our lovemaking that night was extra special and very tender. Donny handled me like a porcelain doll, and I still managed to come twice.

We got together with Mom a few times during the holidays, and every time was just like the first, the rejoicing of souls in harmony. Our biggest bash was New Year's Eve, and I made Donny watch Mom and me make love for about an hour before I let him join us. He told me later that we were the hottest thing he'd ever seen. We brought in 2000 with a bang. (sorry, I couldn't resist.)

Lisbeth and Kayla continued to be friends and keep their secrets. I kept quiet and didn't interfere unless I thought she was going overboard and was going to get hurt. I asked the right questions and got the right answers, so I left her alone.

When I returned to work, I went to Bobbi's office during lunch and talked. I explained the situation and told her I was going to try to have children. I needed to wait until the effects of the pill left my system before I tried, so I could give her two or three more months to find my replacement.

I let her know about my plans to open a business in my home, too, just to be honest. As I'd told Donny, Roberta had been very fair to us and I didn't want any trouble for her or me down the road. Roberta wished me well and kissed my cheek, and two weeks later, I began to train my replacement.

I'd taken the last of my pills December 30th, and we had started using condoms again. The only benefit I could see was that Donny lasted a little longer. He was able to go bareback with Mom, so he was satisfied. Mom and I had long talks, especially on the nights that Donny had the duty and was on call. My mom related to me hundreds of tiny things a normal person would never think of, like what to do if a baby fusses and won't take the nipple, or how to calm a frightened toddler. I listened and learned, not because she was my mom, but because I knew it was the voice of experience speaking. I had to listen to her and gain from her mistakes; I couldn't possibly live long enough to make them all myself.

I know my body pretty well, and I feel it when I ovulate. I examine my boobs every month, and I take excellent care of Kitty. I get regular checkups and pap smears, and I do what my doctor tells me to. She is a kind soul with a heart of gold, and when I told her I was trying for kids, she smiled and patted my shoulder.

Sometime near the end of February, I told Donny he could stop using condoms. My period had just ended, and I knew I was safe. Madeline Reed — my aforementioned gynecologist — had said that forty-five to sixty days was enough to clear my system of the hormones in the pills. I was ready to be a mommy.

Several days later, right on time, I felt that tiny squinch of tenderness deep in my guts, the egg releasing from the ovary. That night, I took Donny to bed early. I timed my excitement to coincide with his, and just as he unloaded a batch of wigglers into my pussy, my cervix opened. I didn't feel it, but he did.

After we'd calmed some, he asked, "What was that?"

"What was what?"

"That thing you did with Kitty. It felt like the head of my cock was being nibbled by your mouth. It was stupendous."

I hugged him and said softly, "I think you're going to be a daddy."

He looked at me like I was out of my mind and said, "You can't be sure that fast, can you?"

"No, but we'll wait and see."

I didn't fell the pinch of implantation, but when I missed my period the following month, I was sure and went to Madeline for a test. She confirmed it with a smile; parenthood was definitely in my future. I kept it to myself for a day or two, waiting for the right time to make my announcement. I woke up puking one morning and Donny grinned. My secret was out.

We installed all of the office equipment in the room next to Lisbeth's, I wanted the other bedroom closest to us to be the nursery. Mom was in her element, painting walls and buying things for the baby. I started taking the vitamins that Madeline had recommended, and I drove carefully and walked slowly. I refused to be stressed, and when an argument or loud discussion came up at work, I simply left the room. I stopped drinking alcohol, and had nothing more than a small glass of wine once a week at supper, and I watched what I ate. Mom fed me vegetables every day. Have I mentioned I don't care for Brussels sprouts too much? It was going to be a long eight months.

Lisbeth was ecstatic, and Kayla was over the moon. I got hundreds of questions all at once that I couldn't answer, so I told them both to be patient. I said I'd let them know when they could feel my stomach. How embarrassing.

I quit work at the end of April. My replacement had enough skills and education; her only lack was experience. With Roberta nearby, I told her she wouldn't have any problems. Roberta kissed my cheek, wished me well, and I drove away my last day with tears in my eyes.

Setting up a business isn't supposed to be hard, but a home-based business is a nightmare. The federal government runs the SBA, the Small Business Administration. Need I say more? They tried to bully me into using their software and their services, and I told them to fuck off. I didn't need or want their money — a paltry sum that would've been eaten up by their 'services' anyway — so I told them to butt out and leave me alone. Their regulations filled a semi-trailer, and that was just for me!

I acquired a license and a few forms, and hung out my shingle. "Strum Accounting Services" was ready for business.

My first customer was old man Schaff who lived down the road. He ran a large wheat farming operation and had two hired men. His regular bookkeeper, his wife, was sick, so he came to me and asked if I could help. I calculated their hours and deductions, then he asked me to write their checks for that month. Like a lot of older men in North Dakota, Elvin Schaff could not read or write much more than his name.

I gained a few more customers by advertising in the Tribune; my rates were far less than H & R Block, and I was faster. A 1040EZ form cost $10.00, and a 1040A, the long form, was $35.00. Of course the more deductions and forms I prepared the more it cost, but almost everyone was satisfied with my services.

Lisbeth came home from school one afternoon in May crying. I calmed her down and asked her what the problem was.

"I hate them!" she snarled.

"Who, Honey? And why?"

"All the kids at school," she said. "They've been ganging up on Aubrey and Angie, and today they started on me, pushing me around and calling me names."

I'd seen it coming; she'd let her emotions show a little too long to the wrong person.

"Ignore them," I said. "School is almost over and you won't have to deal with them anymore."

"They called me a queer!" she bawled. "And muff-muncher, and les ... lesbian, and a bunch of other stuff. I hate them!"

"What happened to that boy you liked? Terry or Todd or something like that?"

"He was the first one to start the rumors," she sniffled. "Kayla and me took him to the mall one afternoon — you 'member, that Saturday? — and I guess he saw us kiss or something."

"You should do those things in a very private place, Lisbeth. That way you won't be caught."

"Kayla and me have never done anything like that!" she exclaimed. "I kissed her cheek! 'Cause I like her! And 'cause she bought me a tape," she finished glumly.