Just Between Friends (15 page)

     He knew how she felt.  They both needed to be with their daughter. 
What if
…?  No, he wouldn’t allow that thought to enter his mind.  She was going to make it through this, he knew.  He bent down and kissed his wife on the forehead, and sat beside her on the bed.  He gathered her into his arms.  “I know,” he replied tenderly, “but she’s in good hands.”

     He stayed with her all day, and it was well into the night before her pains began in earnest.  The doctor asked him to please leave the room.  After telling his wife he loved her, he went downstairs.  Alice fixed him a cup of coffee then they both sat at the table and waited.

***

     It was now morning, and the sun was beginning to rise once again.  Mary had been in labor for twenty-four hours and just as they didn’t think they could stand to hear her screams any longer, they stopped.  Suddenly a baby began to cry.  Frank jumped from his seat and ran upstairs.  He opened the door to his bedroom and went to his wife’s side.  She looked exhausted.  He knelt beside her and wiped the perspiration from her brow.  “Are you alright, Mary?”

     She only smiled and nodded her head weakly.

     Doctor Mitchell walked up to him then, and presented him with his fine, healthy son.  “Congratulations, Frank.”  He grinned as he handed the new baby to his father.

     He took the bundle in his arms and beamed.  “My son,” he spoke softly.  He then turned to his wife and laying the child in her arms, asked, “Can you believe it, Mary?  We have a son.”

     He was beautiful, Mary thought.  But, her joy couldn’t be complete until she knew Cassandra was going to be alright.

     Alice came in to see the baby, and made a fuss over him.  “What are you going to name him?”

     “Well,” Frank answered, “Mary and I have decided on Thomas Lynn.  It would have meant the world and all to Pa to know he had a grandson who was named after him.  Don’t you agree?” 

     “Oh, yes!”  Alice exclaimed joyfully.  “He would have been so proud.  I wish he were alive to see this little one.  I even see a small resemblance to him in the child.  Oh, I’m so happy for the both of you.  Seeing this wee thing, makes me wish I had settled down and had a family, but there’s nothing I can do to change that now.  Well, I’ll leave and let the two of you have some alone time with your son.”

     “Yes,” doctor Mitchell, cut in, “I’ll be leaving also.  I want to get back over and check on Cassandra.  Please don’t worry, Mary.  I’ll be with her all I can.  You just take care of yourself and that young’un.  Everything will be fine, I really believe that.”

     Mary could hardly speak, and was too full of emotions.  She wanted to be with her daughter more than anything.  Swallowing back the lump that had formed in her throat, she spoke.  “Thank you doctor Mitchell.  I know that you’ll take good care of my girl, but promise me the first good sign Cassie shows, that you’ll tell Miranda to let us know immediately.”

     He walked over and patted her on the hand and assured, “You know I will, Mary.  Now, get some rest.”

     “I’ll see to that,” Frank cut in, “don’t you worry.”

     He seemed satisfied with that.  “Good, then I’ll be back tomorrow and check on you both.  I’ll say goodbye now.” 

     The baby began to cry, so Frank took him from Mary’s arms and walked him around the room.  It seemed to satisfy him.  One of his little arms wiggled free from the blanket, and his eyes were trying to adjust to the light that was shining in from the window.  His head full of dark hair was wavy, and his cheeks were chubby.  Frank just stared at his son, which was such a miracle.  But as happy as he was over this new life that had entered their lives, their family could never be complete until Cassie came back to them, and he prayed it would be soon.

***

     When Doctor Mitchell arrived back at the Williams a little while later, he told Miranda that her mother had had a healthy baby boy, and that both mother and child were doing well.

     She was so happy, that momentarily she forgot all the sadness around her.  “I know how happy mama and papa must be.  They’ve wanted a son for so long.” 

     Her happiness was brief as she glanced toward the stairs, and he could see the pain in her eyes.  She wanted to believe that Cassie was going to pull through this, but there still was no improvement.  “I just want to know my sister is going to make it, doctor.”

     “I know,” he nodded.  “Who’s with her now?”

     Alec, who had been standing beside her, suddenly spoke,   “Ben’s with her, and I’m worried about him.  Since he returned to the house, after he ran out, he hasn’t left her side.  He says he’s not leaving her until she wakes up, and who knows how long that will be.”

     Not liking the sound of that, Miranda turned to Alec.  “Cassie’s going to come out of this, Alec.  Don’t you believe that?”  She looked hurt by his lack of faith.

     He tried to console her.  She had been through so much already.  After losing Steven, he wasn’t sure she would be able to handle it if anything were to happen to someone else she loved, even though, personally, he couldn’t help but doubt that Cassie would regain consciousness.  Miranda hadn’t seen her sister when they had pulled her from the debris of the house.  He had thought she was dead, and believed it would take a miracle for her to survive.

     Miranda’s eyes pierced into his, and he knew she was waiting on his answer.  He had to stay as positive as possible for her sake.  “Sure I do, sweetheart.  Cassie’s strong-willed.  She’s always been a fighter.  If anyone can pull through this, she will.”

     “That’s right,” she agreed.  Then turning back to the doctor, she continued, “After you check on Cassie, do you think it would be alright if I went home real quick to check on mama and change into some clean clothes?  I wouldn’t be gone very long.”

     “Well sure, Miranda,” he quirked an eyebrow, “anxious to see that new brother of yours, eh?”

     She only smiled, as he continued.  “You don’t have to ask me, but I will give you some advice.  Let Alec drive you.  You’re in no condition to go alone.  You look near to exhaustion yourself.”

     Alec put his arm around Miranda’s waist, and she rested her head back against his chest.  “She won’t go alone.  You have my word on that, but first we’ll wait and see how Cassandra is doing.”

     He nodded, and went upstairs.  As he reached the room Cassie was in, he could hear Bens voice.  He felt so sorry for the boy.  He knew if Ben was to lose Cassandra, it would devastate him.  They had been married only four months.  Remembering how happy the two had been on their wedding day, for he had been there, he had thought these two would have a long and wonderful life together.  Now here they were, their future possibly falling apart right before their eyes.

     Tapping lightly on the door, he entered the room.  Ben was sitting in a chair beside Cassandra, holding her hand in his.  He could tell as he looked up at him, by how puffy and swollen his eyes were that he had been crying.  “Hello, Ben.  How’s our patient doing?  Has she moved or made any sound at all?”

     Ben shook his head and with discouragement filling his voice, answered, “No, nothing.”

     Doctor Mitchell went to the window and pulled open the curtains.  Rays of morning light filled the room.  He then made his way to the bed, and gently spoke, “Ben, would you mind stepping out while I examine Cassandra?” 

     “I told you I’m not leaving my wife, doctor!”  Ben screamed.

     “Son, I promise it won’t take long, please,” he implored.  “As soon as I’ve finished the examination, you’re free to come back in.”

     Ben didn’t respond.  He just rose to his feet and quietly left. 

     He had only waited outside the door for about ten minutes, when Doctor Mitchell opened it and told him he needed to talk with him.  “Ben, it looks as if Cassandra is pregnant, and I’m afraid she’s about to miscarry.  She’s doing some spotting.”

     Ben felt paralyzed. 
Pregnant
? He thought.
Why hadn’t Cass told him?  He would have been so happy.  Now she was losing it.  What had they done to deserve this?
  “Are you sure, Doctor?  Cassie never told me she was pregnant.  I’m sure she would have.  She wouldn’t have kept something like this from me.”  He looked bewildered.

     “Yes, son, I’m sure she would have, but, Cassie probably didn’t know for sure herself.  She most likely wanted to be positive before she said anything.”

     Ben shook his head.  “My wife, and now my child, it isn’t fair.

  It just isn’t fair.”

     “Now Ben, you haven’t lost Cassandra yet, and there’s always a chance the bleeding will stop.  Have a little faith.”

     As he looked up, he
could see the agony in the boys’ eyes.  “I’m trying, doctor, really I am.  But when I look at her so quiet and pale, I begin having my doubts.  If only she would show some sign of life, I …” He couldn’t go on.

     “I know this is hard on you, Ben,” Doctor Mitchell remarked, “but you have to try to be strong for Cassandra.  Now I’m going back in and see what I can do.  If you would, please go down and tell the others what’s going on.  I’ll be down as soon as I feel I can leave her.”

Ben nodded his head and began to walk away, then stopped and turned around.  “Please, doctor Mitchell, try to save our child.  If Cass survives, losing this baby would destroy her.”

     Nodding, he answered, “You know I’ll do the best I can.”

***

     After Ben had told the others, Miranda didn’t want to leave.  She didn’t want to tell her mother any more bad news, but she had promised her father that she would let them know if there was any change either way, so she decided to go. 
Oh, how could her mother take any more?

     The morning air was cold.  She pulled the shawl she had draped over her shoulders a little tighter.  Mrs. Williams had given it to her to wear, for all her clothes from the previous night had been soaked from the rain.  It all felt like a dream as she and Alec drove along.  She pondered as the easiest way to tell her parents about Cassie’s baby, their grandchild.  Trying to look on the bright side, she thought,
it’s possible she won’t lose it, for the doctor had said there was a small chance
.  She had to hold on to that hope.

     Noticing how quiet she was, Alec advised, “Miranda, please stop worrying.  I can’t stand to see you this way.  Why don’t you go home and get some sleep?  I promise I’ll come and tell you if anything changes.”

     Looking over at him, she realized how very lucky she was to have him in her life.  He was so good to her.  “No,” she said gently, and reached out and touched his arm.  “I can’t.  Not until I’m sure Cassie’s going to be alright, but thanks, Alec.  I really appreciate all you’re doing for us.”

     He felt touched, for it seemed like Miranda was starting to rely on him more and more. “You know there’s nothing in the world that I wouldn’t do for you Miranda, or your family.  I love you all.”

     Feeling extra close to him, she laid her head on his shoulder and he slipped his free hand around her waist.  Even though all these horrible things were happening, it felt so good to have her need him.  He didn’t say anything.  He just let her rest.

      A flock of birds flew overhead, looking like a giant V.  One could already feel it in the air, even though it was still only the fourth of October.  Winter was coming, and most likely it was going to arrive early. 

     When they reached the Porter home, Alec parked the buggy in front of the house and climbed down, then going to the other side, reached up and helped Miranda descend.  They walked slowly to the door.  Miranda dreaded to face her parents.  This news was going to be so devastating to them. 

     Alec drew her near, hugging her close.  He made her face him, as he slowing massaged the tops of her shoulders.  “It’ll be alright, Miranda,” he began.  “Cassandra is going to pull out of this, and the baby is going to be fine, you’ll see.”  He was trying to be upbeat for her sake, so he forced the brightest smile he could muster and said, “Come on, sweetheart, let’s go in and see your new brother.”