Christmas Angels

Chapter 37 & 38

Chapter 37:

October 9, 2012

Carley's intention was to stay at a motel overnight before returning to New Haven, but both Angela and Marianne insisted that she stay with them and take the guest room for the night. Josh and Marianne were pleased to meet the girl that Angela had told them so much about, and they found her forthright, quick wit, delightful. They made her promise to come back soon for another visit. For her part, Angela was greatly relieved that Carley now shared her secret and they could remain close friends after all. She felt sure that Carley would keep her secret, even from Danni and Emma.

Carley thanked Marianne and Josh for their hospitality and she promised to keep in touch with Angela and demanded that Angela do the same. She also insisted on a phone call to let her know when the baby came, so that she could come and see her right away.

To Angela, it felt like a great weight had been lifted off of her shoulders. Now she had Carley to share the load and to give her support when she needed it. She also had her parents and grandparents, not to mention Pastor Maguire, but she knew she would need all the support she could get, and Carley was sure to be her biggest ally.

She continued to work at the vet clinic after the summer came to an end. She wasn't really sure whether they needed her or not, but they had been good enough to keep her on when they discovered that she would not be returning to university in September. Her back was feeling strained and she was tiring easily now that she was heading into her eighth month and she realized it was now time to take it easy in preparation for the birth. She left her job at the clinic and Josh and Marianne were pleased that she would stay at home now, until their grandchild was born.

Doctor Strickland was nearing retirement age, but he was still the Cromwell's family doctor and he would deliver baby Christie when the time came. The baby was due December 11th., and Angela was nervous. Marianne assured her that was to be expected, but there was nothing to worry about, since Dr. Strickland had delivered hundreds of babies over the years.

As the due date approached, Angela began to feel like a beached whale, floundering around the house. She felt especially awkward when she visited the doctor, now once each week. Dr. Strickland was happy with her condition and assured her that the baby seemed to be healthy and robust.

They decorated the house and put up the tree on December 3rd. so that it would be up and on display well before Angela's time might come. Josh did all the climbing and assembled the tree before the girls took over. Ironically, Marianne insisted that Angela allow her to do most of the decorating, but Angela helped as much as she could, not wanting to miss any of the fun that Christmas always held for her. Seeing the angel, all aglow, on top of the tree, held a special meaning for all of them this year.

December 11th. came and went and the days seemed to drag with unfulfilled anticipation. Christmas was only days away when Angela had her last scheduled appointment with Dr. Strickland.

"Sometimes a first baby comes late," the doctor said after the examination. "It is definitely a case of 'any day now', but we don't want this to go on too long. If nature doesn't take its course in the next few days, I would like to induce labour right after Christmas. I will schedule it for December 28th. You will need to be at Mount Bethel Hospital by 8 a.m. that day. Is that OK?"

"I will be there, Dr. Strickland. I will be so happy when this is over; I feel like I'm about ready to burst," Angela replied wearily. "Besides, one of my friends from school is driving me crazy! She phones at least once a day now, asking if the baby has come yet."

Dr. Strickland laughed and assured her that everything was just fine and Baby Christie would probably arrive in her own good time.

"Well, Christmas seems to be the time of year for this family to multiply. Wouldn't it be amazing if Christie made it a 'three-peat'?" Josh suggested at dinner, when Angela and Marianne filled him in on Angela's visit to the doctor earlier in the day.