TS fic: Maternal Instinct, part 1
It's been a ridiculously long time since I last posted. I'm a bit worse for wear, but still intact, no thanks to 2009. It was pretty dreadful and I'm glad to see it behind us.
The reason behind my breaking radio silence is all due to the lovely laurie-ky. She asked a few months ago, if she could podfic one of my old Sentinel stories for the upcoming Ladies' Big Bang Challenge on Dreamwidth. I was amazed that she remembered me, considering that my TS fic are still orphans without a home. So, for now, I'm posting it here.
The idea for Maternal Instinct came about several years back, while I was browsing a new age type store late one afternoon. It was the kind of place Naomi Sandburg would feel at home in, among the incense, candles, crystals and Tibetan mandalas. Then I thought about Jim's mother. What would Grace Ellison think of a store like this? What if she were the polar opposite of Naomi? How would these two women react if they were ever to meet?
Title: Maternal Instinct
By: Autumn Skies
The Sentinel | 14,200 words | Gen | Rated PG for language
Characters: Grace Ellison, Jim, Blair, Naomi, OFCs, Steven and mention of William.
Summary: An alternate reality in which Grace Ellison and her young son, Jimmy, encounter a special toddler and his mother during the summer of 1971.
Notes: In this AR, Grace is still married to William. Jim and Steven are just a tad older than in canon, and Sally Fong is not yet part of the household. Minor references to the episode, Remembrance.
Many thanks to laurie_ky for taking the time to podfic this story.
Disclaimer: Written solely for fun, not profit.
-||-
Maternal Instinct - Part 1
Cascade, Washington - June 1971
The skies over Cascade were remarkably clear for late June. The clouds had finally lifted, leaving sunlight glinting from dozens of windshields as a green Buick rolled slowly past a row of parked cars.
"What a madhouse, Gracie. Do you think we'll find a parking spot?"
"Over there. There's an open space right next to the white van. See it?"
"No, but I'll take your word for it," Joy said, peering over her steering wheel. The outdoor parking lot was packed, but if there was a space to be had, Joy was confident her friend would find it. Grace Ellison had the uncanny ability to spot all sorts of things at a glance, from a specific paperback among hundreds on a bookshelf to a tiny waterspot on a drinking glass.
After easing her car next to the van, Joy set the parking brake and turned the engine off. "This'll be fun, don't you think?" she said, reaching for her purse.
Grace eyed the surroundings with a bit of hesitation. "I suppose. We aren't going to be here long, are we?"
"Where's your sense of adventure?" chided Joy as she opened her door. "It'll be great, you'll see."
Sighing, Grace unfolded her long legs and got out of the passenger side of the Buick. She squinted at the bright afternoon sun, opened her straw shoulder bag and fumbled for her sunglasses.
"Hurry up, Gracie!" Joy was already several steps ahead, her eyes fixed on the colorful festival in the distance.
"Coming." Grace took a deep breath and followed her eager friend toward a large, grassy area adjacent to the university.
The open field was filled with hundreds of people milling around dozens of canvas-covered booths and tables. A long, painted banner that read "Welcome to Summer Festival 1971" billowed in the breeze. Looking around, Grace felt distinctly out of place in her matching beige sweater and skirt outfit. Everyone else seemed to be dressed casually in loose tunics, jeans, vests, tee-shirts, madras blouses and sandals. It was a whirling kaleidoscope of colors, sounds and smells.
She winced as she tracked Joy through the noisy throng. Not only were her eyes light-sensitive, but on a day like today, she could be easily overwhelmed by the sheer presence of so many bodies. A warning tingle tapped at her temples.
No, not now. Not another headache, she thought wearily. Please, just let me get through the next hour or so.
"What did I tell you? There he is, just like Muriel said." Joy pointed at an open tent set up next to a booth selling glazed pottery. Seated at a small card table was a bearded man wearing round, wire-rimmed glasses. He had gray-streaked hair and wore a leather-fringed vest. A young woman sat in front of him, watching intently as he laid out some oversized cards on the table.
"Let's get in line." She grabbed Grace's hand and tugged her toward the tent.
"You sure this'll be worth it?"
"Definitely. You should've heard Muriel go on and on about her tarot reading. She said it was the most amazing thing she'd ever heard. This man described her life to a tee, including her brother-in-law's drinking problem. Apparently there's going to be some layoffs at his plant in the next few months so if Ted doesn't get his act together soon, trust me, he's going to be in deep doodoo..."
Grace merely nodded as she adjusted her sunglasses. She'd always been skeptical of psychics. They reminded her of the carnival fortunetellers she'd seen as a child. They wore exotic-looking clothes and talked with foreign accents. They claimed to see into the future, for a price. But once a client left their booth, Grace would sometimes overhear the fortuneteller's voice change abruptly--from foreign sounding to very American.
"I don't know, Joy. I'm not a big believer in this kind of mumbo-jumbo."
"You really should keep an open mind," said a young voice.
Startled, Grace turned her head. A petite girl in braids stood behind them. She wore an embroidered short-sleeve cotton blouse over her flared jeans. A white daisy was tucked behind an ear.
The girl smiled at her. "Sorry, I didn't mean to butt in like that, but I've heard nothing but good things about Sean. He likes to help people. He's not a fake, if that's what you're worried about."
Joy beamed. "See? What'd I tell you?"
"My name's Luna," continued the young woman.
"Hi Luna. I'm Joycelyn, and this is my friend, Grace."
Grace resisted the urge to roll her eyes upon hearing the girl's name. "More like Loony, if you ask me," she whispered to her friend. She felt an elbow nudge her side.
"Cut it out," Joy whispered back.
"Wow, you're really tall. You must've been an athlete or something," Luna said, peering up.
Grace shifted uneasily. She was sensitive about her height. Always the tallest girl in class, she'd been called beanpole, giraffe, and scarecrow, among other things. The classroom taunts had hurt, and it'd taken her a long time to get over her self-consciousness. It wasn't until high school that she found the perfect outlet for her size and energy. A natural athlete, she excelled in sports. While she received praise from her coaches, her abilities were never encouraged at home. Certainly not by her mother, who always seemed embarrassed that she was not as "dainty" as her other sisters.
"You're such a tomboy. At this rate, I don't see how you'll ever find a husband," her mother would say, shaking her head.
"But there's so much I want to do first. Why should I get married at all?"
"Grace Bethany! How can you say such a thing!"
"But mother..."
"No buts! What has gotten into you? Just wait 'til your father hears about this!" Throwing up her hands, she continued to harangue her wayward daughter.
After that, Grace was careful to keep her thoughts to herself.
-||-
"Oh look, it's nearly our turn," said Joy. "Come on, just give it a try."
"I don't think so." Grace took a step back from her friend. "I'm going to get something to drink while you get your reading done. I'll be over there." She pointed to a booth selling assorted cold drinks.
"Okay, but you don't know what you're missing." Joy walked up to the small card table and greeted the man seated next to it.
Grace made her way to the refreshment stand and asked for an iced tea. It was a fruity blend that tasted of peaches and mangoes. It was different but pleasant. She glanced down at her wristwatch then turned her attention to the colorful crowd on the field.
Hippies. So vocal, messy, raucous, and all that hair! And yet Grace found herself envying their youthful exuberance and energy. It was something her family would never approve. And certainly not her over-exacting husband, William. Serious, dedicated and driven, he was one of the youngest executives in the company to be promoted to associate director. And yet despite the big house, the help, the cars, the clothes and country club, she still felt restless inside, as though something were missing.
As she turned to check on Joy, she saw Sean tilt his head up, catching her stare. Discomfited, she looked away. Even from a distance, she'd sometimes overhear other people's conversations, whether she wanted to or not. And this one was no exception.
"I see you surrounded by blue water," Sean said to Joy. "It will be a very pleasant trip, my dear."
Grace sipped her tea. Joy had mentioned she and her husband Ernest were about to embark on a cruise to South America. Then again they were always traveling. Unlike her friends, Grace had yet to see much of anything beyond the state of Washington, although she had much practice in packing since William traveled regularly on business. She sighed. It'd been a few years since they'd gone away together on vacation. He was always so busy.
Too busy to make time for you any more, a voice whispered. But his work's so important to him, she answered back silently. It wouldn't be fair.
To you or to him? What about your needs? Aren't you entitled to make some demands for yourself?
Troubling thoughts like that were intruding on Grace more and more each day. The desire to do something more with her life, to take on another role other than helpmate, wife and mother.
But I'm too old to start over now, she thought. I'm almost thirty-five. And the boys need me.
"You are on the verge of a major transition."
Startled, she stared back into the tent in time to see Sean's hand move as he flipped over another card. "You will soon find a new avocation for yourself. One that you will enjoy immensely."
Joy had her chin propped on her hands as she studied the tarot spread before her. "Really? Can you tell me what it'll be?"
"All I can say is that it has something to do with your hands."
Who knows, that might be true, thought Grace. Whether it was planting bulbs or crocheting a throw, Joy liked working with her hands. She had slim, tapered fingers that were immaculately manicured. Grace's were long but blunter, and she kept her nails short.
"You have a boy's hand," her mother had often said. "You have got to stop biting your nails. It's so unladylike."
Frowning at the memory, she watched Joy stand and shake the tarot reader's hand. As he leaned over to whisper something in her friend's ear, Grace turned away and finished her tea.
"So how'd it go? " she asked as Joy walked up to join her.
"Sean was terrific. He told me all about the cruise, which is going to be fabulous, and he said Ernie should get that raise he's been asking for by the beginning of fall. Finally. Plus it looks like I'll find a new hobby."
"Wow," said Grace dryly. "Any stock tips, too? How about the World Series? Who's going to win?"
"Hey, would you lighten up?" Joy scowled up at her friend. Then she grinned conspiratorially. "Guess what? Sean had a message for you."
Grace raised her eyebrows. "For me?"
"Oh yes." Joy mimicked the older man's tone. "Tell your tall friend she has a special gift."
"Gift? What gift?"
"He didn't say, although the word stubborn, comes to mind." Joy smirked briefly at Grace. "But he did say that your son shares it as well."
"What? Which one?"
"Well, he said the older one, so I guess that means Jimmy."
Grace snorted. "All mothers want to be told their sons are special."
"Maybe, but Sean said it'll take a long time for him to accept it. But not to worry. He'll eventually meet someone who'll teach him the true value of his gift." Joy scrunched up her face as she recalled the exact words. "Let's see--and together they'll become an unstoppable force for good."
"Now I've heard everything," scoffed Grace as she dropped her cup into a trash barrel. "Where's he get this stuff? Sounds like he's read one too many comic books."
"I thought it sounded sweet myself."
Grace shook her head and followed Joy who made a beeline toward some clothing laid out on a long table.
"What do you think? Is it me or what?" Joy turned around and flapped a pair of bright magenta jeans at her friend.
The garish color made Grace smile in amusement. "Do you really want my opinion?"
"I know, I know, wait 'til I lose a few pounds."
"Save it for Christmas and send it to your sister. I'm sure she'll get a kick out of it."
Joy chuckled back. "She'd have a heart attack, that's for sure."
"What's this?" Grace zeroed in on some long white woven strands laid out next to the pants.
"Must be that macramé stuff." Joy held one up. "This would make a nice belt. I bet I could make some on my own."
"Looks pretty complicated to me," said Grace, examining one of the strands. There were colorful, wooden beads interspersed among the configuration of small knots.
"I'll figure it out," Joy said confidently.
Grace paused as her friend continued to browse ahead. The headache she'd been dreading was starting to grow in intensity. She wondered if she'd remembered to refill the aspirin bottle that she carried around in her purse. As she passed a booth selling incense sticks, the wafting fragrance suddenly overwhelmed her, leaving her gagging on the aromatic scent of vanilla and sandalwood.
She gasped and put a hand out on a pole to steady herself. Her stomach was beginning to rebel, and she was afraid she was about to be sick, right in the middle of the festival. Just take it easy, she thought as she tried to calm herself. I will not get sick in front of all these people. But the smell still lingered in her nostrils, and her insides churned. Everywhere she looked, there were strangers, and their loud, booming voices hurt her head. The pressure at her temples and the back of her eyes increased and she let out a small moan of pain.
Unexpectedly, a sound cut through the bruising wallah of the crowd. It was the high peal of laughter, a child's voice, but to her ears, it was as clear and lovely as a wind chime in the breeze, and for a few precious seconds, it helped distract her from the painful throbbing in her head and roiling feeling in her belly.
Grace inhaled deeply then took a step forward. But a wave of dizziness passed over her and she reeled back against one of the tables.
"Whoa, lady, careful there," called out one of the vendors.
"S-sorry," she said. The initial flutter of panic she'd felt increased as she tried to locate Joy. Over the years, her friend had learned to tolerate Grace's little "episodes," and would readily find her a place to sit until the attack passed, or else drive her home. Neither doctors nor specialists and their tests had been able to explain or alleviate her constant headaches or bouts of nausea and dizziness.
Pressing a hand to her stomach, it took all the strength she could muster to stand upright. Joy, she thought desperately, where are you? Just when it seemed her legs were about to give out, something rushed up. It was warm and solid and leaned steadily against her right knee.
For a brief moment, Grace thought it was a small dog, but quickly realized the pressure against her leg was a pair of tiny hands. Their warmth steadied her, and to her amazement, the imminent wave of panic about to crest and engulf her, stopped and began to recede. She'd found an unexpected anchor in a shifting sea of sounds and smells.
Heartened, she looked down, and saw a startling pair of bright blue eyes staring back up at her. Eyes that were clear and unafraid. The round, elfin face was framed in soft curls, and the small mouth was open and smiling.
"Hee, hee!" The child's lilting laughter rose in the breeze, and the sound calmed her frazzled nerves. He looked up expectantly and raised his little arms to her. Without thinking twice, she knelt down and gathered him up.
The moment his soft cheek pressed against hers, she knew at once she was going to be all right. The churning in her stomach stopped, her racing heart slowed, and the throbbing pressure at her temples began to ease. Closing her eyes in relief, she sent up a small prayer of thanks as she hugged the toddler.
"Gracie? What's going on?" She turned to see Joy staring at her.
In Joy's eyes, it probably was strange. Here she was cradling a small child, who couldn't be more than two, and a gypsy-like child at that. He wore a bright blue tie-dyed tee-shirt over his diapers, a colorful contrast to her own beige outfit. Loose golden brown curls floated around his face, and he had a pair of tiny sandals on his feet. Yet the little arms around her neck felt reassuring, not suffocating.
Grace smiled sheepishly as the child leaned his head back to look at Joy. "He's, um, lost. And I have no idea who he belongs to."
"Uh huh." Joy eyed them questioningly. "Well, then there's only one thing to do I suppose. Try lost and found."
-||-
"What do you mean you can't do anything?" said Grace indignantly. "This child needs his mother. Can't you make an announcement or something?"
The ponytailed young man at the front booth held his hands up. "Sorry, ma'am. I'm afraid we're not set up for that. No P.A. system." He patted the boy on the head. "If you want, you can just leave him here. I'm sure his old lady will show up sooner or later."
"Sooner or later?" Grace felt her blood pressure rise. "You mean leave him here in this booth, by himself? He's just a toddler! How do you know some stranger won't snatch him? What if he wanders off again?"
The coordinator raised his shoulders then let them drop.
Grace felt Joy's tap on her back. "The kid's not your responsibility, either. Maybe we should go. I'm sure his parents are looking for him now as we speak. They'll find him."
Grace frowned and folded her arms. "That's not good enough," she grated, ignoring Joy's look of exasperation. The smiling tyke was the very picture of sunny innocence and she'd be damned if she left him to the mercy of passing strangers, or worse. She could not explain the surge of protectiveness she felt for the little boy, but all her motherly instincts were on alert.
She drew herself up to her full height, and looked sternly down into the festival coordinator's face. "All right young man, here's what we're going to do."
-||-
"Honestly Gracie, I don't know what's gotten into you. For a moment there, I thought you were going to jump down that man's throat." Joy was forced to trot quickly to keep up as they strode away from the festival. "Don't get me wrong, the kid's cute as a button, and I certainly don't want to see him hurt or anything, but that's an awful lot of responsibility you're taking on. You sure you know what you're doing?"
"I do," replied Grace firmly. As she shifted the child in her arms, she noticed movement out of the corner of her eye. She turned her head to watch as Joy continued on, oblivious to the fact her friend had slowed her pace.
Out on a clear patch of grassy field, two young men were playing Frisbee, tossing it back and forth between them. As they increased the distance, one made increasingly flashy catches behind his back and under his leg as a crowd gathered around them to watch. Back on the sidewalk, Grace tuned out her friend's chatter and focused instead on the bright red circle sailing high overhead. The noise of the busy festival began to recede into the background as the color continued to catch her attention. Stepping off the curb and into the street, she found herself lost in the spinning motion of the plastic disc.
"No!" A sharp tug on her hair and the loud cry in her ear immediately snapped her back. There was a sudden loud honk and the screech of brakes. Grace reacted instinctively and leapt sideways, clutching the youngster tightly in both arms. She went over the curb and rolled onto the grass.
"Oh my god, Gracie!" Joy turned around and ran back to her friend.
The driver who'd come to a panic halt rolled down his window and stuck a head out. "You crazy bitch!" he yelled. "Watch where you're going!" Putting his car back in gear he sped off again.
"What an asshole!" fumed Joy as she reached Grace. "The idiot was speeding." She looked down at her friend with concern. "Are you all right?"
"I think so," gulped Grace as she sat up. Now that the initial adrenaline surge had subsided, she was starting to feel shaky.
"What the hell were you doing?" Joy knelt and put a hand on her shoulder. "It looked to me like you just froze out there. One more second and..."
"I know, believe me I know." Grace looked at the toddler in her arms. "If he hadn't grabbed my hair, we'd both be pancakes on the street." The little boy merely blinked then smiled widely before burying his face against her shoulder.
"You sure you're gonna be okay? Maybe I should take you to the hospital or something."
"No, no doctors," Grace said adamantly. "I'm sick to death of them."
Joy studied her skeptically as she plucked some stray wisps of grass out of her friend's hair. "Well, what about the kid then?"
"He's fine. Let's get out of here." She took another deep breath as she picked up the shoulder bag she'd dropped. The toddler shifted in her arms and tightened his grip around her neck. "Thank you my little protector," she whispered softly as she stood up and tugged on her skirt. "You saved my life."
-||-
"Okay, here we are, home sweet home." Joy pulled up into the large driveway by the Ellison residence and parked.
Grace quickly unlatched her seat belt and shifted the little bundle in her lap as she reached for the door handle.
"Here, let me give you a hand." Joy got out, walked around her car and held her arms out for the sleeping child. But as soon as he was transferred he woke and began to squirm.
"No!" he cried loudly and twisted around in Joy's arms to reach out for Grace.
"I'll be right there," she soothed, as she reached into the back seat for the shopping bags she'd left there. They'd made a quick stop at a local store for diapers, food and juice. She pulled her keys out of her sweater pocket and followed Joy to the front entrance. Before she could insert the key, the door swung open.
"Hi Mom."
"Jimmy, you're back already."
"How does he do that?" Joy sent a quick look to Grace. "Jimmy always seems to know when you're home."
The twelve-year old shrugged. "I found what I needed at the library so I decided to come home." He stared suspiciously at the squirming toddler in Joy's arms. "Who's that?" he asked.
The tot began to wail in earnest. Wincing at the noise, Joy held him out to Grace. "Here, I think you'd better take him. I'll get the bags."
Once back in Grace's arms the child immediately quieted, then peered over her shoulder at Jimmy. He perked up and laughed. "Hi, hi!"
Jimmy grinned back. "Hi yourself, you little goober." He stepped back out of the way as Joy marched into the hallway with the shopping bags.
"Where do you want them?" she called out over her shoulder.
"In the kitchen for now. Mrs. Woodley will get them later." Grace turned and walked toward the rear of the house closely followed by her son.
"God, what an afternoon," groused Joy as she plopped down on a wooden chair in the spacious kitchen.
"Want some coffee or tea?"
"Some coffee would be wonderful."
"How about you, Jimmy? Would you like a soda?"
"Yes, please." He leaned against the counter as he watched his mother set the toddler down on the chair next to Joy then went to plug the coffeemaker in. The little child watched her movements with bright, curious eyes.
She opened the refrigerator and pulled out a cold root beer. "How's this?"
"Great. Thanks, Mom." Jimmy grabbed a bottle opener from a drawer and quickly popped the top off.
"And did you say hello to Mrs. Adams yet?"
"Oh, sorry." He turned to face Joy. "Hi, Mrs. Adams."
She winked back at him. "Hi Jimmy. So, where's your little brother?"
"Stevie? He's over at Andy's house. They're having a sleepover."
"At the Maguire's? How nice. Sounds like fun."
"Uh huh." He took a swig of his cold soda and let it trickle down his throat. He held the bottle in his hand then looked at the toddler on the chair. "So, where'd the baby come from?"
Grace and Joy glanced at each other for a moment. Joy's mouth quirked as she said, "You've told him about the birds and the bees, haven't you?"
Grace shot her a disapproving look as she poured the coffee into two cups and set them on the table. She pulled a small bottle of apple juice out of the shopping bag and opened it. Picking up the toddler, she set him down on her lap and held the juice bottle in one hand as he sipped at it thirstily with a straw.
"Remember when I said Mrs. Adams and I were going to stop at that summer festival going on by the university?"
"Sure. What about it?"
"Well, that's how we found, er, he found us."
"Huh?" Jimmy looked puzzled.
"What I mean is, he's lost. We don't know who or where his parents are."
"Oh." Jimmy's expression slowly changed. "And you didn't want to just leave him out there all by himself."
Grace nodded. Her son approached the child on her lap and leaned over to look into the smiling face. "Hey," he said softly, "don't worry, little guy. My mom and I'll take good care of you."
The toddler crinkled his nose and laughed again. The clear, high delighted peal bounced against the tiles and made everyone smile. He reached out and grabbed one of Jimmy's fingers and gripped it tightly.
"Whoa." Jimmy felt a little light-headed as a sudden jolt of warmth flowed through him. He blinked at the toddler in surprise. "What's his name?" he asked as he gingerly freed his finger.
Both women shrugged. "We don't know."
"Then how are his parents going to find him?"
"I told the people who run the festival about him and gave them our phone number," Grace replied. "Has anyone called since you got home?"
Jimmy shook his head.
"Well, hopefully someone will, soon."
"I still think you should've dropped him off at the police station," said Joy as she stirred her coffee. "Let them deal with it."
The toddler suddenly looked up, his blue eyes wide with alarm. He began to a make a keening sound. Grace made comforting noises as she jiggled her leg up and down to distract him. "Don't say that, you're upsetting him."
"Oh he's not old enough to understand what I'm saying."
"It's not the words, Joy, it's your tone."
Joy put her cup down. "Okay, okay. I'll be quiet."
"Besides, they'd just call Child Welfare and send someone out to get him." Grace couldn't envision turning over the toddler to a total stranger. Better that he wait with here with her, where she could keep an eye on him.
"Like I said, it's not your problem. Say, how's your headache?"
Grace looked up, a little startled. "It's pretty much gone now." Strangely enough, it had started to subside the moment she'd picked up the little boy and held him.
Joy glanced at the clock on the wall. "Jeez, look at the time. I better get going before Ernie thinks I've been kidnapped. You sure you can handle this?"
"Yes, we'll be fine." Grace got up and put the toddler on the chair. "Jimmy, would you keep an eye on him for me while I walk Mrs. Adams out?"
"Sure, Mom." He watched the two adults step out of the kitchen and move toward the front door. He could easily hear them talking out on the front stoop.
"I still think you're nuts, Grace, but if you need anything, give me a holler."
Jimmy shifted his attention back to the little boy. He looked quite pleased with himself as he played with the drinking straw. Then he stopped and focused on Jimmy's index finger as it drew closer and closer to his face, going almost cross-eyed as he tracked it.
"Boo!" said Jimmy playfully as he touched the tip of the small, upturned nose.
The boy laughed again in delight. "Hee! Again!"
"Gee Mom, I think he's the happiest kid I've ever seen," said Jimmy as his mother returned to the kitchen.
"Now that you mention it, you're right," she mused. Grace knelt alongside the chair and tugged very gently on a brown curl. The child beamed even more broadly at the attention and began to bounce on the seat cushion. Your mother must be doing something right, little one. We don't even know your name and you've already got us both wrapped around your little fingers, she thought.
"And he seems pretty trusting. I guess he's figured out he's safe here with us," said Jimmy.
Grace smiled, reached out and ruffled her son's hair. She'd noticed a long time ago that he tended to keep an eye not only on his younger brother, Steven, but other smaller children as well. Bullies were not tolerated on his block. But as an infant, Jimmy had been fussy and restless. Certain noises and smells bothered him, and if his food wasn't prepared exactly right...
I should talk, Grace thought in amusement. She'd hardly been a model baby herself. "No one got a lick of sleep for at least a year," her father had said fondly in mock-exasperation. But then there was that one night in particular, the one where she'd screamed and cried at the top of her lungs, until the entire household was awake and grumbling. Her parents stood distraught, in their nightclothes, bickering over what to do, when one of her sisters said, "Papa? I think I smell something burning." Sure enough after some searching, they'd found that someone had dropped a cigarette right outside their house under a hedge that grew next to Grace's nursery. The damp leaves on the ground were smoldering. It would've taken little effort for a fire to spread to the hedge and from there to the wooden structure.
She shook her head at the oft-told tale. Her own son seemed to have inherited that same keen sense of smell as well. He'd easily locate lost articles of clothing and even found Henrietta Langer's lost poodle out in the woods once, claiming that he followed the scent of her perfume on the pampered little pooch.
Suddenly the toddler looked up with startled, round eyes. "Oh, oh!" he cried out then made a face.
Both mother and son recoiled at the same time. "Eeuwwww!" said Jimmy holding his nose.
"Someone needs a diaper change and a bath," announced Grace as she quickly stood up. She grimaced a little, feeling an ache in her knee and shoulder from the little roll on the curb earlier. But considering the alternative, she wasn't about to complain.
Holding the toddler's hand, they climbed the stairs together. She led him into the master bedroom then went to the bathroom and turned the tub faucet on. Checking the water temperature, she let the water run then left the room, closing the door behind her.
Jimmy stood by the bed, holding one of the shopping bags. "Here are the diapers and stuff," he said. "What now?"
"I think I can take it from here. Why don't you go downstairs and see if Mrs. Woodley's back yet. If she is, she can start that meatloaf for us."
"With mashed potatoes and gravy?" he asked hopefully.
"Yes, with mashed potatoes and gravy." Grace began to unbutton her sweater. "Oh, and we can have some strawberry shortcake for dessert."
"Cool!" Jimmy turned and bounded down the stairs. Closing her bedroom door, Grace swiftly undressed and donned a pair of slacks and a short-sleeved blouse. Then she picked up the toddler and went into the bathroom. It'd been awhile since she'd cared for a small child, but she fell into the familiar routine easily as she removed the soiled diaper and put it into a separate bag. It didn't seem all that long ago she was changing Jimmy then Steven.
Tugging off the colorful blue tee-shirt, she then picked up the child and set him carefully down in the tub. He giggled as he sat in the warm water. Ignoring his splashing, she poured out a small amount of shampoo and began to lather up the curls, careful to keep the suds out of his eyes. After soaping and rinsing the rest of his little body, she lifted him out of the tub and patted him dry with a large towel.
"All clean but nothing to wear," she murmured. "Gotta be something around here we can use. Can't have you running around naked, now can we?"
The little boy cocked his head and stamped his feet.
"Why do I get the feeling you might like that?" She smiled then grabbed a clean diaper to fasten around him. Then she remembered. There was a box of old clothes sitting in a closet. "I tell you what. Let's go try Jimmy's room."
"Okay." The toddler held up his arms and allowed to Grace scoop him up.
"Nope, too big. Let's try something else." Grace had found the cardboard carton of clothes and was busy digging through it. "Hmm, this might work." She held up a navy blue sweatshirt that had been worn by Jimmy. It was oversized, but the child waved his arms approvingly as she pulled it down over his head.
"I guess you'll be okay going barefoot for now." She sat back on her heels and watched the little boy walk up to the box and peer inside. Standing on tiptoe, he leaned over, reached in and pulled out a dark brown stuffed bear.
He clutched it gleefully with both hands. "Bear!"
"Oh, oh. You've found old Smokey." The bear was scruffy, threadbare in spots, and missing one glass eye, hardly a prize. Still, the child refused to let it go, and patted it happily.
"'Mokey," he said.
"Close enough," laughed Grace and held her hand out. Together they left the room and went downstairs.
"Oh my!" exclaimed Mrs. Woodley looking up from the sink. "Who's the little angel?"
The elderly housekeeper had been with the Ellison family for three decades. She had finally decided to retire, and would be soon be moving to Phoenix to live with her sister. Grace had interviewed potential candidates for months, before finally deciding on a replacement, Sally Fong. Sally was quiet, but Grace found her to be intelligent, responsible and resourceful. Her former employers had given her glowing references, and Grace felt confident both the boys and William would take to her as well.
"He's lost," explained Jimmy, sitting at the kitchen table with a large book propped up in front of him. "We're waiting for his mom or dad to call."
Mrs. Woodley dumped a pot of boiling water into the sink. "Oh dear. What's his name?"
"We don't know."
"Have you tried asking him?"
"Um no." Jimmy looked down at the youngster. "So, what's your name?"
The child smiled back. "Bear!"
"No, no, that's Smokey." Jimmy repeated his question a little more slowly. "What's-your-name?"
"Bear!"
Jimmy sighed and looked up. "I give up. Now what?"
"Hmm. We should call him something," said Grace.
"Let's call him LG."
"LG? What does that stand for?"
"Little Guy." Jimmy then smirked. "Or Little Goober."
"All right, LG it is."
LG squeezed the teddy bear in his arms. "Mine!" he announced proudly.
"Oh yeah? Where'd you find him? Upstairs? So that's where Smokey's been hiding..."
Grace smiled at the sight of her son patiently telling the toddler all about his old bear and their adventures in the backyard.
"I see Jimmy's taken a shine to the little one."
"Yes he has," and so have I, thought Grace. "I tell you what, let's eat in the kitchen tonight. William won't be home anyway."
"Still in Chicago, is he?" Mrs. Woodley stirred a small pot on the stove.
"For at least another three days." Grace sighed as she hunted for placemats and napkins. As much as she missed his presence, it was a small relief not having to explain to her sometimes less-than-understanding husband, her sudden decision to bring LG home. She doubted he'd take kindly to the lost toddler, seeing him more as an intrusive annoyance than anything else.
Glancing back at the little boy, she wondered what his parents were like. Young no doubt, and probably not too keen on so-called establishment types like William. Or herself, for that matter. At least the child seemed healthy and happy. And what was that term? Oh yes, laid-back.
"T-Rex!"
"Yeah, that's right. A tyrannosaurus rex." Jimmy now sat cross-legged on the tiled floor with his book open to a page on dinosaurs. LG was next to him.
"Tri-tri," he said next, pointing at one of the pictures.
Jimmy looked down approvingly. "Right, triceratops. Gee, that's pretty good. You know a lot about dinosaurs, don't you?"
LG giggled and patted the bear in his lap. "More!" He pointed again then leaned down and turned the page. "Bronto!"
"I'll show you my old dinosaur set after dinner."
"All right you two, time to eat."
Jimmy closed his book and got up. Then he reached down and pulled LG to his feet. "Let's go wash our hands," he said leading the toddler away.
"Found it!" Grace dragged out the old high chair she'd used for her two boys from the storage closet. Setting it next to the table, she put LG in it, tucked a napkin over his sweatshirt, pushed his sleeves up, and set a small bowl of mashed potatoes and peas in front of him.
"No, LG," coaxed Jimmy, "like this." He held his spoon up, loaded with peas and put it into his mouth. "Mmm, yummy."
LG watched closely then copied the move. Bits of food were smooshed on his face and arms, as he swallowed then waved his spoon. He seemed more intent on poking his dinner than eating it.
"This one gives new meaning to the phrase, playing with your food," noted Mrs. Woodley.
Jimmy leaned forward. "Keep that up LG, and you won't get any dessert," he warned.
LG immediately stopped waving his spoon and sat quietly.
"Look at how he minds you," added the housekeeper.
"Since I'm older, he realizes that I know what's best," said Jimmy proudly.
Splat. He flinched as a small glob of mashed potatoes landed on the side of his face. LG giggled loudly.
"So much for age and authority," said Grace, concealing her grin behind a napkin.
Jimmy swiped at his face with his hand then glared at the toddler. "You just wait, LG, you just wait."
Grace stood sipping her coffee as Mrs. Woodley finished rinsing the last of the dinner plates. She stacked them neatly to drain then wiped her hands on a dishtowel.
"Just look at the two of them."
Both boys were in the den, watching television. Jimmy sat on the floor with LG on his lap. Mrs. Woodley shook her head as she put the cutting board away. "What an amazing little boy. You'd think it'd upset him, being around strangers and all. But he hasn't fussed once."
That is pretty unusual, thought Grace. He'd accepted three total strangers and a new household without hesitation and seemed to be enjoying it all.
"What's to become of him, I wonder?"
Grace looked up. "I'm sure he'll be fine."
"Then why hasn't his mother or father called yet?"
Grace had been wondering the same thing for the past few hours. She had expected to get a panicked call at any second, but the phone had rung only once. That had been Joy, checking to see how things were going.
Surely LG's parents had her phone number by now. The young man at the festival she'd lectured so sternly had promised. But what if no one called? Then what? Grace shook her head. Someone would call. It was unthinkable to her that anyone would leave a child like that for any length of time.
"Okay you two, it's getting late. Time for bed."
"Ah Mom," grumbled Jimmy. "Can't I stay up? I wanted to watch Mannix."
"Man-nix," repeated LG. Then he yawned and leaned back against Jimmy, blinking sleepily.
"I think LG needs to lie down now." She bent down to pick up the drowsy toddler.
He squawked then pointed at the floor. "'Mokey, 'Mokey."
Jimmy picked up the stuffed bear and held it up. "I've got him. Come on, let's go. You can stay in my room tonight." He looked over at his mother. "That's okay, isn't it? I mean, since Stevie's not here."
Grace nodded back. While Jimmy went to his room to change and brush his teeth, she took LG to her bathroom and got him ready as well.
Sitting on the edge of her son's bed, she leaned over and kissed him gently on the forehead. "Good night sweetheart," she whispered.
"G'night, Mom. I love you," Jimmy answered back.
LG was tucked into the spare bed across the room. He clutched Smokey as he yawned again. Grace kissed his little forehead, too. "Good night, LG," she said. "Sleep tight." She hit the light switch and closed the bedroom door.
It had been a long, tumultuous day all around. Grace went back to her room to enjoy the quiet. After washing her hair and taking a soothing soak in the tub, she soon found herself nodding off, too tired to start the latest bestseller she'd picked up, Exorcist. Mrs. Woodley had already retired for the night, so she forced herself to get up and patrol the large house, jiggling locks and making sure windows were shut and lights were off. As she passed by Jimmy's room, she opened the door for a quick peek.
He was not in his bed. She took another step inside, but didn't touch the light switch. She could see easily in the dark, something her doctor attributed to exceptional night vision. He often joked that she must be part owl.
She glanced over at the guest bed. The large lump was Jimmy. He lay on his side, curled around LG. The last time she'd seen her oldest do that was to reassure Steven when he'd had nightmares from seeing a particularly scary movie. LG lay snuggled peacefully; one little hand was closed around a portion of Jimmy's pajama top. Shaking her head, she crossed the room and drew a blanket over the sleeping boys. Then she retreated silently and closed the door again.
Part 2
The reason behind my breaking radio silence is all due to the lovely laurie-ky. She asked a few months ago, if she could podfic one of my old Sentinel stories for the upcoming Ladies' Big Bang Challenge on Dreamwidth. I was amazed that she remembered me, considering that my TS fic are still orphans without a home. So, for now, I'm posting it here.
The idea for Maternal Instinct came about several years back, while I was browsing a new age type store late one afternoon. It was the kind of place Naomi Sandburg would feel at home in, among the incense, candles, crystals and Tibetan mandalas. Then I thought about Jim's mother. What would Grace Ellison think of a store like this? What if she were the polar opposite of Naomi? How would these two women react if they were ever to meet?
Title: Maternal Instinct
By: Autumn Skies
The Sentinel | 14,200 words | Gen | Rated PG for language
Characters: Grace Ellison, Jim, Blair, Naomi, OFCs, Steven and mention of William.
Summary: An alternate reality in which Grace Ellison and her young son, Jimmy, encounter a special toddler and his mother during the summer of 1971.
Notes: In this AR, Grace is still married to William. Jim and Steven are just a tad older than in canon, and Sally Fong is not yet part of the household. Minor references to the episode, Remembrance.
Many thanks to laurie_ky for taking the time to podfic this story.
Disclaimer: Written solely for fun, not profit.
-||-
Maternal Instinct - Part 1
Cascade, Washington - June 1971
The skies over Cascade were remarkably clear for late June. The clouds had finally lifted, leaving sunlight glinting from dozens of windshields as a green Buick rolled slowly past a row of parked cars.
"What a madhouse, Gracie. Do you think we'll find a parking spot?"
"Over there. There's an open space right next to the white van. See it?"
"No, but I'll take your word for it," Joy said, peering over her steering wheel. The outdoor parking lot was packed, but if there was a space to be had, Joy was confident her friend would find it. Grace Ellison had the uncanny ability to spot all sorts of things at a glance, from a specific paperback among hundreds on a bookshelf to a tiny waterspot on a drinking glass.
After easing her car next to the van, Joy set the parking brake and turned the engine off. "This'll be fun, don't you think?" she said, reaching for her purse.
Grace eyed the surroundings with a bit of hesitation. "I suppose. We aren't going to be here long, are we?"
"Where's your sense of adventure?" chided Joy as she opened her door. "It'll be great, you'll see."
Sighing, Grace unfolded her long legs and got out of the passenger side of the Buick. She squinted at the bright afternoon sun, opened her straw shoulder bag and fumbled for her sunglasses.
"Hurry up, Gracie!" Joy was already several steps ahead, her eyes fixed on the colorful festival in the distance.
"Coming." Grace took a deep breath and followed her eager friend toward a large, grassy area adjacent to the university.
The open field was filled with hundreds of people milling around dozens of canvas-covered booths and tables. A long, painted banner that read "Welcome to Summer Festival 1971" billowed in the breeze. Looking around, Grace felt distinctly out of place in her matching beige sweater and skirt outfit. Everyone else seemed to be dressed casually in loose tunics, jeans, vests, tee-shirts, madras blouses and sandals. It was a whirling kaleidoscope of colors, sounds and smells.
She winced as she tracked Joy through the noisy throng. Not only were her eyes light-sensitive, but on a day like today, she could be easily overwhelmed by the sheer presence of so many bodies. A warning tingle tapped at her temples.
No, not now. Not another headache, she thought wearily. Please, just let me get through the next hour or so.
"What did I tell you? There he is, just like Muriel said." Joy pointed at an open tent set up next to a booth selling glazed pottery. Seated at a small card table was a bearded man wearing round, wire-rimmed glasses. He had gray-streaked hair and wore a leather-fringed vest. A young woman sat in front of him, watching intently as he laid out some oversized cards on the table.
"Let's get in line." She grabbed Grace's hand and tugged her toward the tent.
"You sure this'll be worth it?"
"Definitely. You should've heard Muriel go on and on about her tarot reading. She said it was the most amazing thing she'd ever heard. This man described her life to a tee, including her brother-in-law's drinking problem. Apparently there's going to be some layoffs at his plant in the next few months so if Ted doesn't get his act together soon, trust me, he's going to be in deep doodoo..."
Grace merely nodded as she adjusted her sunglasses. She'd always been skeptical of psychics. They reminded her of the carnival fortunetellers she'd seen as a child. They wore exotic-looking clothes and talked with foreign accents. They claimed to see into the future, for a price. But once a client left their booth, Grace would sometimes overhear the fortuneteller's voice change abruptly--from foreign sounding to very American.
"I don't know, Joy. I'm not a big believer in this kind of mumbo-jumbo."
"You really should keep an open mind," said a young voice.
Startled, Grace turned her head. A petite girl in braids stood behind them. She wore an embroidered short-sleeve cotton blouse over her flared jeans. A white daisy was tucked behind an ear.
The girl smiled at her. "Sorry, I didn't mean to butt in like that, but I've heard nothing but good things about Sean. He likes to help people. He's not a fake, if that's what you're worried about."
Joy beamed. "See? What'd I tell you?"
"My name's Luna," continued the young woman.
"Hi Luna. I'm Joycelyn, and this is my friend, Grace."
Grace resisted the urge to roll her eyes upon hearing the girl's name. "More like Loony, if you ask me," she whispered to her friend. She felt an elbow nudge her side.
"Cut it out," Joy whispered back.
"Wow, you're really tall. You must've been an athlete or something," Luna said, peering up.
Grace shifted uneasily. She was sensitive about her height. Always the tallest girl in class, she'd been called beanpole, giraffe, and scarecrow, among other things. The classroom taunts had hurt, and it'd taken her a long time to get over her self-consciousness. It wasn't until high school that she found the perfect outlet for her size and energy. A natural athlete, she excelled in sports. While she received praise from her coaches, her abilities were never encouraged at home. Certainly not by her mother, who always seemed embarrassed that she was not as "dainty" as her other sisters.
"You're such a tomboy. At this rate, I don't see how you'll ever find a husband," her mother would say, shaking her head.
"But there's so much I want to do first. Why should I get married at all?"
"Grace Bethany! How can you say such a thing!"
"But mother..."
"No buts! What has gotten into you? Just wait 'til your father hears about this!" Throwing up her hands, she continued to harangue her wayward daughter.
After that, Grace was careful to keep her thoughts to herself.
-||-
"Oh look, it's nearly our turn," said Joy. "Come on, just give it a try."
"I don't think so." Grace took a step back from her friend. "I'm going to get something to drink while you get your reading done. I'll be over there." She pointed to a booth selling assorted cold drinks.
"Okay, but you don't know what you're missing." Joy walked up to the small card table and greeted the man seated next to it.
Grace made her way to the refreshment stand and asked for an iced tea. It was a fruity blend that tasted of peaches and mangoes. It was different but pleasant. She glanced down at her wristwatch then turned her attention to the colorful crowd on the field.
Hippies. So vocal, messy, raucous, and all that hair! And yet Grace found herself envying their youthful exuberance and energy. It was something her family would never approve. And certainly not her over-exacting husband, William. Serious, dedicated and driven, he was one of the youngest executives in the company to be promoted to associate director. And yet despite the big house, the help, the cars, the clothes and country club, she still felt restless inside, as though something were missing.
As she turned to check on Joy, she saw Sean tilt his head up, catching her stare. Discomfited, she looked away. Even from a distance, she'd sometimes overhear other people's conversations, whether she wanted to or not. And this one was no exception.
"I see you surrounded by blue water," Sean said to Joy. "It will be a very pleasant trip, my dear."
Grace sipped her tea. Joy had mentioned she and her husband Ernest were about to embark on a cruise to South America. Then again they were always traveling. Unlike her friends, Grace had yet to see much of anything beyond the state of Washington, although she had much practice in packing since William traveled regularly on business. She sighed. It'd been a few years since they'd gone away together on vacation. He was always so busy.
Too busy to make time for you any more, a voice whispered. But his work's so important to him, she answered back silently. It wouldn't be fair.
To you or to him? What about your needs? Aren't you entitled to make some demands for yourself?
Troubling thoughts like that were intruding on Grace more and more each day. The desire to do something more with her life, to take on another role other than helpmate, wife and mother.
But I'm too old to start over now, she thought. I'm almost thirty-five. And the boys need me.
"You are on the verge of a major transition."
Startled, she stared back into the tent in time to see Sean's hand move as he flipped over another card. "You will soon find a new avocation for yourself. One that you will enjoy immensely."
Joy had her chin propped on her hands as she studied the tarot spread before her. "Really? Can you tell me what it'll be?"
"All I can say is that it has something to do with your hands."
Who knows, that might be true, thought Grace. Whether it was planting bulbs or crocheting a throw, Joy liked working with her hands. She had slim, tapered fingers that were immaculately manicured. Grace's were long but blunter, and she kept her nails short.
"You have a boy's hand," her mother had often said. "You have got to stop biting your nails. It's so unladylike."
Frowning at the memory, she watched Joy stand and shake the tarot reader's hand. As he leaned over to whisper something in her friend's ear, Grace turned away and finished her tea.
"So how'd it go? " she asked as Joy walked up to join her.
"Sean was terrific. He told me all about the cruise, which is going to be fabulous, and he said Ernie should get that raise he's been asking for by the beginning of fall. Finally. Plus it looks like I'll find a new hobby."
"Wow," said Grace dryly. "Any stock tips, too? How about the World Series? Who's going to win?"
"Hey, would you lighten up?" Joy scowled up at her friend. Then she grinned conspiratorially. "Guess what? Sean had a message for you."
Grace raised her eyebrows. "For me?"
"Oh yes." Joy mimicked the older man's tone. "Tell your tall friend she has a special gift."
"Gift? What gift?"
"He didn't say, although the word stubborn, comes to mind." Joy smirked briefly at Grace. "But he did say that your son shares it as well."
"What? Which one?"
"Well, he said the older one, so I guess that means Jimmy."
Grace snorted. "All mothers want to be told their sons are special."
"Maybe, but Sean said it'll take a long time for him to accept it. But not to worry. He'll eventually meet someone who'll teach him the true value of his gift." Joy scrunched up her face as she recalled the exact words. "Let's see--and together they'll become an unstoppable force for good."
"Now I've heard everything," scoffed Grace as she dropped her cup into a trash barrel. "Where's he get this stuff? Sounds like he's read one too many comic books."
"I thought it sounded sweet myself."
Grace shook her head and followed Joy who made a beeline toward some clothing laid out on a long table.
"What do you think? Is it me or what?" Joy turned around and flapped a pair of bright magenta jeans at her friend.
The garish color made Grace smile in amusement. "Do you really want my opinion?"
"I know, I know, wait 'til I lose a few pounds."
"Save it for Christmas and send it to your sister. I'm sure she'll get a kick out of it."
Joy chuckled back. "She'd have a heart attack, that's for sure."
"What's this?" Grace zeroed in on some long white woven strands laid out next to the pants.
"Must be that macramé stuff." Joy held one up. "This would make a nice belt. I bet I could make some on my own."
"Looks pretty complicated to me," said Grace, examining one of the strands. There were colorful, wooden beads interspersed among the configuration of small knots.
"I'll figure it out," Joy said confidently.
Grace paused as her friend continued to browse ahead. The headache she'd been dreading was starting to grow in intensity. She wondered if she'd remembered to refill the aspirin bottle that she carried around in her purse. As she passed a booth selling incense sticks, the wafting fragrance suddenly overwhelmed her, leaving her gagging on the aromatic scent of vanilla and sandalwood.
She gasped and put a hand out on a pole to steady herself. Her stomach was beginning to rebel, and she was afraid she was about to be sick, right in the middle of the festival. Just take it easy, she thought as she tried to calm herself. I will not get sick in front of all these people. But the smell still lingered in her nostrils, and her insides churned. Everywhere she looked, there were strangers, and their loud, booming voices hurt her head. The pressure at her temples and the back of her eyes increased and she let out a small moan of pain.
Unexpectedly, a sound cut through the bruising wallah of the crowd. It was the high peal of laughter, a child's voice, but to her ears, it was as clear and lovely as a wind chime in the breeze, and for a few precious seconds, it helped distract her from the painful throbbing in her head and roiling feeling in her belly.
Grace inhaled deeply then took a step forward. But a wave of dizziness passed over her and she reeled back against one of the tables.
"Whoa, lady, careful there," called out one of the vendors.
"S-sorry," she said. The initial flutter of panic she'd felt increased as she tried to locate Joy. Over the years, her friend had learned to tolerate Grace's little "episodes," and would readily find her a place to sit until the attack passed, or else drive her home. Neither doctors nor specialists and their tests had been able to explain or alleviate her constant headaches or bouts of nausea and dizziness.
Pressing a hand to her stomach, it took all the strength she could muster to stand upright. Joy, she thought desperately, where are you? Just when it seemed her legs were about to give out, something rushed up. It was warm and solid and leaned steadily against her right knee.
For a brief moment, Grace thought it was a small dog, but quickly realized the pressure against her leg was a pair of tiny hands. Their warmth steadied her, and to her amazement, the imminent wave of panic about to crest and engulf her, stopped and began to recede. She'd found an unexpected anchor in a shifting sea of sounds and smells.
Heartened, she looked down, and saw a startling pair of bright blue eyes staring back up at her. Eyes that were clear and unafraid. The round, elfin face was framed in soft curls, and the small mouth was open and smiling.
"Hee, hee!" The child's lilting laughter rose in the breeze, and the sound calmed her frazzled nerves. He looked up expectantly and raised his little arms to her. Without thinking twice, she knelt down and gathered him up.
The moment his soft cheek pressed against hers, she knew at once she was going to be all right. The churning in her stomach stopped, her racing heart slowed, and the throbbing pressure at her temples began to ease. Closing her eyes in relief, she sent up a small prayer of thanks as she hugged the toddler.
"Gracie? What's going on?" She turned to see Joy staring at her.
In Joy's eyes, it probably was strange. Here she was cradling a small child, who couldn't be more than two, and a gypsy-like child at that. He wore a bright blue tie-dyed tee-shirt over his diapers, a colorful contrast to her own beige outfit. Loose golden brown curls floated around his face, and he had a pair of tiny sandals on his feet. Yet the little arms around her neck felt reassuring, not suffocating.
Grace smiled sheepishly as the child leaned his head back to look at Joy. "He's, um, lost. And I have no idea who he belongs to."
"Uh huh." Joy eyed them questioningly. "Well, then there's only one thing to do I suppose. Try lost and found."
-||-
"What do you mean you can't do anything?" said Grace indignantly. "This child needs his mother. Can't you make an announcement or something?"
The ponytailed young man at the front booth held his hands up. "Sorry, ma'am. I'm afraid we're not set up for that. No P.A. system." He patted the boy on the head. "If you want, you can just leave him here. I'm sure his old lady will show up sooner or later."
"Sooner or later?" Grace felt her blood pressure rise. "You mean leave him here in this booth, by himself? He's just a toddler! How do you know some stranger won't snatch him? What if he wanders off again?"
The coordinator raised his shoulders then let them drop.
Grace felt Joy's tap on her back. "The kid's not your responsibility, either. Maybe we should go. I'm sure his parents are looking for him now as we speak. They'll find him."
Grace frowned and folded her arms. "That's not good enough," she grated, ignoring Joy's look of exasperation. The smiling tyke was the very picture of sunny innocence and she'd be damned if she left him to the mercy of passing strangers, or worse. She could not explain the surge of protectiveness she felt for the little boy, but all her motherly instincts were on alert.
She drew herself up to her full height, and looked sternly down into the festival coordinator's face. "All right young man, here's what we're going to do."
-||-
"Honestly Gracie, I don't know what's gotten into you. For a moment there, I thought you were going to jump down that man's throat." Joy was forced to trot quickly to keep up as they strode away from the festival. "Don't get me wrong, the kid's cute as a button, and I certainly don't want to see him hurt or anything, but that's an awful lot of responsibility you're taking on. You sure you know what you're doing?"
"I do," replied Grace firmly. As she shifted the child in her arms, she noticed movement out of the corner of her eye. She turned her head to watch as Joy continued on, oblivious to the fact her friend had slowed her pace.
Out on a clear patch of grassy field, two young men were playing Frisbee, tossing it back and forth between them. As they increased the distance, one made increasingly flashy catches behind his back and under his leg as a crowd gathered around them to watch. Back on the sidewalk, Grace tuned out her friend's chatter and focused instead on the bright red circle sailing high overhead. The noise of the busy festival began to recede into the background as the color continued to catch her attention. Stepping off the curb and into the street, she found herself lost in the spinning motion of the plastic disc.
"No!" A sharp tug on her hair and the loud cry in her ear immediately snapped her back. There was a sudden loud honk and the screech of brakes. Grace reacted instinctively and leapt sideways, clutching the youngster tightly in both arms. She went over the curb and rolled onto the grass.
"Oh my god, Gracie!" Joy turned around and ran back to her friend.
The driver who'd come to a panic halt rolled down his window and stuck a head out. "You crazy bitch!" he yelled. "Watch where you're going!" Putting his car back in gear he sped off again.
"What an asshole!" fumed Joy as she reached Grace. "The idiot was speeding." She looked down at her friend with concern. "Are you all right?"
"I think so," gulped Grace as she sat up. Now that the initial adrenaline surge had subsided, she was starting to feel shaky.
"What the hell were you doing?" Joy knelt and put a hand on her shoulder. "It looked to me like you just froze out there. One more second and..."
"I know, believe me I know." Grace looked at the toddler in her arms. "If he hadn't grabbed my hair, we'd both be pancakes on the street." The little boy merely blinked then smiled widely before burying his face against her shoulder.
"You sure you're gonna be okay? Maybe I should take you to the hospital or something."
"No, no doctors," Grace said adamantly. "I'm sick to death of them."
Joy studied her skeptically as she plucked some stray wisps of grass out of her friend's hair. "Well, what about the kid then?"
"He's fine. Let's get out of here." She took another deep breath as she picked up the shoulder bag she'd dropped. The toddler shifted in her arms and tightened his grip around her neck. "Thank you my little protector," she whispered softly as she stood up and tugged on her skirt. "You saved my life."
-||-
"Okay, here we are, home sweet home." Joy pulled up into the large driveway by the Ellison residence and parked.
Grace quickly unlatched her seat belt and shifted the little bundle in her lap as she reached for the door handle.
"Here, let me give you a hand." Joy got out, walked around her car and held her arms out for the sleeping child. But as soon as he was transferred he woke and began to squirm.
"No!" he cried loudly and twisted around in Joy's arms to reach out for Grace.
"I'll be right there," she soothed, as she reached into the back seat for the shopping bags she'd left there. They'd made a quick stop at a local store for diapers, food and juice. She pulled her keys out of her sweater pocket and followed Joy to the front entrance. Before she could insert the key, the door swung open.
"Hi Mom."
"Jimmy, you're back already."
"How does he do that?" Joy sent a quick look to Grace. "Jimmy always seems to know when you're home."
The twelve-year old shrugged. "I found what I needed at the library so I decided to come home." He stared suspiciously at the squirming toddler in Joy's arms. "Who's that?" he asked.
The tot began to wail in earnest. Wincing at the noise, Joy held him out to Grace. "Here, I think you'd better take him. I'll get the bags."
Once back in Grace's arms the child immediately quieted, then peered over her shoulder at Jimmy. He perked up and laughed. "Hi, hi!"
Jimmy grinned back. "Hi yourself, you little goober." He stepped back out of the way as Joy marched into the hallway with the shopping bags.
"Where do you want them?" she called out over her shoulder.
"In the kitchen for now. Mrs. Woodley will get them later." Grace turned and walked toward the rear of the house closely followed by her son.
"God, what an afternoon," groused Joy as she plopped down on a wooden chair in the spacious kitchen.
"Want some coffee or tea?"
"Some coffee would be wonderful."
"How about you, Jimmy? Would you like a soda?"
"Yes, please." He leaned against the counter as he watched his mother set the toddler down on the chair next to Joy then went to plug the coffeemaker in. The little child watched her movements with bright, curious eyes.
She opened the refrigerator and pulled out a cold root beer. "How's this?"
"Great. Thanks, Mom." Jimmy grabbed a bottle opener from a drawer and quickly popped the top off.
"And did you say hello to Mrs. Adams yet?"
"Oh, sorry." He turned to face Joy. "Hi, Mrs. Adams."
She winked back at him. "Hi Jimmy. So, where's your little brother?"
"Stevie? He's over at Andy's house. They're having a sleepover."
"At the Maguire's? How nice. Sounds like fun."
"Uh huh." He took a swig of his cold soda and let it trickle down his throat. He held the bottle in his hand then looked at the toddler on the chair. "So, where'd the baby come from?"
Grace and Joy glanced at each other for a moment. Joy's mouth quirked as she said, "You've told him about the birds and the bees, haven't you?"
Grace shot her a disapproving look as she poured the coffee into two cups and set them on the table. She pulled a small bottle of apple juice out of the shopping bag and opened it. Picking up the toddler, she set him down on her lap and held the juice bottle in one hand as he sipped at it thirstily with a straw.
"Remember when I said Mrs. Adams and I were going to stop at that summer festival going on by the university?"
"Sure. What about it?"
"Well, that's how we found, er, he found us."
"Huh?" Jimmy looked puzzled.
"What I mean is, he's lost. We don't know who or where his parents are."
"Oh." Jimmy's expression slowly changed. "And you didn't want to just leave him out there all by himself."
Grace nodded. Her son approached the child on her lap and leaned over to look into the smiling face. "Hey," he said softly, "don't worry, little guy. My mom and I'll take good care of you."
The toddler crinkled his nose and laughed again. The clear, high delighted peal bounced against the tiles and made everyone smile. He reached out and grabbed one of Jimmy's fingers and gripped it tightly.
"Whoa." Jimmy felt a little light-headed as a sudden jolt of warmth flowed through him. He blinked at the toddler in surprise. "What's his name?" he asked as he gingerly freed his finger.
Both women shrugged. "We don't know."
"Then how are his parents going to find him?"
"I told the people who run the festival about him and gave them our phone number," Grace replied. "Has anyone called since you got home?"
Jimmy shook his head.
"Well, hopefully someone will, soon."
"I still think you should've dropped him off at the police station," said Joy as she stirred her coffee. "Let them deal with it."
The toddler suddenly looked up, his blue eyes wide with alarm. He began to a make a keening sound. Grace made comforting noises as she jiggled her leg up and down to distract him. "Don't say that, you're upsetting him."
"Oh he's not old enough to understand what I'm saying."
"It's not the words, Joy, it's your tone."
Joy put her cup down. "Okay, okay. I'll be quiet."
"Besides, they'd just call Child Welfare and send someone out to get him." Grace couldn't envision turning over the toddler to a total stranger. Better that he wait with here with her, where she could keep an eye on him.
"Like I said, it's not your problem. Say, how's your headache?"
Grace looked up, a little startled. "It's pretty much gone now." Strangely enough, it had started to subside the moment she'd picked up the little boy and held him.
Joy glanced at the clock on the wall. "Jeez, look at the time. I better get going before Ernie thinks I've been kidnapped. You sure you can handle this?"
"Yes, we'll be fine." Grace got up and put the toddler on the chair. "Jimmy, would you keep an eye on him for me while I walk Mrs. Adams out?"
"Sure, Mom." He watched the two adults step out of the kitchen and move toward the front door. He could easily hear them talking out on the front stoop.
"I still think you're nuts, Grace, but if you need anything, give me a holler."
Jimmy shifted his attention back to the little boy. He looked quite pleased with himself as he played with the drinking straw. Then he stopped and focused on Jimmy's index finger as it drew closer and closer to his face, going almost cross-eyed as he tracked it.
"Boo!" said Jimmy playfully as he touched the tip of the small, upturned nose.
The boy laughed again in delight. "Hee! Again!"
"Gee Mom, I think he's the happiest kid I've ever seen," said Jimmy as his mother returned to the kitchen.
"Now that you mention it, you're right," she mused. Grace knelt alongside the chair and tugged very gently on a brown curl. The child beamed even more broadly at the attention and began to bounce on the seat cushion. Your mother must be doing something right, little one. We don't even know your name and you've already got us both wrapped around your little fingers, she thought.
"And he seems pretty trusting. I guess he's figured out he's safe here with us," said Jimmy.
Grace smiled, reached out and ruffled her son's hair. She'd noticed a long time ago that he tended to keep an eye not only on his younger brother, Steven, but other smaller children as well. Bullies were not tolerated on his block. But as an infant, Jimmy had been fussy and restless. Certain noises and smells bothered him, and if his food wasn't prepared exactly right...
I should talk, Grace thought in amusement. She'd hardly been a model baby herself. "No one got a lick of sleep for at least a year," her father had said fondly in mock-exasperation. But then there was that one night in particular, the one where she'd screamed and cried at the top of her lungs, until the entire household was awake and grumbling. Her parents stood distraught, in their nightclothes, bickering over what to do, when one of her sisters said, "Papa? I think I smell something burning." Sure enough after some searching, they'd found that someone had dropped a cigarette right outside their house under a hedge that grew next to Grace's nursery. The damp leaves on the ground were smoldering. It would've taken little effort for a fire to spread to the hedge and from there to the wooden structure.
She shook her head at the oft-told tale. Her own son seemed to have inherited that same keen sense of smell as well. He'd easily locate lost articles of clothing and even found Henrietta Langer's lost poodle out in the woods once, claiming that he followed the scent of her perfume on the pampered little pooch.
Suddenly the toddler looked up with startled, round eyes. "Oh, oh!" he cried out then made a face.
Both mother and son recoiled at the same time. "Eeuwwww!" said Jimmy holding his nose.
"Someone needs a diaper change and a bath," announced Grace as she quickly stood up. She grimaced a little, feeling an ache in her knee and shoulder from the little roll on the curb earlier. But considering the alternative, she wasn't about to complain.
Holding the toddler's hand, they climbed the stairs together. She led him into the master bedroom then went to the bathroom and turned the tub faucet on. Checking the water temperature, she let the water run then left the room, closing the door behind her.
Jimmy stood by the bed, holding one of the shopping bags. "Here are the diapers and stuff," he said. "What now?"
"I think I can take it from here. Why don't you go downstairs and see if Mrs. Woodley's back yet. If she is, she can start that meatloaf for us."
"With mashed potatoes and gravy?" he asked hopefully.
"Yes, with mashed potatoes and gravy." Grace began to unbutton her sweater. "Oh, and we can have some strawberry shortcake for dessert."
"Cool!" Jimmy turned and bounded down the stairs. Closing her bedroom door, Grace swiftly undressed and donned a pair of slacks and a short-sleeved blouse. Then she picked up the toddler and went into the bathroom. It'd been awhile since she'd cared for a small child, but she fell into the familiar routine easily as she removed the soiled diaper and put it into a separate bag. It didn't seem all that long ago she was changing Jimmy then Steven.
Tugging off the colorful blue tee-shirt, she then picked up the child and set him carefully down in the tub. He giggled as he sat in the warm water. Ignoring his splashing, she poured out a small amount of shampoo and began to lather up the curls, careful to keep the suds out of his eyes. After soaping and rinsing the rest of his little body, she lifted him out of the tub and patted him dry with a large towel.
"All clean but nothing to wear," she murmured. "Gotta be something around here we can use. Can't have you running around naked, now can we?"
The little boy cocked his head and stamped his feet.
"Why do I get the feeling you might like that?" She smiled then grabbed a clean diaper to fasten around him. Then she remembered. There was a box of old clothes sitting in a closet. "I tell you what. Let's go try Jimmy's room."
"Okay." The toddler held up his arms and allowed to Grace scoop him up.
"Nope, too big. Let's try something else." Grace had found the cardboard carton of clothes and was busy digging through it. "Hmm, this might work." She held up a navy blue sweatshirt that had been worn by Jimmy. It was oversized, but the child waved his arms approvingly as she pulled it down over his head.
"I guess you'll be okay going barefoot for now." She sat back on her heels and watched the little boy walk up to the box and peer inside. Standing on tiptoe, he leaned over, reached in and pulled out a dark brown stuffed bear.
He clutched it gleefully with both hands. "Bear!"
"Oh, oh. You've found old Smokey." The bear was scruffy, threadbare in spots, and missing one glass eye, hardly a prize. Still, the child refused to let it go, and patted it happily.
"'Mokey," he said.
"Close enough," laughed Grace and held her hand out. Together they left the room and went downstairs.
"Oh my!" exclaimed Mrs. Woodley looking up from the sink. "Who's the little angel?"
The elderly housekeeper had been with the Ellison family for three decades. She had finally decided to retire, and would be soon be moving to Phoenix to live with her sister. Grace had interviewed potential candidates for months, before finally deciding on a replacement, Sally Fong. Sally was quiet, but Grace found her to be intelligent, responsible and resourceful. Her former employers had given her glowing references, and Grace felt confident both the boys and William would take to her as well.
"He's lost," explained Jimmy, sitting at the kitchen table with a large book propped up in front of him. "We're waiting for his mom or dad to call."
Mrs. Woodley dumped a pot of boiling water into the sink. "Oh dear. What's his name?"
"We don't know."
"Have you tried asking him?"
"Um no." Jimmy looked down at the youngster. "So, what's your name?"
The child smiled back. "Bear!"
"No, no, that's Smokey." Jimmy repeated his question a little more slowly. "What's-your-name?"
"Bear!"
Jimmy sighed and looked up. "I give up. Now what?"
"Hmm. We should call him something," said Grace.
"Let's call him LG."
"LG? What does that stand for?"
"Little Guy." Jimmy then smirked. "Or Little Goober."
"All right, LG it is."
LG squeezed the teddy bear in his arms. "Mine!" he announced proudly.
"Oh yeah? Where'd you find him? Upstairs? So that's where Smokey's been hiding..."
Grace smiled at the sight of her son patiently telling the toddler all about his old bear and their adventures in the backyard.
"I see Jimmy's taken a shine to the little one."
"Yes he has," and so have I, thought Grace. "I tell you what, let's eat in the kitchen tonight. William won't be home anyway."
"Still in Chicago, is he?" Mrs. Woodley stirred a small pot on the stove.
"For at least another three days." Grace sighed as she hunted for placemats and napkins. As much as she missed his presence, it was a small relief not having to explain to her sometimes less-than-understanding husband, her sudden decision to bring LG home. She doubted he'd take kindly to the lost toddler, seeing him more as an intrusive annoyance than anything else.
Glancing back at the little boy, she wondered what his parents were like. Young no doubt, and probably not too keen on so-called establishment types like William. Or herself, for that matter. At least the child seemed healthy and happy. And what was that term? Oh yes, laid-back.
"T-Rex!"
"Yeah, that's right. A tyrannosaurus rex." Jimmy now sat cross-legged on the tiled floor with his book open to a page on dinosaurs. LG was next to him.
"Tri-tri," he said next, pointing at one of the pictures.
Jimmy looked down approvingly. "Right, triceratops. Gee, that's pretty good. You know a lot about dinosaurs, don't you?"
LG giggled and patted the bear in his lap. "More!" He pointed again then leaned down and turned the page. "Bronto!"
"I'll show you my old dinosaur set after dinner."
"All right you two, time to eat."
Jimmy closed his book and got up. Then he reached down and pulled LG to his feet. "Let's go wash our hands," he said leading the toddler away.
"Found it!" Grace dragged out the old high chair she'd used for her two boys from the storage closet. Setting it next to the table, she put LG in it, tucked a napkin over his sweatshirt, pushed his sleeves up, and set a small bowl of mashed potatoes and peas in front of him.
"No, LG," coaxed Jimmy, "like this." He held his spoon up, loaded with peas and put it into his mouth. "Mmm, yummy."
LG watched closely then copied the move. Bits of food were smooshed on his face and arms, as he swallowed then waved his spoon. He seemed more intent on poking his dinner than eating it.
"This one gives new meaning to the phrase, playing with your food," noted Mrs. Woodley.
Jimmy leaned forward. "Keep that up LG, and you won't get any dessert," he warned.
LG immediately stopped waving his spoon and sat quietly.
"Look at how he minds you," added the housekeeper.
"Since I'm older, he realizes that I know what's best," said Jimmy proudly.
Splat. He flinched as a small glob of mashed potatoes landed on the side of his face. LG giggled loudly.
"So much for age and authority," said Grace, concealing her grin behind a napkin.
Jimmy swiped at his face with his hand then glared at the toddler. "You just wait, LG, you just wait."
Grace stood sipping her coffee as Mrs. Woodley finished rinsing the last of the dinner plates. She stacked them neatly to drain then wiped her hands on a dishtowel.
"Just look at the two of them."
Both boys were in the den, watching television. Jimmy sat on the floor with LG on his lap. Mrs. Woodley shook her head as she put the cutting board away. "What an amazing little boy. You'd think it'd upset him, being around strangers and all. But he hasn't fussed once."
That is pretty unusual, thought Grace. He'd accepted three total strangers and a new household without hesitation and seemed to be enjoying it all.
"What's to become of him, I wonder?"
Grace looked up. "I'm sure he'll be fine."
"Then why hasn't his mother or father called yet?"
Grace had been wondering the same thing for the past few hours. She had expected to get a panicked call at any second, but the phone had rung only once. That had been Joy, checking to see how things were going.
Surely LG's parents had her phone number by now. The young man at the festival she'd lectured so sternly had promised. But what if no one called? Then what? Grace shook her head. Someone would call. It was unthinkable to her that anyone would leave a child like that for any length of time.
"Okay you two, it's getting late. Time for bed."
"Ah Mom," grumbled Jimmy. "Can't I stay up? I wanted to watch Mannix."
"Man-nix," repeated LG. Then he yawned and leaned back against Jimmy, blinking sleepily.
"I think LG needs to lie down now." She bent down to pick up the drowsy toddler.
He squawked then pointed at the floor. "'Mokey, 'Mokey."
Jimmy picked up the stuffed bear and held it up. "I've got him. Come on, let's go. You can stay in my room tonight." He looked over at his mother. "That's okay, isn't it? I mean, since Stevie's not here."
Grace nodded back. While Jimmy went to his room to change and brush his teeth, she took LG to her bathroom and got him ready as well.
Sitting on the edge of her son's bed, she leaned over and kissed him gently on the forehead. "Good night sweetheart," she whispered.
"G'night, Mom. I love you," Jimmy answered back.
LG was tucked into the spare bed across the room. He clutched Smokey as he yawned again. Grace kissed his little forehead, too. "Good night, LG," she said. "Sleep tight." She hit the light switch and closed the bedroom door.
It had been a long, tumultuous day all around. Grace went back to her room to enjoy the quiet. After washing her hair and taking a soothing soak in the tub, she soon found herself nodding off, too tired to start the latest bestseller she'd picked up, Exorcist. Mrs. Woodley had already retired for the night, so she forced herself to get up and patrol the large house, jiggling locks and making sure windows were shut and lights were off. As she passed by Jimmy's room, she opened the door for a quick peek.
He was not in his bed. She took another step inside, but didn't touch the light switch. She could see easily in the dark, something her doctor attributed to exceptional night vision. He often joked that she must be part owl.
She glanced over at the guest bed. The large lump was Jimmy. He lay on his side, curled around LG. The last time she'd seen her oldest do that was to reassure Steven when he'd had nightmares from seeing a particularly scary movie. LG lay snuggled peacefully; one little hand was closed around a portion of Jimmy's pajama top. Shaking her head, she crossed the room and drew a blanket over the sleeping boys. Then she retreated silently and closed the door again.
Part 2