Emily and I returned to Wolf Lake on Sunday evening. She seemed more relaxed and rested. I could only hope that what seemed to be the case was the case. She looked less pale and more… well, full of life, too. The glow of pregnancy had returned to her face replacing the lines of worry and the dark circles that had ringed her eyes.
Every evening after school ended I would make my way the ten minutes it took to Emily's home. For no other reason than to keep her company and try and keep her from doing work that she shouldn't have been doing given her doctor's orders. Sometimes Cherry came with me. Sometimes Jane or Betsy would show up. If they came I would disappear. Somehow it seemed that if they either were present I shouldn't be and I would quietly slip out the door. I didn't feel I should be privy to the things they discussed even though Emily had always said that if there was something that they were saying that I need not know she'd tell me to leave the room. But I couldn't do it. I couldn't bring myself to be intrusive of their world. One day when I no longer feel like an outsider looking in maybe I'll feel like I can stay.
Time passed quickly. Before any of us knew it Emily was back at work on a modified schedule much to her displeasure. She didn't like being told she couldn't do things that before she'd not have given second thought to doing. Things like hanging a curtain from the ceiling of the computer lab to block the view of students so they couldn't see those who were in the process of taking video quiz's. In the past she would have climbed on top of a desk and balanced herself somewhat precariously as she strung that curtain up. Emily hated not being able to do the mechanical stuff that she had always done. She didn't like feeling coddled or needing to be taken care of. She especially didn't like that everywhere she went there was a group of us who at best could be described as her Ladies in Waiting and at worst her gophers. We all hovered over her like a pack of hyenas waiting for a kill.
Each day that passed we grew less vigilant in our duty of keeping Emily out of trouble. Some how the fact that Jack seemed to have vanished slowly faded from our minds. The fact that Emily had already been pushed to the limit physically and emotionally once before faded as well as the weeks began to slip by. Soon she was in her 27th week of pregnancy, the end zone was upon us. We collectively sighed a breath of relief in knowing now if anything did happen the baby had a good chance of making it.
But there were other things happening in our lives besides Emily and her baby. Cherry and I were immersing ourselves into Jane's ASL 3 class with as much dread as anticipation. Cherry hadn't been told Jane's story before. She hadn't taken Deaf Communities with Emily as the instructor and missed out on Jane telling her background. So when Jane told the story once again to our class Cherry seemed confused by some of the things Jane had to say about her past. I found it odd considering Cherry is very good at ASL. After class I pulled Cherry aside, "What is happening? You seem lost or something?"
"No, I'm not lost. I'm curious," Cherry said looking at Jane who was packing up her books and lecture notes.
"Why?"
"Well, my mother's family also came from County Kerry, Ireland. Her family name was Gibbons. I wonder if Jane knows if there are connections between our families. My uncle Colin is into Genealogy and would love to be able to talk to someone who has knowledge of the Clans of Ireland in and around Killarney.
"You live with your uncle right now, right?
"Yep. My parents are missionaries for a year in Zaire, Africa. Since I was in the middle of learning ASL when they got the assignment I asked if I could stay with my Uncle instead of going with them. I knew they'd never leave me behind if I didn't have someone to stay with that they trusted."
"Wow, When will your parents return from Africa?"
"The end of January."
"Your uncle Colin in your mother's older brother or younger?
"Older by 3 years. He never has bothered to get married. Mom calls him a playboy. But I think he's mellowing. He's not had a date since I started staying at his home when I'm not at the dorm here."
"Cool. Do you think there could be a connection between your family and Jane's?"
"I don't know but now I'm curious. Do you think she'd be upset with me if I asked her more questions about her family?"
"No, Jane really is a sweetheart once you get past the intimidation factor. I've met her mother. Katty is a doll, too. She's just slightly confused most of the time."
"I don't know. I hate to bother her. She has to teach in an hour for the other University."
"Cherry come on. All she can do is tell you she doesn't have time right now."
"Oh, I had better not."
"Cherry, come on don't be ridiculous. She's not a praying mantis. She's not going to bite your head off. She likes inquisitive students." I said have dragging Cherry out the classroom door and around the corner to where I hit the doorbell/ light flasher for Jane's office.
"No, don't." Cherry beseeched.
"Too late."
"Why did you do that. I don't want to bug her. And I know she's not going to bite my head off. I do know Jane well enough to know that. It's just I hate to make life harder for her. She has such a huge class load. I think she said she's carrying 21 hours this semester between classes here and the other school she works at."
"Yeah she is. But you made me curious now too so we have to bug her." I replied as Jane finally opened her door.
Cherry signed "Jane" using her name sign.
"What you need me?"
"No, I need Santa Claus. Yes, I need you. Questions I always have for you."
Jane smiled, "You need what?"
"Curious, Your family come Killarney, County Kerry?" Cherry asked.
"Yes, why?"
"My Mother's name before marry Gibbons. My mother's father came from County Kerry, Ireland, same."
"Your grandfather's name what?"
"Neil Gibbons."
Jane's eyes grew wide. "Neil? Right?"
"Yes."
"My Mother know Ireland Family? Your Grandfather how old."
"Seventy-eight" Cherry answered looking thrilled.
"Maybe my mother know. More information need.
"My Uncle Colin studies Family Tree. He know more."
Through this whole exchange I tried to keep up with the fast flying hands. But mainly I watched as Cherry and Jane went back through time to the land of their ancestors..
"My grandmother died 5 years past. Grandfather talk about Ireland all time. Ireland interesting. You go before?" Cherry asked.
"Yes, many times. My mother's mother, father die before I go. My father's father die before I go. Only met other grandmother one time. She Deaf. Thirty years old Grandmother sick. Deaf because sick. I happy meet one time."
"Grandmother's name what?"
"Spelled Eibhlin. Sound like Evelyn. Your mother name what?"
"Jilleen Delaine Gibbons Spence. My Father's name Andrew Donovan Spence."
"I want meet your family."
"Sure. My uncle want meet you. Mother in Africa, now. Come home January. Meet then. Colin want know more about Ireland family name."
I think they forgot I was there with them. I stood bouncing my eyes back and forth between them. If I left they would have thought I was bored or not interested. Well, maybe not but it seemed rude to disappear since I was the one who'd dragged Cherry to her office in the first place. So I leaned against the wall beside the door and watched the flying finger duo at their best until I happened to look at my watch and discovered that Jane was going to be late for class if I didn't step in and remind her. I flashed the light behind me. They both looked at me somewhat startled to realize I was even in the room with them. "Your Class time?" I signed to Jane.
"Now, Thank you." She signed to me before turning slightly to sign to Cherry, "You come back at 4PM we talk more."
"Sure," Cherry signed as we left the office together.
I dropped off at Emily's office just to bug her, while Cherry dialed her uncle on her cellphone ecstatic at learning of someone else with Irish connections.
"Hi," I signed when Emily looked up at me.
"Hi, How you?"
"Fine. You?"
"Fine. Tired. Baby kicking ribs today. Hurt."
"I understand. I have question. I maybe should not ask here. Upset you."
"Ask. I okay."
"Miscarriage why? Test Doctor do answer?"
"I don't know why. Doctor say after I have baby he will test tissue. Maybe know later."
"Oh, I understand. I forgot."
"Forgot what?"
"You not deliver baby die. No tissue to test until after you deliver twin."
"Right."
"Sorry, I not think today."
"Fine. No worry," She said before Cherry rushed in and tapped my shoulder though I knew someone was behind me because Emily was looking beyond me.
"Colin's coming. Wants to meet Jane. He's excited."
"Cool." I said before Cherry went on to explain things to Emily.
By 4 PM Cherry and her Uncle Colin were pacing the hall outside Jane's office with me in tow for good measure. Jane was running late but that didn't matter. Cherry and I knew we weren't the only students that Jane had that were too inquisitive and demanding of her precious few minutes.
Unlike Cherry who has dark brown hair and dark brown eyes, Colin showed his Gaelic heritage with light skin and pale green eyes. After meeting Colin I could sort of see the Irish is Jane. Something about their eyes was akin. Colin was much taller and stockier in build than Jane but that was to be expected given that he was male. But I'd always assumed men of Irish heritage were smaller in size than Colin portrayed. I needed to readjust my line of thinking since he was over six feet tall. When Jane came around the corner Colin eyes lit up. Jane instantly smiled. Though they had never seen each other before and only knew of each other through Cherry's stories, the two seemed as if they'd always known each other. The immediately were fast friends.