Adding to the Pot
by Donna and Toni

"So far so good," Katherine told Ceara, who was making a large pot of stew for dinner. "Charity isn't showing any further signs of early labor. Smells good! Irish Stew?"

"I'm trying," the petite redhead grinned. "According to Pat this recipe was his grandmother's. It's a good thing I didn't just get up or I'd never be able to do it."

Katherine took a spoon and tasted the concoction. "Not bad. Why don't you add a little of this," she suggested, pulling down a little jar of carefully labeled herbs from the cabinet. "Not much, just a little. And add a few more carrots!"

Ceara did as the other woman said, her brow wrinkling slightly as she concentrated on getting it just right. Then, with the stew simmering nicely, she turned to her friend and asked, "Kat, I know it was a long time ago, but when you were my age, were you ever...late? I mean, since I first started getting a period 5 years ago I've been
rock steady, 28 days, but this month....it's 5 days past already. Do you think it might just have something to do with coming here that changed my cycle or something?" She looked both hopefully and nervously at her.

Katherine looked at her and smiled. "It could. Stress does that sometimes. Are your breasts extra tender, like just before your period? Any queasiness? Are you feeling like you could use another four or five hours of sleep every day?"

Ceara thought a moment. "Yes, my breasts are a bit more tender, but I just thought that was because I was about to get it. Pat says he's sure they're a little bigger than they were the first time he touched me, though that could be waterweight too. I do feel a little more tired lately, but that could be due to the work on the farm; I've been trying to help out more with Charity so close to her due date. The only thing I don't have an explanation for is the queasiness, when I first wake up. It goes away when I have some tea and crackers, and I'm good for the rest of the day." Again, she turned rather intense eyes on her midwife friend, waiting to hear whether her suspicions were right, or whether she was just going through changes in her cycle. Her mother had told her she would, as she got older.

"Sounds like you could be pregnant, Ceara," Katherine told her, watching to see if the prospect of being with child made her eyes light up with happiness.

She had her answer right away, as the young woman both blushed and gained an extra sparkle to her emerald eyes. "Do you really think so? I mean, Pat and I  want to have a big family....but I don't want to tell him until I'm sure! Is there some kind of pregnancy test we can do, here on Edan?" If there was, she knew Kat would know
of it.

"Well, it is a little early, but there are changes to the cervix, even at this stage. If you like, I can check you out, and see if there have been any."

"Could you please? I hate to be such a pain, but....this is important, to both of us."

"Let's set this pot on simmer then, and then go upstairs to have a look see," Katherine chuckled. "Can't have your man starving, you know!" Though Tom Booker was the main help with the horses while Charity was sidelined, Patrick Harper helped out from time to time as well, during his off hours. Not only did he enjoy the work, but it let him help Ceara out as well, and he was always in favor of that.

"Oh no, I know, but if this is what I hope it is, he won't mind waiting!" The two women set the pot to slow cook, and went upstairs, where Ceara was sure Kat could hear her heart thumping as she got ready for the exam.

Katherine took her time, checking Ceara out thoroughly, both by palpating her breasts gently, and with an internal exam. Once she was done, she washed up in the basin of hot soapy water she had placed on the wash stand, humming softly to herself while Ceara got dressed.

The redhead tried to keep her hands steady as she did get dressed, but the anticipation was making this impossible. Finally, she looked at Kat and asked, "Well? Do you think I am? Sure enough to tell Pat?"

"I do believe it would be safe to tell him," Katherine chuckled.

Next thing she knew, she had her arms full of excited young newlywed, as Ceara hugged her tight. "Thank you, Kat! I'll tell him when I see him tonight; one look at me and he'll know something's up anyway. He's much too sharp for me to hide anything from."

"Let's go make sure you have something to serve him then!" the midwife laughed. "And then, I have to get back to my own little one. She will be waking up and wanting her own dinner soon."

The two women went back downstairs, and by the time the stew was finished, Kat was leaving just as Pat came in the door. Smelling the wonderful aroma in the air, he grinned, "Ah, that's what I like to see, so it is, a couple of Celtic ladies gettin' together and makin' some of the great old recipes from the old country. But
somethin' tells me that dinner isn't the only thing you two have been up to today." He looked suspiciously from Kat to Ceara and back again, but his eyes were twinkling, with a little smile on his face.

"Now why would ye be thinkin' that, little man?" Kat teased, slugging him gently. "I'm off! See you tomorrow. Make sure Charity stays in bed! If you don't feed her soon, she might take it upon herself to come downstairs and get some herself!"

"I will, Kat, don't worry...and thank you, for everything. It means more to me than I can say." The midwife saw a mist of emotion in the younger woman's eyes, and as she quietly closed the door behind her, she caught a glimpse of Mrs. Harper sitting her husband down in preparation for what was surely going to be some very welcome news.