Chapter 6
As Lew burst into his and Valerie's apartment, eager for news of his wife, Brenda, who was there to help thought this is not the Lew I spent my nights with.
Aloud she said:
"Quiet!" she said. "Doctor Cole says there's no real need to worry but she must stay in bed until further orders. And above all we must do every-thing possible to spare her any sort of anxiety."
"I'm going to see her. What's really the matter?"
"Oh, the doctor said something about toxemia, but that's Greek to me. He thinks she ought to be in the hospital but he daren't tell her so, in case she gets unduly worked up about her condition. Be gentle with her."
"I'm always gentle with any woman," he whispered, placing his arms about Brenda.
Definitely, but with a smile, she resisted his at-tempts to kiss her.
He took his defeat gracefully and went into the bedroom where a weak and anxious Valerie greeted him with a brave smile.
After a few minutes of idle banter Valerie said that "the doctor says I'm all right, so there's no need to worry about me; but, Lew, IF I don't pull through, promise me you'll look after the baby!"
Wanting her, although he knew she was too weak to satisfy his desire, he kissed her ardently.
"Of course I will!"
"Yes, darling, I know you will, if you can. But if I weren't here, how would you manage?"
"I don't know, Val, but don't bother you head about it! I'll look after the baby. If it were necessary I'd find a way; but it won't be necessary. Old Kind Cole says everything will be all right if you rest and don't worryy So be a good girl and look on the bright side!"
"Lew!" she whispered a few minutes later, "Lew, Brenda is like us-like you and me-and a bit queer.. .you know what I mean? And she loves me.. .and you mustn't think she's got you out of her system-or that you've stopped finding her attractive. IF-I say IF-anything happened to me, couldn't you and Brenda look after the baby?"
"Brenda and me? Together?"
It was a pleasant thought but Lew couldn't imagine Brenda's devotion to Valerie going as far as that. She loathed him. Could one expect her to help him bring up even Valerie's baby? He was silent for several minutes, smiling and plotting.
"You'll be all right, love," he said after a bit. 'But IF you left me alone wi' t'brat, I'd see we're or right, even if I 'ad to go on me knees to Brenda ter 'elp me."
Eyes closed, Valerie was silent for some moments. When she opened her eyes, she spoke to Lew of her brother and her sister-in-law.
"Thank you, sweetheart! I just want to be sure that you won't let Alan and Sylvia take the child from you. He's a puritan and she's as nutty as a fruitcake. They want children but couldn't make one in a month of Sundays. They tried to stop us marrying by offering to adopt my baby, but I'd rather drown the two of us together than let them get their crazy hands on my child. Lew! Promise me, Lew! Lew, I beg you!"
She was almost hysterical. He remembered Brenda's warning that worry might have a seriously adverse effect on Valerie's health.
"Keep calm, darling," he crooned. "You can rely on me and Brenda to look after t'baby. We shall tell your brother and his missus where to get off. Brenda reckons as t'doctor says you got to get plenty sleep, so off you go!"
She pretended to obey him and he returned to Brenda, who silently, but forcefully, repulsed his attacks upon her lips and loins while she put the finishing touches to his evening meal prior to going-into the bedroom to kiss Valerie good night.
Having made Valerie a promise similar to that which Lew had earlier given, Brenda went home to her own apartment after a further struggle with Lew.