Nesting

By Donna and Abby

Emma Anderson finished getting ready. It was almost time for breakfast at the women's boarding house, and after that was over with, she would go out to her sister's farm to help her with the chores that needed to be done there. Once they were done, she and Anna would then be able to sit and sew in the living room, as they had been doing together most of their lives. Emma missed having her twin with her terribly, but she was happy that she had found a good husband and going out to help her gave them plenty of time to visit!

She was an early riser, so it did not bother her that one of the children living at the boarding house decided to wake everyone, including those who had neither children nor job to get them out of bed! Chuckling, she went to go see if she could help anyone. But to her surprise, she found someone sitting down on the stairs, her face white.

It was Maggie Evans.  She certainly did not normally get up this early, but Adil was pulling a terrible two tantrum, and the other children of the house seemed to want to join in the din, and no one could sleep through that!  Maggie looked tired, but that was to be expected.

Emma sat down beside her, placing her hand on her friend's. "Maggie? Are you ill?"

"I've just been so tired," she said.  "I know that sounds terrible; I should be grateful to be out of that horrible place!  And I do like it here, honestly I do.  But I never seem to get enough sleep."

"That is not good," Emma said, a worried look on her face. "Come, I help you down the stairs to have breakfast. Then you go to clinic, ja? Make sure you are not sick."

"I'm sure I'm fine," Maggie said.  "As soon as I get some sleep.  Maybe I'll nap when they do," she laughed, and the two women went down to breakfast. 

After she finished breakfast, Emma went to the livery where a horse was hitched up to a small cart for her. As usual, one of the Riders accompanied her, making sure that she arrived at the Amish farm safe and sound. It was a job that the young men enjoyed doing anyway!

A happy Arista waved from her back porch as Emma rode up to her neighbor's house.  "My herbs are growing well," she called.  "Ask your sister if she needs anything."

"Ja, I will!" Emma called out. She was a friendly girl, and Arista liked her. It was too bad that Moses didn’t have another brother!

The fae waved back again and went back into her house.  She had everything she could want - and felt badly for Anna, because she so wanted a child!

Emma found her sister busy with the morning chores. It was her job to take care of the poultry. Running up to her, she gave her a happy hug.  "How are things going?" she asked, always helpful.

"I found my missing hen," Anna said with a smile. "She is sitting on some eggs already!" She then leaned over and whispered. "And I'm late! My time should have been here by now."

"You are!  Anna, I am so happy for you!"

"Shhh... I have not told Daniel yet. I want to be sure," Anna said, a happy smile on her face. "Too many times we have been disappointed."

"Ja, but it looks gut.  We shall pray?"

Anna nodded. "I pray every day. The Vicar, she pray too."

"Strange woman," mused Emma, "but gut." Arm in arm, the sisters went back into the house to start the substantial midday meal.

***

Philadelphia Johnson was enjoying a short holiday from work.  Her latest student, Rhiannon's son Donovan, was just old enough to go to Hogwarts. But Diana was due to give birth to another rapid maturer, and Philly would again be cramming as much knowledge as she could into a rapidly growing mind!  Now she enjoyed her time off by seeing her beau, Con Madigan.

He was more than willing to spend as much time with her as he possibly could. And what better way than to drive her in the stagecoach to Camelot? And since there were to be no other passengers this trip, it would give them even more time together.

Now that she had some free time, Philly was going up to Camelot to see her sister, who was expecting a son in April.  Con came to the house to get her, something he did not do with all his fares!

He was well known in the boarding house by now. Strolling into the living room, he asked if Philly was ready yet.

"She'll be down in a minute," said Riva as she watched Ahmed toddle across the floor. He was nearly a year old, but his half sister, born the same night, was part fae and twice his maturity.

Con smiled as he watched the little boy make his way over to the tall Texan, expecting to get tossed up into the air as always.

As Ahmed squealed with joy, Adil, the culprit of the morning, came running out of the parlor, his mother in hot pursuit.  "This has not been a good day," she panted, and Riva explained to Con what had happened that morning. 

"That's why Philly is so late," she explained.  "She went back for a nap.  So did Maggie, but she hasn't even woken up yet."

"Sounds like she really needed one then," Con said with his smooth drawl. He was amazed anyone could nap with the boisterous noise of the children going on!

"She's been sleeping a lot," smiled Riva, her eyes sparkling. It was as if she knew something no one else did.  And considering who she was, she probably did!

Con played with the children until Philly came down. Grabbing her bags, he hefted them up one shoulder, and then reached out to take her by the hand. “Come on darlin'. Daylight’s wastin'."

Philly said goodbye to everyone, kissed the kids, and they were gone.  Not long after, Maggie finally came downstairs.  Although she had slept all day, she still seemed tired.  "Now I think I slept too much," she said with a wan smile.

"Eat something," said Larina.  "You'll feel better." They all sat down to a late lunch - more like tea, really, and were still at it when Emma returned to help with dinner.

The Norwegian girl bounced into the boarding house, a happy smile on her face. It looked hopeful for her sister at long last, and she was so happy for her! Everyone asked her how her day was, and of course she sat down and told them.

"Anna is tired. Is good sign, ja?" she asked. All the women there knew that her sister was having trouble conceiving. 

"Being tired is always the first sign," Kalana said.  Adil had worn himself out and was finally asleep on the rug.   "I knew anyway, but it only became real when I could hardly keep my eyes open."

Maggie, who was doing her best to keep *hers* open, lifted her head suddenly at this.  The minute she did, she raised her hand to her head and said, "Oh!" in a weak voice.

Everyone turned to look at her. "Maggie?" Emma said, noticing that her friend's face was even paler than it had been that morning. "Are you all right?"

"I just got so dizzy!"

"You should lay down," said Riva knowingly.  "It'll pass."

But as Maggie stood up to go back to her room, she passed out! Luckily some of the other women caught her before she hit the floor.

"I think you need to call the doctor!" said Emma strongly.

"Contact Quinn," said Riva.  "She'll send her husband.  She already knows anyway."

While they waited for the doctor to arrive, they got Maggie off the floor and onto a couch, placing a cool cloth on her head.

Apparently Quinn had told Robert Helm that he was needed, but not why.  Still, it was not hard for him to put two and two together, and he immediately took a blood sample.  "For testing," he told the patient, who had revived by then.  Maggie was afraid that she was sick, like the new girl who'd arrived in town, but Helm assured her it was probably only something that was affecting many of the Edan women.  "If I were to jump to a diagnosis, Miss Evans," he said, "I'd say you were pregnant."