“Mamamamama,” she babbled again, and I held her a little tighter. Jack and Jayne had both pointed out that M was an easy consonant for children to say, which was why an M word was usually the first word uttered and that babies as young as JJ and Sarah might not necessarily be referring to me when they said “Mama”—not that JJ had done so, but one assumed it would happen soon.
Still, I liked to think that Sarah knew who I was and was calling me by name. I held her close and started to sway, and even considered singing, but thought twice about it because I was afraid it might make her cry. I spun gently and felt her relax in my arms, until I became aware of the soft scent of roses permeating the room.
Sarah’s head jerked back and she seemed to be staring at something behind my shoulder. She reached out her hand, then smiled. “Mamamamama.”
“Louisa?” I whispered to the empty corner, but whatever it was had gone, leaving behind only the lingering aroma of roses and a sense of matronly warmth and safety.
I was wrestling with a produce bag at the Harris Teeter on East Bay the following Saturday when I heard my name being called. Mrs. Houlihan was at a family wedding, which was why I was doing the food shopping, and it was Jayne’s day off, which was why I had both children in the buggy. So when I recognized the voice calling me, I cursed both the housekeeper and nanny for leaving me in this predicament. It was a lot harder to escape from a grocery store lugging two small children and a diaper bag than if I’d been by myself. I knew this because in my single days I’d done it more than once to avoid awkward situations.
“Hello, Rebecca,” I said without warmth. She wore pink yoga tights and a matching jacket, and she carried her dog, Pucci—General Lee’s baby mama—in a little pouch she wore on her chest. “I didn’t know they allowed dogs in grocery stores,” I said pointedly.
“Oh, they don’t. But I can’t bear to be separated from my baby, so I had her certified as an emotional support animal so she can go with me everywhere.”
“How lucky for the general population,” I said.
She reached over the babies and gave them each a quick pat on the head as if they were animals. Animals that might bite. “Hello there, little children,” she said in a way that made me hope she’d stick to dogs and never have actual children of her own.
“Say hello to Cousin Rebecca,” I said, trying to be polite. JJ gurgled and reached for her blond hair while Sarah burped. I hadn’t trained her to do that, but I was just as proud nonetheless.
“They’re so adorable,” Rebecca said. “They look just like Jack, don’t they? Lucky for them.”
I pretended it was meant as a compliment and just smiled. “Well, it was good seeing you, but I only have a small window before JJ wants to be fed. . . .”
“We haven’t received your RSVP for the big party yet. I hope it didn’t get lost in the mail.”
The invitation remained on the kitchen counter as the subject of much conversation—mostly by Mrs. Houlihan, who needed her counter space. I’d told Jack I didn’t want to go but would go if it was important to him. He’d have to be the one to pick up the phone and call, however. Which was why it had remained untouched on the counter.
I forced a smile. “Yes, well, we’ve got such full calendars. We’re trying to juggle a few things to create an opening, but we’ll let you know.”
“Marc’s publisher is going all out. There’s going to be a live band playing twenties music, and a full bar and great food.” She leaned toward me conspiratorially. “We’re going to make a big announcement and we’re really hoping that you and Jack will be there to share the good news with us. Because we’re family.”
JJ chose that moment to fill his diaper in a loud and malodorous way, making me more proud of him than if he’d graduated from Harvard Law as a baby. Rebecca stepped back, waving her hand in front of her face. Even Pucci gave a little bark of protest.
“Sorry,” I said. “I really need to get home. . . .”
Holding her finger under her nose, Rebecca said, “I met your new nanny—Jayne, is it?”
I sighed, knowing she would have left already if she didn’t have more on her agenda. “Yes. Jayne Smith. She’s really wonderful. The children love her and she seems to be fitting in quite well.”
“I’d say so. I saw her and Jack with the children at Waterfront Park last week. They appeared to be having lunch at the fountain and having a grand old time. They looked very cozy,” she said, watching me closely.
I smiled my biggest smile. “Yes, like I said, we all love her. She’s a great fit.”
She didn’t take her eyes from me. “I hear she’s inherited the old Pinckney mansion on South Battery. I wonder how your mother feels about that.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, moving closer to Sarah because JJ’s diaper was making my eyes burn. “Because Button Pinckney and my mother were such good friends?”