Patrick

“If I relax anymore they are going to have to bury me,” she said in an irritable voice. “I cannot wait to get this baby out of me!”

So, Patrick, with the help of his parents, planned something special for her. ‘Lola’s Spa and Beauty Treatment’ was one of the more exclusive beauty spas in the country and catered to the rich and famous. Linda made the call, and Lola promised that she herself would come. “I know what it is like to be pregnant and not able to move around, darling,” she had reassured Linda in her booming voice. Lola Fields had been an actress in her younger days and not a very good one, but what she lacked in talent she made up for in character and forcefulness and was never able to remain invisible. She was not beautiful in the acceptable way, but she had the most beautiful singing voice and it had served her well in her acting. She had quite sensibly used her money to create a spa that was equal to none and treated her clients as if they were one of a kind. It was very hard to get an appointment there at the spur of a moment, but she and the Copelands went way back.

Carrie was ensconced in one of the deep cushioned sofas idly channel surfing with a cup of hot chocolate beside her on the table when Lola arrived. Patrick had gone to a meeting and had promised her that he would be home early.

“Darling, rise and shine. You have a visitor,” Linda told her cheerfully, gliding inside the room.

“Is it Sheryl?” she asked hopefully, envying the woman for her trim figure and her quick steps.

“No,” she said with a mysterious smile. “Come on in, Lola,” she called out.

Carrie’s eyes widened as she turned and saw the woman coming into the room with a tall slim man hurrying behind her. “Someone told me that you are feeling as if you have been pregnant for two years,” the somewhat large and imposing woman with the bright red hair and sparkling green eyes said as she bustled inside the room. “And no wonder, darling! Hot chocolate? Brian, go straight to the kitchen and have that delightful chef whip up some of my herbal tea. When I am through with you, the baby is going to come any minute.”

“I certainly hope so,” Carrie said with a delighted laugh.

The woman helped her up, and they went into one of the sitting rooms with Linda close behind. “I have you to thank for this?” Carrie asked her mother-in-law.

“Your husband suggested it to try and make you more comfortable, darling.”

“I will have to thank him.”

*****

“The merger is going to fall through if we don’t get this ad campaign going. What the hell is the hold up?” Patrick asked impatiently as he sat across from the entire PR department.

“I am sorry, Patrick, but we cannot seem to get the ideas right,” Marion apologized. She hated to admit that since Carrie had left to go on maternity leave things had not been the same and she was afraid to send and ask her for ideas. Patrick had specifically told them that his wife was on maternity leave and she was not to be disturbed.

“How hard is it to promote a software that is already selling itself?”

“Your wife had a very good idea and she should be the one working on it,” Brian spoke up in spite of the look Marion gave him. “I am sorry, Patrick. I know you said she is not to be disturbed, but her idea of using members of the public to promote the idea is classic, and I think it would work. We think it would work,” he amended.

There was silence in the room as they looked at Patrick for an answer.

“My wife is in an advance stage of pregnancy and should not be bothered with this,” he muttered.

“But that’s the beauty of it,” Brian said, speaking up eagerly again and getting to his feet. “The software is about helping and making it easier for the working class public and using the actual people who make up the workforce is a brilliant idea. She does not have to come to us. We can go to her and she should get the credit for it.”

Patrick stared at the young man thoughtfully. “I will talk to her as soon as I get home and get back to you,” he said with a nod.

He called her as soon as they left the conference room. “How was your spa experience?”

“I understand I have you to thank for making me feel as if I am floating on air,” she said, her voice sounding relaxed and soft.

“You were getting irritated with everyone at home and making their lives miserable,” he told her in indulgent amusement. “Even the staff was afraid to approach you.”