Now they turned the corner and started up the hill. “It will be just Harrison and Celeste tonight, my dear,” Jess let her know. “Celeste wasn’t up to hosting a crowd.”
“Darling, I’ve made a vow to myself to be better about all of these dinner parties,” Addie said, squeezing Jess’s hand.
He stopped and looked into her eyes. “Do you mean it?”
“Of course I do,” she said. “I’d do anything for you, Jess. And as you say, it’s only a little laughter and light conversation. It’s just that I can never think of anything to say. But to solve this problem, I’ll ask Celeste to give me some advice.”
Jess put his arms around his wife. “That would mean the world to me, my dear.” And then he pushed back and looked at her. “You and I could practice, also! I promised to guide you through these social minefields, and I daresay I have done a poor job. As I said, I’ve been through this. I’ve been in your shoes.”
“How did you become so good at it?” Addie asked as they continued their walk.
“I’d have a few phrases at the ready whenever I entered a party,” he said, squeezing her hand and remembering those carefree days. “Compliments are always a good way to break the ice. ‘My, isn’t your dress beautiful?’ or, to complete strangers, ‘I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Jess Stewart.’”
“I’ll remember that,” Addie promised, as much to herself as to Jess. She would never be an embarrassment to him again.
As they neared the house, Addie could see Harrison standing on the front porch. “Hello!” he called down to them, waving. Jess waved in return. Addie smiled broadly.
“My wife insisted we take advantage of the cool evening air,” Jess said as they climbed the stairway to the Connors’ massive porch. “I had hired a car . . .”
“What a wonderful idea.” Harrison smiled and took Addie’s hand, threading her arm through his. “I’ve long admired your athleticism, Addie. I wish my own wife would take more of an interest in the out-of-doors.”
“Perhaps after the baby is born, she will feel more like exercising,” Addie offered.
“Perhaps.” Harrison continued to beam at her. Turning to Jess, he said, “Celeste awaits.”
That the two women had conceived children at roughly the same time was a relief to Addie, who had been worried about how her fragile friend would take the news that Addie and Jess were going to have a child. Addie had, in fact, kept the secret to herself for weeks, and asked Jess to do the same, until she could find a way to tell Celeste about their upcoming arrival without sending her into a torrent of grief.
Addie knew that Celeste still fiercely mourned the loss of her baby daughter Clementine the year before. They couldn’t encounter a pregnant woman on the street without Celeste dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief and becoming still and silent. It was as though she was just going through the motions of a conversation, or shopping, or whatever they were doing. Outwardly, she was calm and collected, but Addie could see the firestorm that raged within.
When Addie discovered she herself was expecting a child, she knew that, soon, she would be the object of that simmering rage. Was there a gentle way to break this news to someone who would be broken by it? Addie wasn’t sure there was and had fretted about it for weeks.
She was spared finding the answer to this riddle, however. Over dinner one night, Jess told her about a conversation he’d had with Harrison that afternoon at the office.
“He confided that Celeste is with child,” Jess had said, raising his eyebrows. “He asked that we keep it under our hats for the moment. Don’t let on that you know. Wait for her to tell you. Harrison wanted us to know right away because Celeste is going to be quite the china doll until the baby comes. No more picnics, no more walks in the country. She’s going to slow down considerably. Take care of herself. They want to do all they can to ensure this one makes it.”
“I completely understand.” Addie hugged her husband. “Did you tell Harrison our news in return?”
“I did.” Jess smiled. “He was so pleased. I told him to go ahead and tell Celeste. It’ll be easier coming from him.”
And indeed it was. The next day, Addie answered the knock at the front door to find the Connors’ driver, hat in hand.
“I’ve been sent by Mrs. Connor to bring you up the hill to the mansion for lunch, ma’am,” he said, handing her a note from Celeste. “If you’re able.”
Addie didn’t much like automobiles, but she accepted the invitation, knowing that Celeste was going to announce her condition and the secret would be out in the open at last. When Addie arrived at the mansion, she was led into the parlor, where Celeste sat on the couch surrounded by freshly cut flowers.
“Addie.” Celeste smiled, holding her arms out wide. “Harrison told me your wonderful news. We couldn’t be happier for you.” Addie crossed the room and hugged Celeste, as summoned.
“Thank you.” Addie smiled, intending to say more about how thrilled she and Jess were about the baby, but something about Celeste’s face silenced her. There was a darkness behind Celeste’s eyes. Addie could see that her friend was not at all pleased with the fact that she was not the only expectant mother in the room. And then it hit Addie. I’ve stolen her spotlight. She didn’t know what to say.
“I have happy news of my own to share,” Celeste broke the silence.
“No!” Addie cried in mock surprise, grasping her friend’s hands.
“It’s true,” Celeste said. “I’ve planned a little celebration lunch for the two of us. Imagine, both of us expecting babies at the same time!”
“Oh, Celeste, I’m so happy for you—for us!” Addie gushed. “You and I can go through this together. How wonderful!”
Over lunch, the pair talked about baby names and doctor visits, and gradually, Addie began to think that she had just imagined the animosity behind Celeste’s eyes. She’s probably just worried about delivering a healthy baby.
Celeste reached over and grasped her friend’s hand, and just for a moment, the veneer that shrouded her real feelings vanished. “I hope—I believe—things will be different this time,” she whispered. Her voice trailed off, and Addie could see the tears begin to well up in Celeste’s eyes. Her friend would worry every day until the baby was born.
“Of course they will, my dear Celeste,” Addie said. “Our children will grow up together, the best of friends.”
She put her other hand on top of Celeste’s and said a silent prayer.
Addie thought of that months-ago day now, as she and Jess entered the Connor house for dinner.
Throughout the meal, Addie could see that Celeste was pale and drawn and breathless. The men made conversation about work matters, mostly, but instead of her usually animated repartee, Celeste only quietly smiled, as though the expression was painted onto her face. It made Addie wonder why on earth her friend should be going to the trouble of arranging these dinner parties and luncheons, especially tonight when she clearly would have preferred to be curled up in her own bed rather than entertaining visitors. As the men adjourned to the porch for cigars after dinner, Addie took Celeste’s arm and led her to the sofa in the parlor.