Into the Ether - Complete

Summer of Love: Part 5

"I can't tell you how much I've missed you guys," I said, trying to hide my sentimental smile as I poured tea for Alberta and Celeste. We were sitting in the little living room of our rooms in guest quarters and were about to have afternoon tea.

"I want to see all the cute little things you've bought for the baby. I can't believe it was nine years ago when I was pregnant and buying for Stella," Celeste said nostalgically. Alberta's eyes met mine. It's the first time Celeste had mentioned Stella being hers in front of us. We both knew she was Stella's Mom, but it was still a surprise to hear Celeste acknowledge it.

"Did you know she was a girl?" I asked curiously.

"Yeah. Mom and Dad wanted to find out so they could prepare. I didn't mind – it was fun buying cute little outfits for her," she said with a sigh.

"I haven't bought a lot," I admitted. "Since we don't know the gender I've just got the basics in neutrals. I'll go online and order more when I know whether we've got a bluey or a pinky," I smiled.

"Ha!" Celeste scoffed. "You'll hit the shops for sure. You'll be wanting to show the baby off to everyone. Did you get nice things at your baby shower?"

"I didn't have one," I said, quickly turning away to get the plate of biscuits from the kitchenette and bring them over to the coffee table.

"You didn't have a baby shower?" Alberta said, looking at me askance.

"Well Lissa and I are not speaking, that's not Janine's sort of thing, all the girls I know from St. Vlad's have been allocated away, and I've only made one female friend at Court. It doesn't matter. In Russia, they don't buy things for the baby until after it's born, so I guess we're doing things the Russian way," I said with an attempt at joviality.

Alberta's lips pursed, but she said nothing, instead sipping her cup of tea. I knew she thought this was just one more instance where Janine had let me down. I'll admit, at first I'd been disappointed to miss what seemed like a rite of passage, but I was ok with it now. Dimitri and I were Guardians, and baby showers didn't exist in a Guardians' world because the vast majority never got the opportunity to become parents.

"I meant to ask, are you, Olena, and Yeva coming on the shopping day? I've allocated three seats on the bus for you," Alberta queried, changing the subject.

The Guardian shopping day. I used to live for these when I was a Novice. Once a year, always over the summer holidays when only those who lived at the Academy were around, they'd get a charter bus to Missoula. The orphaned kids and a lot of the Guardians who lived on campus would go. We'd leave early to get to the mall at store opening and spend all day there. We'd break into small groups and shop or go to the movies or whatever else then gather for dinner at Pizza Ranch before heading home to arrive before the sun set. It was always a huge day, but I was keen to go, and I knew Olena and Yeva had a long shopping list for the girls back home.

"Wouldn't miss it!" I said enthusiastically.

"You sure you'll be ok?" Celeste checked. "There'll be a lot of walking."

"I'll hire one of those motorized scooters at the mall if I need to," I joked. "I'll be with Yeva and Olena – they'll keep an eye on me. Besides Olena's told me I have at least another week before the baby arrives. The bus does have a toilet, doesn't it?" I asked nervously.

"Yes. I made sure I booked one with a toilet," Alberta laughed. "Just don't get stuck on it!"

"Shut up," I grumbled good-naturedly, quickly filling in Celeste about the embarrassing situation on the plane where I got stuck in the lavatory.