Alan opened the door to the bedroom and stepped quietly inside. As usual, the windows were wide open and the bright morning sun was shining in, illuminating the white room as if they were inside a cloud. Lace curtains fluttered in the breeze of the nearby intercoastal. By the front window was a wicker rocker and an antique chaise lounge, both angled to allow you to sit and enjoy the view of mangroves and waterways. Their bed was underneath the south window, the eyelet comforter pushed to the floor as the only concession to the summer heat. Even pregnant, Melissa seemed to luxuriate in the steamy Florida heat, and Alan had spent enough time on environmentally controlled Alpha to have an intense enjoyment of the vagaries of Earth’s weather. Heat was fine, so was cold, wind, rain, and all the changes missing on Alpha. Sometimes, during the spectacular thunderstorms they had around here, he’d stand on the patio and watch the lightening strikes and enjoy the smell of the rain on the plants.
Melissa lay curled around a pillow, one shapely bare leg stretching out in front of her, away from the sheet. He sat the wicker bed tray with the coffee pot on the floor beside the bed and sat on the edge of the bed next to her. He relished the look of her long tanned leg.
“Touch me and you die,” she growled softly without opening her eyes.
“Whatever you want, love,” Alan replied with a smile. “How do you feel this morning?”
“Like a beached whale—one with a back ache.”
“Want a back rub?”
“I don’t want to move right now.”
“Coffee?”
She sighed. “I thought I smelled coffee. I’ll have to move, I suppose.”
“I could go get a straw,” Alan teased with a grin.
“I don’t think so,” she curled up into a tighter ball for a moment, sighed again and rolled into a sitting position. For a beached whale, she still had quite a bit of poise. He adjusted pillows and helped her to lean back then put the tray over her lap and poured them each a cup. He settled next to her, propped against the pillows too. She shifted to lean against his shoulder and he put his arm around her.
“What time is it?” she asked sleepily.
“Nearly nine.”
“I was planning to call the boys this morning. They’ll be out with Mama and the horses by now.”
“I figured you needed your sleep, you were pretty restless last night.”
“I feel like shit. I’m never doing this again, you know.”
“You have mentioned that before,” Alan said, cheerfully and conversationally. “I think the first time you said that was just before you had Robbie.”
“I think you’re right, but I mean it this time. And we’re going to do something about it this time too.”
He turned and kissed her temple. “That’s probably a good idea. Since I find you completely irresistible.”
“And we both have a weakness for starlit skies and deserted beaches.”
“How do you know she was conceived on a beach?” Alan asked with a laugh.
“Oh, I know exactly when this happened,” Mel patted her swollen belly. “I’d just gotten back from Tokyo, and you picked me up from the airport. The boys were with the babysitter and we decided to make a detour to the beach before going home. Remember? We went over to the Cape and took one of those service roads in the wildlife refuge?
“Yeah, I remember. I missed you so badly, and that seemed a lot quicker than going home, getting the babysitter home, and risking the boys getting up and wandering around in the middle of the night.”
“I’ll admit it was one incredibly good screwing. And for a change, you’d even remembered to throw a blanket in the trunk, so that kept sand to a minimum.”
“Yeah, it was awfully good. But how do you know that was the time?”
Melissa laughed. “Don’t you remember. We got home a little after midnight and by two in the morning, Geoff was awake and sick. We spent all weekend nursing him, and then Robbie. And you were off on a business trip yourself the next day. That was the only chance we got that month.”
“Yeah, not very romantic to have a four year old spewing chunks in your bed.”
“Romance was definitely not on our minds the rest of the weekend.” She put her coffee cup down and turned to bury her face against his chest. He was wearing a tank top and her hand reached up to play with the hair that peeked over neckline.
“And I thought it wasn’t on your mind now, either.”
She smiled. “It’s not. Habit I guess. I find you irresistible too.”
“I’m glad,” he said, patting her shoulder in a manner that he hoped did not hold romantic overtones.
Mel’s pregnancy this time had brought out some of the worst mood swings he’d ever seen. She cried over television commercials, broken toys, and slow internet connections. At other times she seemed to be full of energy and in love with the world. Things could change in seconds. Two weeks ago he’d finally sent out an SOS to his in-laws. Susan was getting two horses ready for an important horse show and couldn’t come, but she sent Robert and John to pick up the boys and take them to Miller’s Bluff.
“So what do you feel like doing today?” he asked.
She sighed. “I don’t know.”
“How about the beach?”
“Nothing fits me. I don’t want to be seen in public.”
“Then why don’t we take the boat and go over to the island. You don’t even have to wear clothes there.”
“That would be nice.”
He stroked her silky hair that she was now wearing in its natural shade of blonde. “You could float in the water, that should feel good on your back.”
“Yeah… but I’m not sure we have anything to take with us to eat.”
“Oh, we must have something in the freezer. Why don’t you get dressed and I’ll go have a look.”
“That should give you plenty of time to find something,” she joked.
“Meet you downstairs when you’re ready.”
By the time she had found a large t-shirt and shorts that still fit her Alan had two coolers packed and aboard the Windseeker. She was barefoot and carrying a pair of worn flipflops. When Alan looked at her she told him she couldn’t get any other shoes on. Her feet were too swollen, and she couldn’t see the flipflops to put them on. She looked ready to cry again, so he kissed her, helped with the shoes and helped her aboard the boat. He cast off while she started the motor to get them into the intercoastal. Usually he steered while she rigged the sails, but by this time in her pregnancies they always had to change jobs. They set off into the sparkling morning sun and Alan was relieved to see Melissa relax visibly the farther they got from shore. Sailing always cheered her up.
The sea was only lightly choppy. Enough for a relaxing roll that both of them enjoyed. Once they were out of sight of land Mel stripped down and let Alan thoroughly apply sunscreen. They used the auto-pilot and relaxed together on the console.
Alan didn’t think she looked exactly like a beached whale. Melissa had gained very little weight with this pregnancy, and nearly all the weight was in her abdomen, but she tired more easily and by eight months along, was having more trouble with her balance.
They got to the island a little past mid-afternoon, tied up to their anchor buoys and headed for the water. Melissa was perfectly happy floating in the water, and Alan used the dinghy to take an ice chest ashore. He started a fire to grill steaks for the two of them. He spread out a quilt, not worrying about shade in the setting sun, and arranged the containers of bean salad and chocolate pudding he had found in the refrigerator at home. He opened a beer for himself and a bottle of water for Mel and settled back to watch the steaks.
He watched with appreciation as she walked out of the water. Even pregnant she was a beautiful woman. She accepted the towel he handed her and allowed him to help her settle on the blanket. They used the top of the ice chest as a table and shared supper as the sun set.
She wished idly for a bottle of wine, but accepted Alan’s backrub as a replacement. They debated about returning to the boat to sleep or simply staying on the dunes, but the wind had died down and Melissa was concerned that the no-see-ums would come out. Alan packed up and they swam back to the boat. It was dark, but both enjoyed the starlight swim. They had done it before many times. Alan tied up the little raft and helped Mel onto the diving platform. They used a small portable shower and some of their fresh water to wash off the salt and headed for bed. Alan cuddled against her in the cabin and placed a hand against her belly. He could feel his daughter moving beneath her mother’s tightly stretched skin. He smiled and drifted peacefully off to sleep.
He wasn’t sure how long he’d slept. He was in one of those states, lightly asleep but still aware of his surroundings, when he felt it. All the muscles in Melissa’s stomach stiffened. They grew tighter and tighter, moving beneath his hand. By the time they relaxed he was thoroughly awake.
“Oh—my—God!” Melissa said softly.
“Mel? Honey? That was a labor pain?”
“Yeah, yeah it was.”
Alan was already calculating the distance back to the mainland. It would be three, maybe four hours before they could reach Florida. He didn’t know the Bahamas well enough to set sail at night and try to navigate anywhere else.
“Now what?” He asked holding still, waiting to feel it again.
“Get me the phone.”
“The phone?”
“That satellite phone you just got. You brought it didn’t you?”
“Well, yeah.” Alan sat up and turned on the light. He headed aft to the cabinets next to the galley. They could call the Coast Guard. That was a good idea. He handed his wife the phone.
She struggled to sit up and began dialing. She waited for the call to ring through. “Sis?”
Helena and John had spent the evening at an awards ceremony. It had been a formal black tie affair, and John’s position on the space commission had dictated that John attend. There had been a dance afterwards, and Helena always loved the chance to dance with John. They had taken the children out to Miller’s Bluff yesterday evening so there had been no hurry to return home. They had danced every dance together and returned home to dance together, shoes off, on the living room rug. John hummed softly into her ear and she rested her head on his shoulder, happy and relaxed.
Both started when the phone rang.
“Let it go to the machine,” John suggested.
“It’s after midnight. Something might be wrong,” she didn’t add, ‘with the kids’, although she thought it.
“And it may be some drunk who can’t dial the pizza parlor number decent.”
Helena laughed. “That was certainly a problem we didn’t have on Alpha, was it?” She crossed the room and picked up the phone. “Hello?”
She grinned as she heard her sister’s voice. Perhaps the baby was here. “Mel? Do we have a baby yet?”
“Not yet,” Melissa’s voice replied. She sounded tense and Helena realized there was something wrong.
“What’s the matter?”
“We’re at the island. And I just went into labor.”
Helena glanced at the clock. John noticed her the change in her mood immediately. “What is it?” He stepped up next to her.
“What are you doing on the island?!” Helena said.
“I’ve been feeling so bad, and Alan thought it would relax me.”
“Oh, Mel. How many contractions have you had?”
“Only one so far. It’s been ten minutes or so. But that was a real one, I know it.”
“How long does it take to get home?”
“With this wind? A minimum of four hours. Probably more.”
Helena considered the options carefully. Melissa had a history of easy labors and quick deliveries. There had been no complications with either birth, but that could change with this one. She took a breath and turned to John. “I need an Eagle, as quickly as possible.”
“An Eagle? What for?”
“Mel and Alan are at the island. She’s gone in to labor. I doubt there’s a way for them to make it home before Alan has to deliver the baby. We need to get to them as fast as possible.”
“Helena, what about the Coast Guard? Or the Bahama’s shore patrol?”
“John, my sister is on that damn island of hers about to have a baby, with no one around but Alan. I want an Eagle right now. Get on the other phone line and have one standing by when we get to the Space Center.” Helena’s eyes were blazing. She didn’t shout, it wasn’t her way, but John understood that there was no arguing with her. Besides, this was Alan and Mel. The two of them were too special to the Koenigs for John to hesitate, even if this was stretching his powers of office.
He nodded. “Tell them to hang on. It’ll take about three hours to get there.”
Helena nodded and turned back to the phone. “Mel? We’re on our way. You’re using a cel phone?”
“Alan’s new global satellite phone. Here, he can give you the number.”
Helena waited a moment until Alan said hello. “Alan, we’re on our way. John has called up an Eagle. We’ll be there in about three hours.”
“You think we have that long?”
“You might. It’s the best I can do. Have her do her breathing exercises through the labor pains and try to relax. Give me your phone number and I’ll contact you when we get aboard the Eagle. I don’t want to run down your battery any more than necessary so we’ll keep calls brief.”
“Yeah. Good idea. We’ll hang on here and see you as soon as possible.”
Helena wrote down the number and hung up, then headed upstairs to change.
“Breathing exercises! I don’t want breathing exercises, dammit! I want an epidural!”
“Not out here sweetheart. Helena will be here a lot sooner than we could hope to expect, thanks to John and the space program. We just have to wait until she gets here. She says to try to relax.”
“Yeah, right.” Melissa burst into tears. “This is your fault Alan Carter! Oh, damn!” Another labor pain hit her. “Alan!” She went from shouting at him to calling for him. Alan crawled on the bed next to her and cradled her in his arms, whispering in her ear to breathe like she’d been taught. Melissa hated attending childbirth classes. They brought out the worst in her and had her grumbling and rebelling. She loved her two boys, and for the most part was looking forward to the birth of their daughter, but she was certainly not enamored by the process of childbirth.
She puffed obediently through the pain and Alan consulted his watch. “Seventeen minutes from the first one. Guess our daughter and her aunt are going to race to see who gets here first.”
The pain subsided and Melissa lay back on the bed gasping. “I don’t want to do this!”
“Too late for that now, love.” Alan went to the galley and wet a washcloth. He brought it back and wiped her forehead.
“You are not touching me again until we make sure this never happens again,” Melissa snapped.
“Agreed, sweetheart,” Alan snapped back at her. He was tired and as much as he loved her, tired of her moods.
Melissa looked at him with shock. Alan was always easygoing and even-tempered. They rarely fought, and he usually allowed her to have her way. Alan sighed and reached out to stroke her cheek. “I spoil you, don’t I?”
A tear slid down her cheek from the corner of her eye. “And I love every second of it. I’m sorry I’m such a bitch.”
“You’re worth it love,” he said gently. “I know it’s only temporary.”
“I’m scared, Alan. I’m not one of those back-to-basics nuts that want to experience the full range of childbirth pain. I like hospitals and technology and lots of stuff around to keep the pain away and make sure that if there’s anything wrong there’s someone to fix it.”
“I know, love. I know.” He smoothed back her hair. He lay back down beside her. “Let’s both try to rest a bit before the next pain hits.”
Melissa nodded and pressed as close to him as she could. He put his arm around her and closed his eyes and was oblivious to everything until the next pain hit. He held her close and coached her through it again, then they both tried to doze again. He thought about Helena and John and knew they should be taking off from Houston right about now. One of the good things about Alpha had been that Helena was always close by with a fully equipped medical center. He wished they were there right now.
When the next pain hit, Alan realized that the time had not been nearly as long. He checked his watch. They were now at ten minutes. Mel was in a kind of zone now, no longer railing at him, it used up too much energy and she needed it all. He got her a sip of water and turned up the air conditioning on the boat. Melissa was sweating from the exertion.
A little more than an hour after labor had started, the phone rang. Mel was in the middle of the next labor pain, but she managed to gasp “go, go” to him. They both knew it had to be Helena. Alan answered the phone.
“We’re off the ground and on our way to you,” Helena said as soon as he answered. “How’s she doing?”
“The pains are ten minutes apart.”
“Has her water broken?”
“Not yet.”
“That’s a good thing, Alan. Just keep her comfortable and as relaxed as possible.”
“All right.”
“I’ll call back in a half hour.”
“Helena, what if the baby starts to come?”
“It’s already started to come, Alan. But I think I’ll get there first.”
“We both hope so.”
“Me too. Hang in there.” Helena broke the connection. Alan knew it would be impossible to call her back aboard the Eagle. He looked at his wife. “Why don’t you turn onto your side for a moment and I’ll rub your back. Helena says to stay as relaxed as possible. They’ll be here in about two hours.”
“Do we have that long?”
“I hope so.”
The pains stayed at a constant ten minutes apart for another hour. It was not quite long enough for her to relax between the pains, but she was always a bit surprised when they started again. Alan found a tarp and put it on the mattress and then put the sheets back over it at Melissa’s request. The mattress had been custom made to fit the boat’s berth and she didn’t want to replace it. She paced wearily in the small passageway and just barely made it back to bed before the next pain hit.
Then her water broke. Alan used a towel to sop up most of the mess while Melissa cried quietly. Alan knew she was terrified, so he didn’t try to say anything. But he cradled her head in his lap and stroked her hair while they waited for the next pain. Melissa struggled against this one.
“Alan, I need to push.”
“Not yet, hon.”
“I don’t think I have a choice!” She nearly bent double as the pain overtook her, almost sitting up.
It had barely been five minutes since the last pain. They were both experienced enough to know that once her water broke, the baby would be there soon. Alan was in no way eager to have her push or to try to deliver the baby himself. The thought terrified him in a way that few other things did. It was with great relief that he recognized a high pitched whine over the sounds of the air conditioner.
“That’s an Eagle,” he said, hearing the familiar sound. It was more welcome to him than a choir of angels.
Melissa looked up at him, puffing. He kissed her quickly and headed aft, opening the hatch and looking back at her with a wink. “Helena’s almost here, love. Hang in there.”
She simply nodded and lay back. She placed her hands on her belly, visibly trying not to push as the next pain commenced.
Alan was illuminated by the lights of the Eagle as he stepped out of the cabin. He raised his hand and waved, knowing that John would be watching for him. He had expected the Eagle to land on the beach, and hadn’t really thought about the fact that there was nearly a hundred meters of water between the beach and the boat until this very minute. Obviously, though, John had given it much more thought. The Eagle continued its vertical descent, but it edged closer and closer to the boat. Light appeared from another area of the small ship and Alan watched as Helena stood in the open doorway to the passenger section.
There were probably no more than three pilots in the world who would try a maneuver like this one, Alan thought as the Eagle used its lateral jets to slowly approach the sailboat. Alan himself was one, Tony Cellini another, and John the third. Alan stepped up onto the console as the spacecraft hovered only a few feet above the water. The landing jets pushed a spray of water up around him, and he simply held his breath and held out both hands for Helena. In short order she was close enough to the back of the sailboat to hand over a small medical kit and simply grasp Alan’s hands and step onto the console. The starboard landing pads were just to either side of the boat. Alan gripped her around the waist and swung her down to the deck. She pulled a commlock from the belt of her flight suit and shouted above the roar of the Eagle’s engines. “I’m clear!”
Helena and Alan made their way into the cabin as the Eagle slowly and gently eased up and away from the boat, keeping the spray of salt water to a minimum. Helena quickly explained that John would land on the beach and wait for Helena to let him know when he could come back to pick them up. Alan pulled two towels out of a locker and handed one to Helena. Both were soaked from the salt spray stirred up to a fine mist by the Eagle’s jets. Helena took the time to wipe her face and hands, then headed forward to her sister.
She glanced back at Alan, “bring the med kit and a clean towel to wrap the baby in.”
By the time Alan secured another towel and followed her to the front, Helena had climbed up onto the berth and knelt between Melissa’s stretched out legs. “The next time the pain starts, you push,” Helena directed Melissa.
Mel nodded breathless and eager. Alan glanced over Helena’s shoulder and could see the top of the baby’s head. He moved beside Melissa and held her hand.
“NOW!” Melissa shouted. She took two gasping breaths and gripped Alan’s hand so tightly he was afraid it would break, but he wasn’t about to complain. She let out a long low moan and Helena commanded her to keep pushing.
Melissa leaned back and gasped for air. Helena urged her to catch her breath and push again. “This is it, Mel. It’ll be over in just a minute.”
Melissa nodded and took in great gulps of air. Helena directed Alan to move behind her and support her. He did so quickly, squeezing into the tiny space to sit behind her and support her back. He had barely gotten his arms around her waist when she grabbed his legs, which were now on either side of her and thrust forward, pushing with all her might. With both Helena and Alan chanting for her to push, she gave a tremendous effort, and moaned again.
“That’s it, Mel! I have her head! Keep going.”
Alan wasn’t sure Melissa had heard her, or where she would find the strength to keep going. Her grip on his legs would leave bruises he was sure. She continued to bear down, however, and she gave a small sob that sounded just slightly desperate. He kissed the nape of her neck and she gave one final burst of energy.
“I’ve got her. I’ve got her shoulders. The rest is a piece of cake,” Helena said.
Alan grinned and he felt Melissa relax slightly.
“Take a breath, Mel, relax and then give me one more push when you’re ready,” Helena directed.
Melissa leaned heavily against him and took in air in great shuddering gasps.
“Ready?” Helena asked.
“No,” Melissa muttered.
“Do it anyway,” her sister ordered.
Melissa nodded and visibly gathered her strength again. With one final gulp of air she began to bear down again, moaning deep in her throat. Alan felt completely helpless, sitting behind her, unable to do anything.
“Got her!” Helena said, lifting the baby so Melissa could see her. Mel lay back, limp in his arms. Helena did something and the baby gave her first high pitched cry.
Helena reached for the towel and the med kit. Her hands were bloody and left fingerprints on the white box. “Alan, I’m going to tie off the cord and cut it, then you can take the baby while Mel and I finish up here.”
Melissa shifted slightly so Alan could get up. Helena busied herself with tying the cord as he crawled from his cramped position and stood beside the bed.
There was blood everywhere. Helena was kneeling in it, and the baby was covered in it. Alan tried to remember if Geoff or Robbie’s birth had been such a mess, but he couldn’t recall. They had been in a hospital, with a team of people to assist and clean up, and the right kind of furniture instead of a bed in the front of a sailboat. It was all so different.
Helena cut the cord which still led back to Melissa and Alan held out the clean white towel to take the baby. “Just use a damp cloth to clean her up, Alan. You do have fresh water?” Helena asked.
“Yeah, plenty.” Alan felt stunned, and glanced back at the pool of blood his wife lay in.
“She’s fine,” Helena assured him, patting her sister’s knee. “Aren’t you Mel?”
Melissa nodded, sweaty and exhausted, but relaxed.
“Let me get that afterbirth delivered, then I’ll clean her up. The baby will want to nurse soon.” She turned to Melissa. “You are going to nurse this one too, aren’t you?”
“That’s what these things are there for,” Melissa joked, winking at her husband. Alan couldn’t believe she could joke right now.
Helena gave him a little nod and he moved toward the galley. The baby let out another soft cry, but quieted almost immediately. He looked down at his daughter, noticing her for the first time. Her eyes opened and she looked up at him. She had her mother’s eyes. He smiled at her, completely bewitched. He laid her gently on the counter and ran the hot water tap to warm up the water. Melissa used a small solar water heater to keep enough water hot to shower. He reached for a washcloth, close by in the tight quarters of the sailboat, and wiped the baby gently.
Her skin was reddened by its entry into the world, and her hair plastered to her head by the amniotic fluid that had surrounded her until a few short minutes ago. As he washed her off, he found that the hair was a deep golden blond, like her mother and aunt. It was long, nearly three centimeters in some spots on the top of her head, and as he washed it, it tended to curl a bit. She was beautiful.
They had used up all the spare towels so he reached into another locker and pulled out one of his own t-shirts that he always left on the boat. The boys often begged to sleep in them, so he didn’t mind sharing with his daughter as well. He talked to her as he wrapped her tightly in the t-shirt, then he pulled out an old sweatshirt and wrapped that around her too, telling her that she could borrow her daddy’s clothes any time she wanted to, and he didn’t want her to catch cold.
Helena appeared at his elbow with a couple of bloody towels. She looked over at the baby and smiled. “Melissa is fine. You two give us another couple of minutes and we’ll let the baby have her first snack.”
Alan nodded and picked up the baby who immediately began to smack her lips. “I think she’s ready.”
“I’m sure.” Helena said with a smile. She rinsed out one of the towels and took it back to Melissa.
In a few short minutes Melissa called him over and held out her arms for the baby. Alan handed over the precious bundle and sat beside her. Helena headed aft to the galley and then pulled out her commlock to talk to John. The baby settled in to nurse eagerly.
Helena walked back over to the parents in awe over their new baby. “Once she’s eaten, why don’t we all get a few hours sleep. Then John can fly us back to the mainland. Alan, do you want to bring the boat back now, or come with us?”
Alan and Melissa exchanged a look. “I’ve never sailed by myself before. But I can get the boat home.”
“I’d rather you bring the boat home. I don’t want to leave it here,” Melissa said. “Cake, do we really need to fly back with you?”
“I’d prefer it. I’d like to check you both over with the proper equipment.”
Melissa nodded slowly, looking down at her perfect little girl. “I suppose so.”
“By the way, what’s my niece’s name?”
“Well, we were going to call her Susie, after your mother…” Alan said.
“I think we need to name her Susan Helena, if it’s all right with you,” Melissa added.
Helena smiled at them. “I’d be honored.”
“I’ll fix up the spare bed for you, Helena.” Alan offered. It was around four a.m. and Alan was beginning to feel exhausted. He could see that Melissa was about to drop off to sleep and Helena looked pretty tired too.
The sun was well up when the newborn Susie decided she needed to eat again. She wriggled between her parents and made her wishes known. Melissa sighed and turned over, barely coming awake as she gathered the baby to her breast. Alan opened his eyes and watched his two girls with a smile. He got up, passed the sleeping Helena and started the coffee maker. He stepped out the hatch and caught his first sight of the Eagle settled comfortably on the beach just above the high water line. He had certainly been glad to see that hovering over the back of the boat last night.
Helena stepped up to join him, blinking in the sunlight. “The coffee smells wonderful.”
“It’ll be ready in a few minutes.” Alan put his arm around his sister-in-law and kissed her softly on the cheek. “Thank you. For coming.”
“How could I not,” Helena said with a smile.
“It was like having an angel descend upon us.”
Helena laughed. “An angel with Eagle’s wings,” she said nodding at the small ship on the beach.
“Just what we needed, Helena. It was just what we needed.”
Maureen J. Long
November 2000