Chapter 2 Farm Life on Eris

An excerpt from The Violet Series Book 1: The Water Nymph’s Tale.

At Cat Falls, Eris, Samuel and Anastasia had a routine. He got up early and checked on the plants and Betty the horse. Anastasia got up a little later to fix the two of them breakfast. They’d eat together. Then he’d harvest some plants and animals in the hydroponic and aquaponic gardens to sell in town. She would clean house or do laundry and if it was one of the days she had to work, then she would go to the boarding house in town to serve customers and keep the dining room clean.

They were happy. They were used to each other. But something happened. Something that they were hoping for, but didn’t try hard to get. It just happened that she noticed it first while she was cooking breakfast. He had just come in and sat down at the table.

She set the food and the dishes on the table and sat down. He served himself some food and noticed she wasn’t serving herself.

“Is something wrong?”

She smiled. “No. Something good has happened.”

“What?”

“I’m…”

He looked at her and waited with wide eyes.

“I’m pregnant.”

He dropped the serving spoon and promptly passed out.

She laid him out on the floor to make sure he was okay and then cleaned up the mess on the table. She sat down next to him on the floor and waited for him to come to.

He did a moment later. He sat up. “Oh, I hope you’re okay. It’s quite a shock.”

She smiled. “I feel fine. Let’s eat breakfast.”

They did. Afterwards, she cleaned the kitchen and he went back outside to continue his farmwork.

Soon she went to work and found Sally as fast as she could.

“Hi, Anastasia. How are you Samuel getting along?”

“Wonderful. Just wonderful.”

“You’re glowing. You two having a little fun?”

Anastasia laughed. “I’m pregnant!”

“Oh, congratulations!” Sally hugged Anastasia.

They went back to the dining room to get ready for lunch.

**********

Days went by and soon Anastasia was showing. Her belly got big and round. Between Samuel and Sally, Anastasia didn’t have much to worry about.

“Oh!” Anastasia rubbed her belly.

Sally walked over to her. “Is the baby moving?”

“Yes. It was a little painful, but now he’s back where he should be.”

Sally patted the younger woman’s shoulder. “Sometimes they do that. Probably just running out of room.”

Anastasia smiled.

Samuel walked into the boarding house and greeted Sally. He turned to Anastasia. “Need anything? Feeling okay? Need a massage?”

“I could use a back massage. It hurts to carry the baby around especially with him being very active.”

Samuel wasted no time rubbing Anastasia’s back. Sally smiled and went to check on the kitchen.

***********

Then one night, her water broke. She breathed hard and tried to stay calm. She was about to go to bed. Samuel was talking a shower at the time. He came back to the bedroom to see her puffing. He saw the water on the floor and his eyes got big.

“Anastasia?”

“It’s time. My water broke and it hurts!”

“Okay, I’ll get some towels. Stay right there!” He ran to the hallway closet and grabbed a stack of towels. Next he ran to the kitchen and grabbed a bowl of water he set that down on the night stand near the bed. He wasted no time in massaging her back and her belly.

It was a long a night, but just before a gray dawn a baby boy was crying in the room. Both parents were exhausted and relieved. They named the child Antoni Lance Winchester.

***********

Standing behind the check in desk, Sally’s husband was busy checking the news on a tablet computer. He looked up when he heard Anastasia walk in. “Well, this is certainly a surprise. We didn’t expect you to show up after you gave birth.”

Anastasia smiled. “I’m okay and Samuel is fine now that the pregnancy is over. Besides, I want to work.”

Sally’s husband smiled as he looked at the baby in Anastasia’s pouch. “So, is it a boy or a girl?”

“A boy. We named him Antoni.”

“Antoni? That’s a good name. He has your eyes.”

“Yes, he does.”

“If you need privacy to feed him, we’ll find you some space.”

“Thank you, I will need that.”

Sally walked out of the office to see Anastasia and her husband chatting. “Oh, so you brought the baby with you. Let me see!”

Anastasia walked over to the Sally, who quickly let Antoni grab her finger. “So cute already.”

“Yes, he is.”

“Oh, you can use the room I used when I nursed my children. Come, let me show you.” Sally led the younger woman back to the office and into a small room with a comfortable chair and pillows. “I know it’s really just a closet, but with the curtain, you’ll have all the privacy that you need.”

“It’s great. Thank you.”

“Good. I don’t blame you for wanting to come back. My husband was willing to cover me as much as necessary and he did. I can’t complain. I hope Samuel is okay with you bringing Antoni here.”

“He is. He knows me well enough to know why I still want to work.”

Sally nodded. “I’m glad to hear that.”

Antoni smiled and cooed. Both women laughed.

“They just keep getting cuter until they become adolescents.”

“And then what happens?”

“They lose all their cuteness and sometimes aren’t pleasant to deal with. And they eat a lot of food!”

Anastasia laughed. “I think we better get to work. There’ll be customers wanting lunch soon.”

“Yes, yes, let’s go and service them.”

Soon Sally, Anastasia and Antoni were in the kitchen getting ready for the lunch crowd. Polly was busy getting organized to begin her cooking. She saw Antoni and smiled. He smiled back.

Freddy walked into the kitchen and smiled at everyone. “Hi, Polly. Looks like Antoni likes you.”

“Well, I’d hope so. He’s awfully cute.”

Sally nodded. “Alright, we all know what we’re doing. Let’s go get some orders.”

Sally and Anastasia went to the dining room. Freddy was sweeping the kitchen. He still limped, but was grateful for his family. Seeing a new baby brought a smile to his face.

“Sis, you ever think you’ll have a baby?”

“Why would you ask such a thing?”

“I was just curious. You don’t have to.” He paused to put the broom away. “But I would like to be an uncle someday.”

Sally smiled at her brother. “I haven’t decided. And you? Will you make me an aunt someday?”

Freddy laughed. “I don’t think so. Perhaps you haven’t noticed, but women don’t tend to give me a second glance.”

“Awww, that’s sad. If they can’t see what a wonderful person you are, then it’s their loss.”

“Thanks, sis.”

Orders began to arrive. Polly started cooking and Freddy went to help his father check in guests.

Anastasia greeted the dining guests and wasted no time in getting their orders. She gave them water and bread rolls. Many people saw Antoni and smiled at him.

“Excuse me, how old is your child?”

Anastasia smiled. “He’s a couple of months.”

“Oh, how adorable!”

“Thank you.” Anastasia went to the kitchen.

The woman at the table continued, “Just goes to show you that women are the ones who really build the colonies.”

“With us raising children and working at the same time,” chimed in another woman.

“Okay, you win. Women can multitask better than men,” said a husband of many years.

“That’s because we’ve had to.”

***************

Samuel was busying washing Betty when Anastasia returned home with Antoni.

“Hey, they’re back,” Samuel heard in his head.

“What? Oh, good.” He smiled.

“You’re done with me. Go see them.”

“Thanks, Betty.” He walked over to them. “Welcome home.” He clasped Antoni’s little hand and kissed Anastasia.

“It’s good to be back. I’m a little tired.” She yawned.

“That’s not surprising. Other people have told me how exhausting it can be to take care of a baby.”

“He’s worth it.”

“Good.” Samuel took Antoni out of his pouch.

Anastasia took off the pouch and diaper bag. She set them down in the kitchen and got right to cooking. “Sally is letting use a closet so I can nurse Antoni comfortably while we’re there.”

“Good. I’m glad he’s so happy.”

“Of course he’s happy. Everyone says he so cute and adorable.”

“He must know what that means.”

After dinner, Samuel was out in the moonlight running around in his cat form. Anastasia was sitting on the porch nursing Antoni. She smiled.

“If you become a werecat like your father, then I hope you’re just as kind and harmless as he is.”

Antoni finished and went to sleep.

“That’s right, little one. Rest now. You’ll be running around soon enough.”