Free In Memoriam by Suzanne Jenkins Page B

was an unfamiliar car in the driveway, and her heart did a little bounce when she saw it, the urge to pull away from the curb and keep driving strong. Stop being so selfish , she thought.
    “Here we are,” she announced.
    Sandra strained forward to see out the window; the house was fabulous, elegant and expansive. She wondered if Pam had paid for it. Turning to get the baby out of his seat, she realized she was nervous. Did Pam tell Lisa about baby Brent’s paternity? She’d ask as soon as she got out of the car.
    They made an interesting procession up the slate walkway to the front door, with Bernice and Nelda leading, Sandra holding onto Miranda’s hand, and Pam carrying the baby. Gladys waited at the open door, with Megan on her hip as usual.
    “Lisa and the baby are sleeping, but they should be up soon. Come in,” she said. “I have coffee and a snack in the kitchen.”
    They trailed behind her into the spacious kitchen. It took several minutes to get the children secure in their seats and the baby propped up on the counter before they could focus on each other.
    “Well congratulations, all of you,” Gladys said. “Two new babies. It’s so exciting.”
    Pam thought how generous she was being and decided to just swallow her anger at Dan and return the kindness. Before long, the bitterness and pain fell away, and she was sincerely enjoying talking to Gladys again.
    When she had a chance, Sandra whispered to Pam, “Did you tell Lisa about the baby?” She nodded her head toward Brent.
    But Pam shook her head. “No, I thought I’d let you tell her.”
    Sandra frowned. She hated drama, yet seemed to be the creator of much of it. It would have been so much easier if Pam had just told Lisa when they were on the phone together.
    “I’m no good at this sort of thing,” Sandra complained.
    “You didn’t have any trouble telling me,” Pam said with a raised eyebrow. “Just blurt it out when the spirit moves you.”
    Sandra couldn’t help herself; embarrassed, a giggle popped out of her mouth. “Okay, I got it.” She’d be on her own. But it was important to her that this baby be placed in the family hierarchy, so she’d make sure to tell Lisa as soon as possible.
    In a few minutes, Lisa appeared with baby Marcus in her arms. “Have you been here long?”
    “We just arrived,” Pam said, going to her. “Did you get a nap?”
    “I did. About an hour, wouldn’t you say, Mum?”
    Gladys nodded. If Pam minded Lisa using the term of endearment to Gladys, she didn’t show it.
    “Let’s look at that hair again,” she said, surprising herself.
    Lisa pulled the blanket back and exposed his black hair for everyone to see.
    “Take a look at this, Sandra.”
    “Hi, Sandra, I didn’t see you back there,” Lisa said. “Let’s see your little one. Do you call him Tommy?”
    Pam stayed back while Lisa walked to the table where baby Brent sat propped up in his car seat.
    “Oh my God! He looks exactly like Megan did when she was a baby.” Lisa cooed over the baby, holding on to Marcus, mesmerized by this other baby. She looked at Miranda.
    “Does baby Miranda like her little brother? You know, he looks enough like Miranda to be her natural brother. Isn’t life funny?”
    Pam watched her daughter make these few connections, back and forth between her daughter and cousin Miranda, who were related, and this new baby, who shouldn’t be, yet looked enough like the others to be siblings. But Lisa was truly an innocent and didn’t get it. No one spoke as Lisa handed Marcus off to Gladys.
    “Can I hold him?”
    Sandra nodded her head, breathing shallowly, afraid to move.
    All eyes were on Lisa as she struggled to unbuckle her nephew out of his car seat. “Hey, little guy, look at those cheeks? You call him Tommy?” she repeated. This time Lisa looked up at Sandra, who was silent.
    “Sandra, what do you call him?”
    “She calls him Brent,” Nelda answered.
    Lisa frowned. “Aw, that’s awfully sweet, but