“I didn’t have enough for a ticket,” Gussie said, holding out a handful of change, wrapped in Anna’s handkerchief.
“I know this isn’t easy, but you can’t give up on Atlantic City,” said Stuart. “Not when so many people love you and need you here.”
“Nobody needs me,” said Gussie as she hugged the valise to her chest.
“That’s not true,” said Stuart. “I do. And Anna does, too. Why else would we have inducted you into our secret society?”
“Because you didn’t want me to tell my mother about Florence.”
Stuart let out a short laugh. “Perceptive,” he said, to Anna more than anyone. “Well, your mother’s going to have that baby any minute, and then we’re all done with secrets.”
“No more Florence Adler Swims Forever Society?”
“I didn’t say that,” said Stuart. “Anna, wouldn’t you say our society is stronger than ever?”
Anna nodded knowingly, as if the pair had just been discussing the society’s state of affairs on the way over to the train station.
“But no more secrets?” said Gussie.
“None,” said Stuart, looking at Anna. “Well, maybe just one more.”
Anna
It was half-past seven bythe time Anna, Stuart, and Gussie arrived at the hospital to find Joseph and Esther waiting in the lobby. Before Anna could get a word out, Esther caught her granddaughter up in her arms. She squeezed her, then turned to Anna. “Dorothy told us you called the ward, looking for Gussie.”
Anna looked at Gussie, who shook her head ever so slightly in discouragement. “There was some confusion,” said Anna, vaguely, before changing the subject. “How’s Fannie?”
Esther relayed what she knew. Fannie had been moved to the labor room sometime early Tuesday morning, and her labor must have progressed accordingly because she’d been moved to the delivery room an hour ago. “It’s her third baby. I pray it comes fast.”
“You won’t see her tonight?” Anna asked.
“No,” said Esther, adamantly. “She’ll need to rest.” Anna wondered at the lot of them, sitting in the lobby. They might as well have been sitting in the apartment’s front room, for all they were going to be able to do here.
“Do you want us to wait with you or take Gussie home?”
“Certainly, you should take her home,” she said. Then, as if she realized that she wouldn’t be able to order Anna around forever, she added, “Thank you.”
“You’ll stay?” Anna asked.
“Just until I know everything went all right.” Esther’s voice dipped, and Anna watched as Joseph reached behind his wife, rubbing his hand along her back. She was surprised to see Esther fold into the crook of his arm, as if the past several days had laid her bare.
“Gus, give your grandparents a hug and a kiss,” said Anna. “You’ll see them in the morning.”
“Mrs. Adler?” said a deep voice from across the room. “Mr. Adler?” Anna looked up to find Fannie’s doctor descending the stairs into the lobby.
Esther and Joseph stood to greet him, and Anna glanced at Stuart, who seemed every bit as curious to hear what he had to say as she was.
“You have a granddaughter.”
Esther swayed, and Anna worried for a moment that she’d fall over. But Joseph was there, beside her, steadying her as she asked in a quiet voice, “Everyone’s all right?”
“Better than all right,” said Dr. Rosenthal. “Beautiful.”
Esther’s bottom lip quivered, and she sat down in her chair, hard. “She’s fine? The baby, too?”
“Yes, perfectly fine.”
Anna’s eyes watered as she watched Esther let out a choking sob. It was as if, with this news, she were finally allowing herself to feel the full weight of her grief. Joseph bent low, grabbed his wife’s hand, and kissed it, his own tears absorbing into the creases of her skin. “Bubala, you did it,” he whispered. She buried her face in his shoulder. Esther had lost one daughter this summer but she would not lose a second.
