A Baby for Hannah (41 page)

“I declare,” Betty said again, taking Hannah’s hand. “Now tell me, how are you doing. Are the pains coming strong yet?”

Hannah nodded.

“Oh my!” Betty said, letting go of Hannah’s hand. “This baby is going to come before the midwife gets here, I just know it. Now I’m here and don’t know what on earth to do for you. I suppose I shouldn’t have come, as useless as I am at a time like this.”

“I’m glad you came.”

“You need a midwife, not me.”

“She’ll be here before long.”

“I hope so,” Betty said. “This is nerve-wracking.” She jumped up to look out the window. When she saw nothing, she returned to the side of Hannah’s bed. When Hannah yelped in pain, Betty ran to the window again, but the gravel lane was empty.

Finally Hannah said, “I think I heard something in the lane.”

Betty walked quickly over to the window.

“It’s Jake’s buggy, and I see car lights behind it.”

“Is Miriam with him?”

“I can’t see, but you should be worrying about whether it’s the midwife.”

“It couldn’t be anyone else.”

“I’ll be right back,” Betty said, disappearing with the kerosene lamp.

Hannah waited in the darkness, trying to breathe deeply. She heard the cabin door open just as the pain started again, blocking out everything else. Betty came rushing back in followed by Miriam and the midwife. Jake’s head appeared briefly in the bedroom doorway.

“Out, out!” Betty hollered at Jake. “This is no place for men. You’ll just get in the way, and we already have three women in here.”

“But it’s my
bobli!
” Jake said, not moving.

“I said
out
!” Betty took his hand firmly and lead him back to the living room couch. “Now sit,” she said. “We’ll let you know when the baby’s here.”

After a brief look at Hannah’s progress, Mattie said, “It’ll be awhile yet. Miriam, why don’t you sit with Hannah on the other side of the bed. Maybe that will help keep her mind occupied.”

“There’s nothing that will keep my mind occupied right now,” Hannah said through clenched teeth.

“It will soon be over,” the midwife said. “And you will remember this no more, like the Good Book says.”

“That’s right,” Betty said from the doorway. “I forgot my pain as soon as my babies came, so keep your spirits up.”

“What about Jake?” Hannah asked.

“He’s not coming in here,” Betty said. “It’s not decent, and he can’t handle it.”

The midwife laughed softly. “I think it should be up to Hannah whether she wants Jake present. Do you want him in here, Hannah?”

“I don’t know,” Hannah said as the pain came again.

“That’s all the answer I need,” Betty said. “He’s not coming in, and let’s hear no more about it.”

“I’m here,” Miriam whispered from the other side of the bed, holding her sister’s hand.

Hannah turned her head to smile weakly at her.

The minutes settled into an hour of pain…then a second hour passed with only brief respites in between contractions. Hannah saw Jake’s face frequently at the bedroom door, but Betty always pounced on him with vigor.

“At least tell him what’s going on,” Hannah whispered.

“We are telling him, dear,” Mattie said. “There’s nothing going on. We’re just waiting.”

“Is there a problem?” Hannah asked.

“No,” the midwife said. “Everything’s fine, and it will be time soon. It looks to me like you will have a dawn baby.”

“Dr. Lisa said we could call her if we need to,” Hannah reminded her.

“I know,” Mattie said. “And I would call if there were any danger, but there isn’t. Just take courage. It won’t be long now.”

“I want him to come now!” Hannah said.

“So you still think it’s a boy?” Mattie asked.

“
Jah,
” Hannah said. “It’s got to be a boy. Jake needs a boy.”

“I think Jake will be happy either way,” Mattie replied.

“He’d better be,” Betty said. “Or I’ll whack him over the head myself.”

After another brief look at Hannah, Mattie said, “I think it’s about time. In a few minutes, I’ll tell you to push and when I do, that’s your signal to give it all you’ve got. And then when I tell you to relax, you can stop pushing until I say push again. Are you ready?”

Hannah nodded as vigorously as she could muster while Betty watched nervously by the door and Miriam clutched Hannah’s hand.

Several minutes later, with the first light of day sneaking over the mountain peaks, Hannah lay back on her pillow listening to the silence of the room. Miriam still had her hand in a firm grip. Betty and Mattie’s forms moved rapidly about at the foot of the bed.

“Why isn’t he crying?” Hannah whispered to Miriam.

“I don’t know,” Miriam said, squeezing her sister’s hand.

Hannah tried to sit up, but she couldn’t find the strength.

Miriam stroked her hand, a worried look on her face. Hannah struggled to rise again just as a piercing cry rent the room, followed by Miriam’s sigh of relief.

“Is it…?” Hannah began.

“It’s a boy!” Mattie said. “How did you know?”

Hannah didn’t answer, letting her body go limp on the bed. The tears of joy came.

“There, there,” the midwife’s voice roused her as she wrapped the baby and then carefully placed him beside Hannah with the words, “I think this little fellow wants his mother.”

Hannah turned toward the baby, emotion overflowing. “Tell Jake to come,” she said.

Betty grunted from the foot of the bed but promptly bustled out. Moments later she returned with Jake following hesitantly.

“Come!” Hannah said, raising the baby blanket slightly. “I have something for you.”

Jake moved slowly, coming to stand with his hands on the bed, his eyes on Hannah.

“Are you okay?” Jake asked.

Hannah nodded and Jake’s eyes turned to the baby.

“Hold him,” Hannah said. “And see what you want to call him.”

“It’s a boy?” he said, a broad smile spreading over his face. He lifted the baby carefully, cradling him tightly to his chest. The light of the dawn played on Jake’s face and beard as he studied the baby.

“David,” Jake said finally, turning to Hannah. “We will call him David, for he is a very special child. Do you like that?”

“
Jah,
” Hannah said. “David is a
gut
name.”

“Now let’s get you out of here,” Betty said, pulling on Jake’s sleeve. “I don’t care if you are a preacher. Hannah needs her rest.”

Hannah watched as Jake’s eyes lingered on the baby’s face as he gently slid little David back onto the bed.

“You are wonderful,” Jake said, turning to brush his hand across Hannah’s forehead.

“That’s enough,” Betty snapped. “I said out of here, and out of here it will be.”

Hannah laughed softly, joy filling every fiber of her being.

Forty-Four

Hannah lay on the couch looking out through the cabin window with baby David cradled in her arms. Miriam was cleaning up the breakfast dishes in the kitchen, her buggy still parked in front of the barn. Jake was home today, waving his arms around out in the open field as he directed the
Englisha
backhoe driver who was digging the footers for their new log home.

“Can I get you anything?” Miriam asked, her face appearing in the kitchen doorway.

“No. I just had to get out of bed and on my feet a little.”

“Don’t overdo it. It’s not even been a week yet,” Miriam said as she disappeared again.

Hannah’s gaze fell to baby David’s face, still wrinkled, but filling out more each day. He struggled to open his eyes, squinting up at her face and flexing the fingers on one hand. Soft black hair covered his head, reaching almost to his ears.

Hannah held her breath in awe. He was so perfect, so breakable, and yet so boyish—and all hers and Jake’s. Tears welled up in her eyes as unspeakable joy rose up inside of her. How could
Da Hah
make something so wonderful? He had, but how was it possible?

“You’re all mine,” Hannah whispered. “And Jake’s, but especially mine.”

Would there be more children? Hopefully, but there would never be another moment like this one, when she held her first child in her arms. “I can’t believe you’re finally here,” Hannah said, running her fingers over his soft cheeks. David opened his mouth, trying to follow the flow of motion across his skin. His eyes focused, blinking slowly, and then drifted off again.

“Do you want a glass of orange juice?” Miriam asked from the kitchen door.

Hannah nodded but said nothing.

“Is something wrong?” Miriam asked, noticing the tears spilling down her sister’s cheeks.

Hannah shook her head. “No, I’m just enjoying David and watching his dad work outside.”

“But you’re crying.”

“It’s my first baby, Miriam. Of course I’m crying. You’ll cry too.”

“Oh, Hannah, he’s so cute. David is truly the most wonderful baby I’ve ever seen.”

“You have to say that. You’re his aunt,” Hannah said with a weak laugh.

“No, I mean it. He has to be the most wonderful baby ever born.”

“Whatever you say,” Hannah said, brushing the tears away. She glanced out the window at Jake. He had paused and was looking toward the main road. What he saw, Hannah couldn’t see, but most likely it was a delivery of job materials.

Miriam handed Hannah the orange juice and asked, “Do you want anything else?”

Hannah laughed. “Let me think about it. I’m not used to being served hand and foot.”

“Well, relax and enjoy it. Before long you’ll be on your feet and back to work as hard as ever.”

“I suppose you should go home soon,” Hannah said. “It really worries me that you’re away from Dennis so long. I mean, I know you promised me, but you haven’t been married that long.”

“Kendra’s coming over to be with you tonight,” Miriam said. “Betty insisted and I accepted because I miss Dennis. But I promise I’ll be back bright and early tomorrow morning. Even before the sun comes up.”

“I’m not complaining. I feel very pampered and spoiled.”

“Look who’s here!” Miriam said, pointing out the window. “Mr. Brunson and Mary. They must have come to see the baby.”

“Oh, Miriam,” Hannah gasped. “I don’t look decent, and I don’t have my head covering on. Do something quick. I wasn’t expecting visitors.”

“Relax,” Miriam ordered, removing a shawl from the hall closet and draping it over Hannah’s shoulders. “That’s all you need. You look fine.”

Hannah clutched the shawl with both hands, balancing David on her knees as Miriam went to open the door. Mary came rushing inside with Mr. Brunson right behind her. He took his green John Deere cap off, his face grinning from ear to ear.

“Well, what have we here?” Mr. Brunson’s voice boomed. “A baby I do declare, and a Byler baby at that.”

Mary bent down to give Hannah a hug. “I was so glad to hear that everything went well. Were you able to use the phone okay?”

“
Jah,
” Hannah said. “Jake got the call through just fine. Thank you so much.”

“Motherhood is so wonderful, isn’t it?” Mary said, turning to coo at baby David. “What sweet little things they are.”

“
Jah,
” Hannah said. “He couldn’t be any sweeter.”

“A right handsome fellow,” Mr. Brunson said, standing sideways over the couch to get a better view. “And I can see Jake all over him, so I’d say he’s off to a good start.”

Hannah ran her hand lightly over her son’s hair.

“Has he been sleeping well?” Mary asked.

Hannah nodded, not trusting her voice.

“Well,” Mr. Brunson boomed. “I think I’ve seen the baby, so I’ll go out to see Jake, if you ladies don’t mind.”

“Thanks for coming,” Hannah said, wiping a tear from her cheek. “It’s so good to see both of you.”

“You too. Take care now, you hear?” Mr. Brunson said and then disappeared out the door.

“Mary, may I get you a glass of orange juice?” Miriam asked.

“Sure,” Mary said, taking a seat at the other end of the couch. “That would be wonderful.”

“I’ll be right back.” Miriam jumped up and headed into the kitchen.

“So how have things been going?” Mary asked, reaching over to pick up David from Hannah’s lap. Carefully she cradled the baby, laughing softly in his face. David opened his mouth and slowly waved one hand aimlessly.

“I think he likes you,” Hannah said with a smile.

“I sure hope so!” Mary said as Miriam brought in the glass of orange juice, setting it beside the couch within Mary’s reach.

“And how about you, Hannah? How are
you
doing?” Mary asked.

“I’m tired all the time and want to sleep, but hopefully that’s normal.”

“It’s very normal, but it won’t be long now before you’re back up and full of energy,” Mary encouraged.

“How are you and Mr. Brunson doing?” Hannah asked.

“Hannah, it’s just wonderful! We’re enjoying each other to the fullest. Sometimes it’s hard for me to believe that
Da Hah
allowed it to happen again—that I found another wonderful man, but He did.”

“We sure miss Mr. Brunson. It gets kind of lonesome around here.”

“I can imagine that,” Mary said, laughing. “We’re trying to sell the place, but no success yet.”