Michael Palmer - Natural Causes

"Does the powder actually work?" Sarah asked. "I'd be fascinated to know what herbs are in it."

"Hell, yes, it works," Annalee said. "Peter didn't invent the mixture, though. This Indian doctor, Dr. Singh, did. He's not an M.D., he's an Ayurvedic doctor. I guess you know what that's all about."

"Ayurvedic medicine was being taught in India centuries before Hippocrates or Galen were born. There are some pretty solid reasons why it's survived over all this time."

"Well, Dr. Singh brought his powder to Peter a few years ago and offered him some sort of a partnership, I think. I'm not sure of the details, but I'm sure they included Peter's acting as the spokesperson for the company. Dr. Singh seems very bright, but he isn't exactly the most dynamic, photogenic critter I've ever seen. Have you heard of him?"

"No. No, I haven't."

"I don't know much about him either. Anyhow, seeing as I had only tried one or two hundred different diets without much success, Peter asked me if I wanted to be his guinea pig and try the stuff out before he invested in it. The result?" She rose and spun around to give Sarah a look.

"Bravo. And you don't have trouble staying on your diet?"

"What diet? Why, those of us who are into infomercials know that the Xanadu Ayurvedic Herbal Weight Loss System preaches no dieting, only moderation and avoidance of a few forbidden foods."

"Let's hear it for moderation," Sarah cheered, delighting more every minute in the once-sullen girl.

"Here's the best part," Annalee went on. "In the beginning, when I first started the powder, I tried moderation and I lost weight. After a month or two, just because I am who I am, I tried eating like a piglet. And I still lost weight. That's what really sold Peter. Now isn't that something?"

Sarah rose and hugged her lovingly.

"It is that," she said. She held Annalee by the shoulders and moved her back enough to focus on her face. "Annalee, I always thought you were pretty special and that problems or no problems, you had tremendous potential. I want you to know that I underestimated you. You have really become a wonderful, beautiful person."

"Hey, thanks. You're pretty special yourself. But you left a word out when you were describing me."

"Let's see, wonderful… beautiful"

"And pregnant." Annalee read the shadow that crossed Sarah's face. "And happy," she added quickly. "Very happy. This baby's being born come hell or high water, and if I have my way, you're gonna deliver it."

"Hey, that's great. Thanks for asking me. I'll have the chief of the department be our backup. Annalee, I'm really, really excited for you. Are you sure about the pregnancy?"

"Planned Parenthood did the test. Goodness, but those people are some of the best on earth. They guessed maybe four or five months more, but they couldn't be certain without more tests. My periods have always been screwed up. That's why I waited so long before even considering I might be pregnant."

"Well, congratulations. I'll check you over and maybe even get an ultrasound. Annalee, this is going to be fun."

"I know it will. I was in the middle of deciding who to go and see when I read about you in the papers. Then I heard about the press conference on TV and I said to my boyfriend, 'Taylor, the first hands to touch this baby are going to be Sarah Baldwin's.' "

"Taylor, huh. I like the name. So, give me the low-down. What does he look like? What does he do?"

"Let's see… he's got a face like Denzel Washington, an ass like Wesley Snipes, and he moves like Michael Jordan."

"Lord."

"And he's a musician-a damn good one. Bass, guitar, horns even."

"Rock and roll?"

"Hell no. Jazz. I sang with his group for a while. That's how we met. You see, Dr. Singh's powder kind of backfired on Peter-on me, too, I think. I was in college at U Mass, doing reasonably well as a psych major, but not enjoying it or my miserable social life very much. Then all of a sudden, the woman beneath the flab emerged, and I guess I sort of got, well, out of control, you might say."

"That's understandable."

"I ended up on the West Coast, running with a fast crowd, singing with this group and that, and trying to make it in films. I had some nibbles from a few producers, but more often than not, they were nibbles on my earlobes and breasts. Finally I met Taylor. His last name's West. Right then and there I began to mend my ways. He's on the road a lot, and we aren't exactly rolling in dough. So a few months ago, I took Peter's offer to come home and help him at Xanadu."

"And what does he think about becoming a grandpa?"

"He… um… he doesn't know. He's only now getting to know Taylor. And he still believes I'm going to start school again in January."

Sarah took time to ponder that news.

"I certainly hope you will get your degree at some point," she said finally. "But you know, I'm thinking that you ought to tell him. Give him the benefit of the doubt."

"I'll consider it."

"Well, speaking from a purely biological standpoint, Annalee, pretty soon he's going to start wondering why his fabulous Xanadu Ayurvedic powder has failed in such a specific, low-belly way."

"You do have a point there."

"Thanks. It's good to know I've mastered some of the basics over my years in obstetrics. And you know, as long as you're giving him the benefit of the doubt, I think I'd feel more comfortable if you'd tell him about your seeing me as well. Seven years is long enough for most wounds to heal-even Peter's. Besides, just like your belly, sooner or later, that's going to come out, too."

"If you wish it, it shall be done."

"I wish it. But you should certainly do what feels right to you. It just seems as though if you're living with him, and he's helping to support you-"

"I understand."

"On the other hand, I don't think anything would be served by getting on his case about the vanishing letters from me."

"Ancient history."

"Exactly. God, I'm blabbering on and on. Do you think I could be nervous about dealing with your father after all this time?"

"Let's just say that you better be a damn sight more relaxed when you're delivering our baby." Annalee laughed again. Her smile made her remarkable face even more appealing.

"I'll work on it," Sarah said. "One last thing, though."

"Name it."

"If I'm going to be your obstetrician, and you want to give that kid of yours the best chance to be healthy, those cigarettes have got to go."

The younger woman's almond eyes narrowed.

"Couldn't I find something else to give up instead?" she asked.

Sarah shook her head. "I'm afraid it's a big deal."

"All right, okay. The smokes are history."

"Excellent." Sarah checked the time. "Listen," she said, "I'm due back at the hospital. But if you'll walk me back, I'd like to tell you at least a little bit of my version of what happened-why I left."

"You don't need to."

Sarah slipped her arm inside Annalee's. "I know," she said.

By the time they arrived at the gate to the MCB campus, Annalee, shaking her head sadly, had her arm draped around Sarah's shoulders.

"Nothing you've told me comes as much of a surprise," she said. "He's really not a bad guy, just difficult sometimes. And speaking of surprises, it probably won't surprise you much to know that Henry McAllister is as devoted to Peter as ever. He's been to Xanadu for dinner, and he's designing a big fountain for the front lawn."

"You're right," Sarah said. "I'm not surprised…"

Her voice trailed away. Although she had visited McAllister once in the hospital after his operation, he never indicated that he knew the role she had played in saving his life. And she had chosen not to be the one to tell him. She knew, and that was all that mattered-or at least so she had thought at the time.