Skinner: Change in the Wind
Direct sequel to A Roman Holiday
By Atonia Walpole
Part 1
When Max got back from Italy it was to find his dressing room, more to the fact, Uncle Henry’s dressing room, had been changed into a nursery. Connie and Ludivine had been busy while he was away. He had resisted changing much about the house. For the most part it remained as it had when his Uncle Henry was alive. It was comfortable, lived in, and Max liked it that way. It held a lot of memories for him and he felt clearing out rooms or moving things around too much would destroy those memories he wanted to keep.
He stood in the doorway to the dressing room nursery with Connie and Ludivine behind him, waiting for his reaction. It wasn’t that he didn’t know some provision would have to be made for a baby, but now that it had….
“It’s different,” he managed.
“It was just the right size and attached to our room…already,” Connie said, biting her lip.
“Why must it be attached? Can’t he have a room down the hall somewhere?”
“No, darling, he’ll need to be close so we can hear him in the night when he wakes and needs to be fed.”
“In the night?”
Ludivine hunched her shoulders and smiled. Max had much to learn about the bebe.
The room was a lovely nursery and had been furnished with the furniture and fixtures Connie had been buying up and storing in one of the buildings attached to the house. The walls had been painted by Duflot, a light creamy yellow, and white curtains covered the window. It looked nothing like the man’s dressing room it replaced.
Max walked in, looking at things, picking up a soft stuffed bear and carrying it around. A new wardrobe was filled with tiny clothes. He opened drawers and closed them and picked up a tiny pair of shoes and chuckled at the size. “Look at this,” he said. It was beginning to become a reality.
“Are you terribly upset we did this while you were gone? We’ve put it off until we really can’t any longer.”
“No, not at all, Connie. I suppose it had to be done. Shoes,” he said holding them up and replacing them in the wardrobe. “He’s coming…he’s really coming.”
“Yes, darling, he is and he’s going to need a name, you know.”
“I don’t want him named after me. I always hated my name. No one ever called me Maximillian except my Uncle Henry.”
“But he should have something of yours.”
“He’ll have my last name. Baby Skinner.”
“He’d have to fight his way thought school with a name like that, Max.”
“True. We still have time, two months, right?”
“Almost.” They left the nursery and closed the door.
“There are some things in the luggage for you, Connie. We did a little shopping yesterday.”
Connie opened his bags and began unpacking for him. “Oh, leather…a leather jacket. This is lovely.”
“Toni picked it out for you and there are a couple of handbags in there somewhere.”
“That was nice of her, especially after what she went through, to be thinking of me.”
“John and I took her around the shops. We all got leather jackets. I think she was ready for something like that. It was a fun day. Took her to Prada.”
“Ohh, I’ll be so glad when I can wear real clothes again! This is a nice bag.” She held up the handbag Toni had picked out.
“Thinking of real clothes ,how soon do you think you’ll be able to travel after little Skinner is born?”
“I would think in a few weeks. I’d like a month. Why?”
“We’re invited to Virginia for Thanksgiving. Toni and Terry are hosting this year.”
“Thanksgiving? Well, that’s cutting it awfully close, Max. The baby is not due until the second week. I really don’t see how we can do that.”
Max screwed his face up. “I hate to miss it but you’re right. It would be too soon.”
“You could go.” But she wasn’t sounding too convincing.
“Oh, no, I wouldn’t think of it, darling, not without you. Maybe we could go over Christmas. They’ll still be there.”
“You know, I’m amazed at how close you and your family have become. I thought at one time it would be emergencies only when you got together.”
“Include yourself in my family, Connie. I guess there have been so many emergencies that we seem to see each other quite a lot. We do have a lot in common besides Toni, you understand…brothers but more than that.”
“I do understand. I’m quite fond of all of them, too.” Connie deposited Max’s dirty clothes in the hamper while he put the luggage away. “Come downstairs. Ludivine has cooked for you.”
Connie led the way down to the kitchen. She’d already eaten earlier before his plane touched down and now she made a plate for Max . He was quite good at looking after himself but he’d been gone for awhile and she wanted to wait on him. She had missed him while he was gone. Her sister, Penny, told her she walked like a duck. Her pregnancy was weighing heavy on her now and she felt awkward and unattractive. Max hadn’t commented on her appearance other than to tell her she was lovely.
She sat down at the table with him and shared a glass of wine while he ate. “Tell me about Rome.”
“Rome? It’s a busy, bustling city like most large cities are with the advantage of large tourist attractions that keep the sidewalks crowded. We spent a good deal of time at the Colosseum and the old Senate area and walked up to the Pantheon last night. It’s a place I would go back to. I’d like to take you there sometime.”
“I’d love to go and to Tuscany. It’s supposed to be much like Provence or so I’ve heard. There was a couple that came to one of Dad’s wine tastings that had just come from Tuscany.”
“I will take you, Connie. We could maybe go in the spring. Little Skinner will be old enough to be left in someone’s charge I would think, for a week or so.”
“Hmm, five or six months…you may not want to leave him.” She looked across the rim of her glass at him.
“You mean you may not want to?”
“No…you.”
“You think I’m going to be like that, do you?”
“Well, I don’t know but I’ve seen you with Jacky.”
“Jacky is a very special little boy. He was the first born after we left the House of Four Seasons.”
“And then Claire, John’s daughter. Do you think any of the magic has been passed on?”
“I don’t know. If anyone would inherit it I think it would be Jacky, because he got a double dose.”
“I wonder how you’d know? I did notice how he took to each of his uncles, quite happy to be held and played with by all of you.”
“Actually any of us could be his father. If you checked DNA we’re all the same.”
“You think he senses that?”
“He may. What do you want to name ours?”
“I was going to let you choose.”
“He’s half yours.” Max finished his meal.
“You’ve already dismissed my choice. I would have named him after you. We could go back a generation, my father and your uncle.”
“Aubrey Henry?”
“Well…”
“Then Jack would think he was named for him and there’s Terrence and John.”
“Quite a long name our little Skinner is growing.”
“Let’s not name him for anyone. Pick something out of the air, out of the phone book.”
“No, it has to mean something. Max, who were you named for?”
“My father….” He looked up at her.
Connie smiled. “I’m going to name my half after his father.”
“Something tells me I’ve lost the name game.”
Part 2
Max watched the crew harvesting his grapes from the courtyard. He’d been down earlier and joined in their merriment for awhile. They were young, mostly students, some from the local university and some Americans and Europeans. He wondered where Aubrey found them all. He felt good about the harvest this year. It had been a good season, the weather had been perfect and he had Aubrey to blend and sample and make his wine.
Max strolled back to his chateau. He could take care of the business end of it but he knew nothing about producing a wine that would sell. Aubrey Duncan did and he was trusting him with his grapes. Aubrey was trying to teach him. Max was a good student and even remembered some of his earlier knowledge of wine making that Duflot had taught him and, of course, his Uncle Henry. He never expected to reach the level Aubrey held but he was enjoying the journey nevertheless. His palate, however was lacking. Wine was either good or it was not. He had a hard time appreciating the nuances of a bottle of wine.
Penny was waiting for him inside the door with a book of sketches for a new label.
“Hello, Penny.” Max wandered over to the round table in the entry room.
“Hi, Max. I brought these over. I’m not a real artist but I thought you could get an idea of what we want to do with the new wine.”
Max flipped through her sketch book. “Very nice, Penny. Am I supposed to chose?”
“Your opinion is required,” she smiled
“Required?”
“Half of it is yours. Dad’s being generous.”
“Ah, so he is…this year.” He looked up to see Penny grinning. “This vintage will go down for little Maxi or so I understand.”
“Yes, Dad’s all about his grandson-to-be. Max, can I say something?”
Max looked up and met her eyes a little wary. “Um, yes, what is it you want to say, Penny?”
“You’re the best thing that has happened since we came to France. Connie’s married you and Dad’s, well, he’s happy for the first time in a long time. You know when Mom passed away he was really lost. He depended on her and then Connie married that idiot so he was left with me. You know I’m not really into this. I do it for him. He might seem like he knows everything and can handle everything himself…but he needs you. He won’t say it but I know him, Max. He needs you to stand with him as a son would.”
Max rubbed his chin. “That’s rather deep, Penny. I don’t know if I can be a son to him. I’ve not been a son to anyone for a long time, perhaps Uncle Henry…well, I’m here, Penny. I will try. I suppose we’ll learn our respective parts.”
Penny reached up and kissed his cheek, squeezing him in a hug. “That’s all you can do, brother.”
“Brother.” He rolled his eyes.
“You are the brother I never had. If Connie hadn’t got you first…you would have been more than a brother...just so you know that,” she grinned.
“How is Jean Paul or have you heard from him since he came home from England?”
Penny smiled a little smile. “Jean Paul is…oh, Max, he just is! Yes, I have heard from him and I’ve been to Paris for a weekend. Dad has invited him down for Thanksgiving. Poor Jean Paul. He has no idea what he's celebrating but it gets him down here for a weekend.”
“Is this getting serious or is it just fun?”
“Both, I think…I don’t know…I hope.”
Max hugged her. He really liked Penny. “I hope so, too, and if there is anything I can do…”
“Thanks, bro,” she grinned. "I’ll leave that book with you, Max. Bring it over when you pick something out.”
“I will, Penny. Thanks.” Max walked out and watched as she cranked up her motorbike and rode down the drive.
Max walked back in, picked up her sketch book and took it out to the courtyard, finding a chair to lay in.
Connie woke from her nap. It seemed to claim her the same time each day. She made her way down the stairs and, seeing the front door opened, she looked out and smiled. Max.
“Hello, darling. What are you studying so intently?”
“Connie. Just looking over some sketches Penny dropped by while you were sleeping.”
Connie sat at the table. “Is this for the new wine?”
“Um hm. Maxi’s vintage.” He struggled to a sitting position.
Connie was so happy he had accepted her desire to name their son after him. “Will it have a new name?”
“Yes, it will but I don’t think we’ve agreed on that yet. I have an idea of what I’d like to call it…Four Seasons.”
“Four Seasons…well, that’s part of you, isn’t it, part of your past.”
“Yes, my past. It’s the reason I’m here in the present. Aubrey may not understand that so I will have to come up with a plausible excuse for the name.”
“Quatre Saisons…it could work, Max. I thought for a moment about calling it Summer but then you’d want it to be on the table throughout the year.”
“Most definitely I would. This sketch Penny has made could be altered to include something representing the four seasons. She’s done an autumn thing here.” He pushed the book over for her to see.
“Penny is a good artist. She should do something with that talent. I see what you mean, Max. How are you going to convince Dad?”
Max smiled, “Oh, somewhere in the conversation I intend to drop a little information. His grandson will be named Maximillian Aubrey Skinner.”
“You are clever.”
Max looked across the little table at Connie. “Are you feeling all right?”
“As well as I can, darling. Only four more weeks. I should go and see about dinner.”
“Let Ludivine take care of it, There’s no need for you to do anything.”
“I know this isn’t easy for you right now, Max, and I'm so sorry.”
“Connie, you are having our son. Besides, just think how wonderful it will be after he’s born and we can finally come together again…as one.” He picked up her hand and kissed it.
“I love you, Max.”
“I know you do and you show it in so many ways. I’m afraid I’m not a match for that love but I do love you.”
“You’re enough for me. I need to move. Maxi is not happy with this chair.”
“Would you like to ride over and see your father?”
“You want to tell him about your idea? Yes, I would like that, Max.”
Max had noticed, little things and then bigger things. He was not the center of attention in his household any longer. Ludivine, while still catering to him, always went to Connie first. If anything was purchased, it was brought out for him to see. It was always something for the baby. Maxi had taken over and he wasn’t even here yet. Marital relations had ceased at the doctor's recommendations and Max was feeling like a fifth wheel, an uninvited guest to be tolerated.
He wandered out in his garden one day and called Toni.
“Max, how are you?”
“Oh, I’m fine, Toni…well, not.”
“Are you unwell?”
“No…forgotten.”
“Bless you, love. Why are you forgotten?”
“Maxi has taken over. He’s taken my wife, my bed, my household, everything.”
Toni thought she knew what his problem was. “How long until he makes his appearance?”
“Three weeks…it takes a long time to grow a baby.”
“It didn’t take you long to make one, Max, but, yes, nine months is a long time and especially the last few weeks. It’s uncomfortable.”
“I wish you were here or I was there.”
“I can’t be there…”
“I could be there. It would only take a few hours, a day…have you got a day, Toni?”
“I’ve got time for you, Max. When are you thinking of coming over?”
“Maybe tonight…just for a few days. There are some things I need to do at the bank and I want to see you…and Terry, of course.”
Toni smiled at the ‘Terry of course’. “I’m sure he’ll be glad to see you. He’s been through the same thing you’re going through and he survived.”
“I’ll call you when I’m there…thank you, Toni.”
He immediately felt a lift in his spirits and bounded into the house to look for Connie, who was in the living room knitting with her feet propped up.
“Darling, I’m going to pop over to London for a few days. Some banking I need to attend to.”
Connie paused. “I think that would be a good idea, Max. I’m sorry things are upside down here but I’m afraid they will be for awhile yet. Give Toni and Terry my love, will you?”
“Of course, love.” He kissed her and went upstairs to pack a few things.
Part 3
Toni went into Terry’s study. He was seated behind his desk with his feet propped up, going over some papers.
“Am I interrupting?” she asked, taking a chair.
“Never.” He put the papers down. “What’s up?”
“Max just called. It seems he’s feeling a little lost. Connie’s got three more weeks before the baby and he says he’s got some banking business to do so he’s coming over for a few days.”
“He wants you to hold his hand and tell him he’s still the man.”
“You think so? How did you feel the last few weeks before Jacky was born?”
“Hmm…unnecessary.”
“Did you really? Poor baby, but you were necessary. You had to help me suffer.”
Terry grinned, “I suffered with you. So what’s Max’s problem? He can’t suffer?”
“Oh, you know how he is. He’s not the center of attention right now.”
“He never will be again. He should realize that.”
“You don’t think you’re the center of my universe?”
“Ah, not always, but I don’t need to be as long as I’m in it.” He sat up straight in his chair.
“But you are the center whether you think so or not. He’ll be in sometime tonight.”
“He’s coming here?”
“I don’t know but I’m sure he will, if not tonight then tomorrow.”
“Thanks for the warning. What are you going to do with him?”
“Smooth his feathers, pet his head.”
Terry smiled, “You’re good at that. I’ll be in the office tomorrow. Do what you want with him, maybe have him over for dinner?”
“We can do that.” Toni leaned over his desk and kissed him. “I love you.”
Max arrived at Toni’s door just after eleven the next morning. “Hello, love.” He hugged and kissed her.
“Come in, Max.” Toni led him to the lounge.
“Where’s Terry and Jacky?” he asked, walking over to the French doors and looking out. It was raining…welcome to London.
“Terry’s at work and Jacky is down having his elevenses with Wiggins. Would you like some tea? She’s just brought a tray up.”
“Yes, actually I would like a cup of tea. Why does it always rain when I come to London?”
“Ah, to remind you what you’re missing.” Toni poured out his tea. “So, what is it exactly that you are missing, Max?”
“Everything.” He turned and walked over, taking a seat on the sofa with her. “I’ve even been banished from my own bed.”
“Why is that? I mean I know sex is out of the question right now.”
“Connie doesn’t sleep nights and had been getting up and going down the hall. Ludivine decided I should leave the master bedroom and sleep down the hall so she can be comfortable in her own room. She’s really miserable right now and I do feel for her but there’s nothing I can do or am allowed to do. I feel rather….”
“Unnecessary? Terry told me yesterday that’s what he felt like but I never sent him down the hall to sleep. He suffered through the restless nights with me, gave me back rubs, put lotion on my feet and legs that I couldn’t see much less get to.”
“I think Connie was glad to get rid of me…truthfully I do. Maxi has taken over my life and he’s not even here yet.”
“You’re complaining, Max.”
“Yes and rightfully so. I’m looking forward to his birth, Toni, I really am. I want to see the little bloke, be able to hold him, you know? I have this fear that I’m going to be banished from the nursery and therefore Connie until he’s walking and talking. She’s done all the shopping and the nursery behind my back without as much as asking me what I might like.”
“That doesn’t sound like Connie. Why do you think that is, Max?”
“I honestly don’t know. I could have said something at some time that led her to believe I wasn’t interested but it’s not true. I am. He’s half mine.”
“I suppose you’ve told all this to Connie?”
“No, not really.” He looked down in his cup. “I’ve tried but I can’t talk to her like I can to you.”
“I’ll talk to her for you. I’ll tell her how you’re feeling.”
“I feel rather foolish, not being able to talk to my own wife.”
Toni wondered just how things were between them that he couldn’t talk to her. She hoped there was nothing…
“Oh, Miz Thorne, I tried to keep him but he wanted to come see his Uncle Max. Had a right tantrum, he did.” Wiggins held a red-faced Jacky by the hand. “I don’t know how he knew he was here.”
“Oh, Jacky, have you been bad?” Toni asked.
Max set his cup down on the coffee table and held out his hands to Jacky, who ran over to him and climbed up in his lap, put his hands on Max’s cheeks and kissed him.
Toni smiled. Jacky was giving love. “What are you doing, Jacky?” she asked him.
“Give luv,” he replied, using his father’s accent.
“You’re raising a little Aussie, Toni.” Max smiled and hugged Jacky.
“I have no idea what kind of accent he will have with me, Wiggins and Terry. Anna speaks properly. I hope he’ll pick that up.”
Jacky was busy checking out Max’s pockets inside and outside his jacket. He found an ink pen that Toni took from him. “I wonder how he knew? I never said anything to him about you coming today.”
Max didn’t answer her but he looked across the room and saw one of Jacky’s toys on the floor. He stared at it a moment and then looked at Jacky. Jacky got down from the sofa, went and got the toy and brought it to Max. “Do you ever test him for magic?” he asked.
“Test him? No, I think he’s a little young to be learning about that. Although you cannot hide from him. If you play hide and seek, you lose,” she smiled.
“I just did. I concentrated on the lorry he’s brought me and you saw what he did. He’s got it, Toni. Had to have with both you and Terry.”
“Max…do you really think he can communicate that way?”
“He knew I was here, didn’t he, down in the kitchen. I don’t think we made that much noise when I came in.”
“Hmm, interesting…it will be as he gets older if, indeed, he does have a touch of magic.” Toni watched him drive his lorry over Max’s legs and across the sofa to her legs and back. “Maybe he knew you needed love. He certainly gave you some.”
“I love him back and he knows it…even if he is Terry’s.”
“What do you mean by that? Don’t you think we’ll love your Maxi?”
“I don’t know anything right now, Toni.”
“Yes, you do. You’re not feeling sorry for yourself, are you?”
“I hope not. I don’t want to be that way. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do right now, Toni. I’m no use to Connie and Ludivine runs me out of the house if she’s napping.”
“Run Ludivine out and take your place by your wife where you’re supposed to be right now. I’m sorry, but it is your house and Connie is your wife. I’m going to call her and tell her a thing or two.”
“Please don’t stir anything up, Toni. It can only go bad for me in the end.”
“Nonsense! Like you said, he’s half yours what right do these women have to shut you out like this? You have a say in what’s bought for him. What was she thinking?” Toni was actually getting angry with Connie. “Terry and I had a baby Max and he was right there through everything…painted the nursery, helped pick out the furniture for it and shopped with me to buy his clothes and diapers. He picked out little toys, bought him a stuffed dog and a bear before he was even born.” Toni was on her feet, “Watch Jacky for me would you, Max?”
“Toni, be careful what you say. I don’t want her to think I came over here to complain about her.”
Part 4
Toni was down the hallway and into Terry’s study. She picked up the phone and called La Siroque.
Ludivine answered and Toni asked for Connie. No, she would not wait for her to call back.
“Connie, how are you?”
“Resting my swollen ankles, Toni. How are you?”
“Not too happy right now, Connie. I’ve got Max here…Connie, why haven’t you included him in everything to do with his son? He says you’ve done it all. He wasn’t included in any of the shopping or decision making at all about what the nursery would be or anything. He feels like he’s left out of the whole thing. It’s his baby, too, Connie.”
“Oh…Toni, I didn’t think he wanted to be. He never said anything about the baby until the nursery was finished. I did that when he was in Italy. I was trying to take it off of him, to make sure everything was done right. I didn’t mean to shut him out. I didn’t know he wanted to be included.”
“Well, maybe you should talk to him once in awhile and ask him a few questions. I think he’s hurt, Connie, but he’s trying to cover that part up. Terry was with me day and night and a part of everything and I never even thought of sending him down the hall to sleep by himself. None of this is any of my business, Connie. I know that but I can’t sit by and see Max treated this way. You love him I think, so why are you doing this?”
Connie regained her composure. “I do love him, Toni, much, much more than he loves me. I ‘m trying to make him happy, make sure he has what he needs or wants. If I’ve misjudged him in this then I am terribly sorry. I really had no idea he was wanting to shop for the baby.”
“It’s not just a shopping trip, Connie, and if you’ll let him, he will love you as much as you love him. I don’t want to make things bad for him when he gets home. I just couldn’t let this go by. For God’s sake, woman, he’s your husband! Treat him like one and like the father of your child and his. I know him very well and he’s not the center of attention right now and he’s feeling left out and neglected. You’ve got to fix that, Connie, just make him a part of it all.”
“You’re right, of course. I’m feeling fat and ugly right now and…”
“You’re not fat and ugly to him. You’re beautiful because you’re carrying his child…his child. I didn’t mean to go off like this. When I’ve got something to say it just comes out. I know exactly how you’re feeling right now. I’ve been there, Connie, but I had Terry at my side. Put Max back at yours, Connie.”
“I will, Toni…I think I needed this. I’m so caught up in misery right now it’s hard to look beyond my own discomfort. Maxi has dropped so low I can barely get up and down but I know you are right about Max. If anyone knows him, you do. I’ll try and make it better for him when he gets home.”
“Thank you, Connie. I love you, hon, and hang in there. It’s all worth it in the end.” Toni hung up the phone and bit her lip. Had she put her foot in it? Oh, well…it was said and done with.
She went out of Terry’s study to find Max in the hallway with Jacky. “I probably can’t go home now.”
“Of course you can! Were you listening?”
“Only part of it. I just followed Jacky to make sure he didn’t try the stairs. Is she upset with me?”
“No, darling, not with you. She may be with me but I’m a big girl. Come on, Jacky, let’s go back this way.” She led her son back to the lounge.
“You were right, you know, what you said about her being beautiful.”
“Have you told her that? Really, Max?”
“I have a hard time talking, Toni.”
“You’re not like this with her?”
“I’m not like this with anybody but you.” He sat back on the sofa and Toni moved the tea tray out of Jacky’s reach, giving him a digestive biscuit to munch on.
“Watch him. He’ll have that all over you. Max, you’ve got to open up to Connie…talk to her.”
Jacky offered Max a bite of his biscuit. “That’s easy for you to say, Toni, not so easy for me to do. You and I have a long history. I’m comfortable…at home with you.”
“She says she loves you more than you love her. How sad is that statement and it’s not the first time I’ve heard that from her. Is it true, Max?”
Max looked up and met her eyes. “You know I can never love anyone as much as I love you. I’ve tried, I do try, and I do love her.”
Toni got up and walked over to the French doors and looked out at her rain drenched garden. There was nothing else she could do. Jacky came over and pulled at her skirt. He said she was to give Unkie Mas luv.
“Oh, Jacky!” She squatted down. “Mummy does love Uncle Max.” She turned suspiciously. “You aren’t putting words in his mouth, are you?”
“No, I would never do such a thing, Toni, but I like his ideas.”
“You’ve got to stop this, Max. Why can’t you be like John?”
“John? He was married when he met you…I wasn’t.”
“No, but you had someone. You had Fanny.”
“You came to mean much more to me and you know it. There’s no need to go over that ground again or pretend nothing ever happened between us.”
“I’m not pretending, Max, but I want you to be happy and settled in your life. I thought marrying Connie would do that for you.”
“I am settled. That doesn’t stop me from still wanting you.” Max moved around the room, absently picking things up and putting them down.
“You know you were always there for me when I needed you to lean on or to set me straight. I’m here for you, too, Max. We can’t change our lives now and I wouldn’t want to but you will always have a part of me as I have a part of you inside me. I love you once removed. Remember when we talked about that?”
Max grinned, “I remember. I also remember where we were headed when Terry and Connie arrived in the car.”
“I give up!” Toni threw her hands up. “I’m going to see about lunch and you’re to babysit.” She heard his laughter all the way to the kitchen steps.
Spending the day with Toni and Jacky had calmed Max down and filled something within him that needed filling. He sat on the sofa, listening to music. Toni was upstairs giving Jacky his bath and Terry was expected home any minute. What a peaceful domestic life they led, he thought, and wondered why his didn’t seem to quite hit the mark.
Terry let himself in the door and dropped his briefcase on his desk before walking down the hall to the lounge. Max was on the sofa, head back, eyes closed.
“You have to come all the way to London to take a nap?”
Max opened his eyes but didn’t move his head. “Yes, napping is so much better in the rain. I forget about cozy rainy afternoons.”
“You’ve been cozy?”
Max raised his head. “I’ve been trampled, beaten and killed with a wooden spoon by your offspring this afternoon.”
“That’s my boy,” Terry grinned.
“Toni is trying to drown him in the tub upstairs. Terry…what is it I’m doing wrong?Why isn’t my life as perfect as yours?”
Terry poured them both a drink and handed Max a glass. “My life isn’t perfect. What gives you that idea?”
“You’re awash in domestic bliss…I’m not.”
Terry sat back in his chair. “you don’t see it when it’s not blissful, Max. You don’t know, for instance, that I have exactly three socks in my drawer upstairs…”
“That’s your own fault. Do they sell them with spares now?”
“It’s not my fault at all. I have dozens of socks but for some reason they haven’t made it to the laundry in quite awhile. It’s not my job to get the laundry up on Mondays when the van comes by to pick it up. And, no, they don’t sell spares although that’s something to think about. Why don’t you invest in a company like that? Socks come three to a pack so when one goes missing…”
“So you have a sock shortage, but you and Toni talk, you’re close, this house is filled with love. It’s got a different feeling than mine. Although I love the chateau, I don’t think it loves me back.”
“Are you and Connie having problems?”
“Well…no, I don’t think so. You know she’s in the last stages now, not much interested in my company. I don’t know, Terry, sometimes I think it was a mistake to get married. Maybe I’m not cut out for it. I can’t seem to grasp what it is. I love Connie and I know that’s returned…I just don’t know…”
“You’re not happy? If I tell you exactly what I think you’re probably going to be pissed off at me.”
“It won’t be the first time…we’ve survived.”
“It’s not like you don’t know what I’m going to say. Get over it, Max. Until you make a total commitment to love and cherish Connie above all else, putting Toni aside, you’re never going to get there. You’ve got a baby coming into your life. Why don’t you let that be the catalyst that takes you where you want to be?”
“You think it’s all me.”
“I don’t know that for a fact but I suspect it is. You hold Connie at arm’s length and she’s there ready to give you everything you need. And now when she’s not herself, and I know how that is, you weren’t around when Toni was in the last stages of pregnancy, you need to step up and give her what she needs and stop thinking about yourself.”
“I came over here whining and complaining that I wasn’t included in the nursery at all and Toni called Connie and …well.”
“She didn’t…bloody hell! I hope she didn’t upset Connie. Toni sometimes acts before she thinks, Max. She does things for the right reason but…she shouldn’t have called her, especially with you sitting here. You didn’t try to stop her?”
“No, but I warned her to be careful what she said. I don’t know what she said. I was looking after Jacky. Don’t get on Toni. It was all my fault.”
“Max, don’t involve Toni with your problems. You’re a smart bloke. Figure it out.”
Part 5
Max drove home from the airport thinking about his visit to the Thornes. They did talk to each other and sometimes argued. He caught that from Terry. He hoped he hadn’t put his foot in with Toni by telling Terry she’d called Connie. Dinner, he’d noticed was superficially happy and lighthearted. But still and all it had been a good visit and Terry had been right on where his own problems were concerned.
He’d taken the early flight and got home before eleven o’clock in the morning. He parked his car, got out and stretched. Heaving his bag on his shoulder, he went inside. He found Connie in the bed.
“Hello, love. Still abed?” He bent and kissed her.
“I’m sorry. What time is it? I wasn’t expecting you this early.”
“It’s still morning and besides you can sleep all you want. We aren’t on any kind of a timetable here.”
“How was your trip? Everybody okay?”
“Yeah, they’re fine. You can actually hold a conversation with Jacky now. However he still speaks a foreign tongue that only Toni can understand. She didn’t upset you, did she?”
“Well…no, not really. What she said was true. I have excluded you and not because I was trying to do things behind your back. I just didn’t realize you wanted to be in the middle.”
“I do want to be in the middle. I want to be where you are, Connie.”
Connie pulled him down beside her. “That’s where I want you to be, right here with me. You may not get a full night’s sleep for some time to come but if you don’t mind it.”
“Ignore me if I complain. I think sometimes you worry too much about me. Let me suffer, too, and not just being pregnant but you let me get away with too much. It’s okay to tell me no or don’t do that or why haven’t you done this. I’m not going anywhere, Connie.”
“You know, I’ve tried to make everything perfect for you, tried so hard to be at my best all the time because I know I’m not the one you wanted.
“Connie, all that happened long before you came into my life. I am far from perfect, a fact that keeps being thrown at me by Terry. I just want to be happy…with you and little Maxi here. Something I realized while in London is that we don’t talk, at least not enough and not about important things like why you think you have to make everything perfect for me. You don’t. You’re just creating a monster when you do that.”
Connie smiled, “But I like my monster.”
“See, it's already happened. Don’t make it easy for me. Make me work for it, make me grovel at your feet.”
“I’m not sure I want you groveling about my feet. I think I understand what you’re saying, Max.” Connie pushed her way up the pillows and propped up against the headboard. “You can start by bringing me a cup of tea. You make good tea.” She took his face in her hands and kissed him.
Connie had been having false labor pains for so long she hadn’t realized when the real thing started. She’d been to her weekly doctor’s visit and found she was dilated 4 cm. Max was waiting out in the lounge area when she came out.
“I hope you don’ t have any plans for the rest of the day, possibly the night.”
“Why? What’s on?”
“We’re going to have a baby. I’m in labor.”
“Oh, Connie…shouldn’t we be getting you to hospital?”
“Not yet but we need to go home and pack a bag.” She waddled out to the car.
Once at the chateau she went upstairs and packed a bag. “Max, come and pick out what you want to take,” she called down the stairs.
“Me…I need to take something?” He climbed the stairs.
“I’d prepare for an overnighter. Oh…oh!!” She bent double.
“Connie!”
Connie held on to the foot of the bed until it eased off. “Okay…now go and pack a bag for Maxi. It’s in the crib…”
“Pack a bag for Maxi…” Max walked into the nursery and found the bag but had no idea so he began going through drawers and pulling out things, listening to Connie as she told him what to put in the bag, hoping he was choosing the right things. “Okay, it’s full so…we need to head for the hospital.”
“No…not yet.”
“Yes…now, Connie! We have to go all the way to the other side of Bonnieux . I’ll, um, put the things in the car.” He ran down the steps with the two bags.
Ludivine was at the foot of the stairs. “Max, what is happening?”
“Baby!” he called as he ran out the door.
“Oh!” she clapped her hands and ran up the stairs to Connie. Between the two of them they got her down the stairs and into the car. “You call, Max,” Ludivine called after them and went to find Duflot.
Max drove wide-eyed all the way to the hospital. Connie was having contractions one after another and he was near panic at her distress.
Once she was in a room and they let him back with her, he went to her side and held her hand, a little alarmed at all the machines attached to her.
“Vitals,” she said to him. “Listen, that’s the baby’s heartbeat.”
“It’s loud. Is he okay?”
“Yes, he’s strong and ready to come out into the world.” She moaned as another contraction hit her.
Hours went by and still no baby. Max had been in and out of her room, placed a call to Aubrey to let him and Penny know Connie was admitted to hospital. They were on their way now.
“Why is it taking so long?” He moped her wet forehead with a cloth.
“It just does but everything is going good. Do you think you can stand it, Max?”
She’d asked him to be in the delivery room with her. “Of course…I can.” But he was far from sure he’d make it, though.
Penny came in and gave Max a break. He walked out into the hall and saw Aubrey leaning against a wall.
“Who’s having this baby, you or Connie?” he grinned, giving Max a look over.
“I think we both are. She’s in such pain…I can’t….it’s…”
“Yes, I know, but that’s the way it’s done, Max. That’s how we all got here.”
“There won’t be another one. I can’t do this again and it’s not even me that’s hurting.”
“You might want to reserve that thought until later. He might want a sister.” Aubrey put his hand on Max’s arm and guided him to the waiting area to sit down.
A little while later Penny came running down the hall. “Max, they want you…he’s coming!” she squealed.
Max glanced at Aubrey, got up and ran down to her room. They were just taking her out to the delivery room where Max was outfitted in scrubs and a mask. He stood at the head of the delivery table and held her hands. He couldn’t look at the other end, he just couldn’t, even when the doctor told him the baby’s head was out. But once the whole baby was laid on her belly he looked…and fainted dead away.
Revived and sitting on a stool next to her while they weighed and cleaned little Maxi up, he marveled that such a thing could be. “Strong set of lungs,” he said to Connie.
“Better get used to that,” she smiled slightly, exhausted and excited.
“Sorry I fell out.” He looked a little sheepishly at her. “With all you’ve gone through…but when I saw him all covered in…mucky stuff.”
“He’s better now. Look.” They brought the baby over to her and Max got a good look at his son. He didn’t realize he was crying until a tear fell onto the baby’s little blanket. He wiped his eyes.
“Oh, look at him…little fingers…ten of them. They want me to take him?” His eyes widened.
“Take him to the nursery, darling. Dad and Penny will want to see him, too.” Connie smiled, loving the expression on his face as he looked at his baby.
“Would you look at that!” Aubrey said with a wide smile when he saw Max coming down the hall with a nurse behind him. “He’s got Maxi.”
Penny noticed his face, a picture of love and wonderment as he walked carefully to them as if carrying a bundle of eggs. “What have you got there, Max?” she asked, walking over to have a look.
“It’s him, Maximillian Aubrey Skinner.”
Part 6
It was true. Life would never be the same for Max Skinner again. Maxi had indeed taken over his life but he loved it. He was quite good about getting up in the night and bringing him to Connie to be fed. He slept whenever and wherever he could, often in the hammock outside or on the sofa, sometimes face down on the bed. Connie showed him how to change a diaper. It made him sick when it was poop and he ran to the bathroom, threw up and came back and finished the job holding his lips tightly together.
Maxi had his bath and was dressed in his one-piece jammies with turtles. Connie brought him to Max downstairs in the front room.
“Here he is, all nice and clean and awake.” She presented him to his father.
“I wonder how long it will be before he realizes that bath and jammies mean it’s time to go to bed and sleep…all night.”
“Not for a while. He’s only three weeks old.”
“I had a call from Terry. Toni’s dying to see Maxi. They’re going to fly over for the weekend, come in on Saturday and go back Sunday.”
“Good. You’ll be able to show him off. I wonder what Jacky will think of him?”
“Probably think he’s a toy. You don’t mind, do you?”
“No, I’m surprised she’s waited this long to come over. She was really sweet on the phone after he was born, apologizing for what she’d said, but I’m glad she said it.”
“I don’t know what she said. She made the call in Terry’s office. I do know one thing…her heart was in the right place. I’m afraid Terry wasn’t too happy with her for calling.”
“She just reminded me how important you are to me and, like you said, you wanted to be in the middle and now you are.”
“I like it here.” Maxi curled his fingers around Max’s finger. “He’s got a grip. Maybe he’ll be a professional tennis player and make tons of money.”
“Not a banker?”
“No, not a banker. Actually, if Aubrey has his way, he’ll be a vintner. He already has a vineyard waiting for him.”
“He has other things waiting for him to grow into, too. You haven’t been over there lately, have you?”
“Mmm, no, I haven’t. Should I ?”
“Not unless you want to,” she smiled a little. “I’ve noticed you’ve been sticking pretty close to home. Afraid you’re going to miss something?”
“If I need to go over there…”
“You don’t…Penny took me over with Maxi yesterday and had to show me. Dad’s been shopping for Maxi, that’s all. I think you’d rather be home with the baby.”
“You’re right. I had. He’s going to sleep. Quick, let’s put him down and catch a nap!”
Toni and Terry with Jacky arrived around noon on Saturday. Terry rented a car instead of asking Max to come pick them up. They would leave on Sunday for Virginia and be there until after Christmas.
Terry parked in the drive at the chateau and went around to get Jacky out of his seat and let him run around a little. Toni went straight to the door, which was opened by Connie.
“Hi, Toni.” She gave her a hug.
“Connie, you aren’t mad at me, are you?” she asked quietly.
“No, why should I be? Come in. I know you want to see him. He’s in the kitchen with Max.”
Toni walked back to the kitchen and stopped. Max was at the table holding Maxi and giving him a bottle.
“Oh, Max!” She felt tears spring to her eyes.
“Hi, Toni. Come and look.” He was all smiles.
“He’s precious, of course. Look at all that dark hair and curls. He’s a doll.” She bit her lip and looked into Max’s eyes. “You did well, Max.”
“It wasn’t all me.” He looked down at his son.
Connie stepped out the door to greet Terry with a kiss. “My, how that boy has grown! How are you, Terry?”
“I’m apples. Yeah, he’s growing so fast now. Coming up on two in February. How are you?”
“Very well, thank you.”
Terry gathered up Jacky and took him inside to see Maxi. He stood by Max’s chair with a finger in his mouth, looking at the baby and reached out and touched him on the arm.
“That’s your cousin, Maxi,” Toni told him and he nodded his head.
“Unkie Mas.” He laid his head on Max’s thigh, wanting him to pick him up.
“In a minute, Jacky.” Max adjusted the pad on his shoulder and began patting Maxi on the back for a burp.
“I could do that,” Toni offered. “You know I want to hold him.”
Max handed Maxi off to Toni and picked up Jacky for a hug. Terry walked around to have a look at Maxi.
“Good looking boy,” he said, rubbing his hand over his head.
“What would you expect?” Connie asked.
“Nothing less,” Toni answered.
After breakfast the next morning Max and Terry walked outside to smoke. “I’m getting used to this now,” Max said.
“Yeah, you will. I feel guilty now if I light up in my office, but I do once in awhile.”
“So you’re off to Virginia. Wish we could come but you see…”
“Oh, yeah, we didn’t expect you to. John and his crew will be there.” Terry had noticed a change in Max. He was a little calmer. “You seem to be taking to this fatherhood thing pretty well.”
“I didn’t know what it would mean to me, to have that little guy totally dependent on me or Connie. I remember the last conversation we had, Terry…what you said about the catalyst. I think you were right. He’s brought us closer together We’re a family now, you know?”
“I know, believe me, I know what you’re feeling. I thought Toni was enough for me but Jacky added another dimension. It’s a whole new world.”
“Right, it is. Were you, um, in the delivery when Jacky was born?”
“Yeah.”
“Did you, um…were you okay with it?”
“I’m not sure okay is the right word. I wasn’t okay but, um, I made it. Why?”
“Did you watch?”
“Yeah, they had a big mirror. I thought I wasn’t going to but then I became fascinated. Did you?”
“Uh, no, I couldn’t look at that end…bollocks, I passed out when I saw Maxi.”
Terry grinned, “Did ya? Ah, Max!” He slapped him on the back.
“I’ve found I have a weak stomach, too.”
“Un huh, you’ll get over it.”
“You change nappies? Big K & R guy like you?”
“Of course I do,. When I have to, when I can’t avoid it. It comes out both ends, ya know.”
“Oh, yeah, I know that, yeah.” Max took a draw on his cigarette.
“The joys of fatherhood. I wish you the best, Max.”
“Thanks. I’m coming around to see it, Terry. I have the best right here.” They walked a little down toward the vineyards. “Did you ever get your sock situation sorted out?”
Terry cocked a brow. “Yes as a matter of fact I did…and a few other things, too.”
“It’s not all roses, is it?”
“No, if you pick a rose be careful of the thorns. They all have ‘em.”
“We put down a new vintage this year in honor of Maxi. Aubrey’s already got it aging. It’s to be called Four Seasons.”
“Got a nice ring to it. Wonder who thought that up.”
“If it wasn’t for The House of Four Seasons, none of us would be here, not even Toni, so I thought it a fitting label.”
“I can’t wait to try it,” Terry smiled.
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