Tracie Peterson (27 page)

“Oh, Ginny, this hurts so bad,” Melody cried as another contraction ripped through her body. The young girl sat up in bed, grabbing her stomach. “Make it stop!”

“Now, Melody,” Ginny said, reaching over to offer the girl comfort, “this is just the way it is. I can’t make it stop. But soon enough this baby will be born and you’ll be a proud new mommy and then you’ll forget all about this pain.”

Melody shook her head. “I’ll never forget. I’m never having another baby!” She threw herself back against the pile of pillows and kept shaking her head from side to side.

Ginny sat down on the bed beside her. “Melody, listen to me for just a minute.” Melody looked up, and Ginny wiped her face with a cool cloth before continuing. “I called Doc Ketterman and he can’t get here just yet. The ice is making it too dangerous, but besides that, he’s working on another patient, someone who was in a car accident and is doing pretty poorly. You and I are probably going to have to do this together. First babies generally take their time. You’ve not been in labor for any time at all. This could go on for some time and you need to conserve your energy.”

“How long are you talking?” Melody questioned.

“I had contractions for two days when I had John,” Ginny said with a smile. “Of course, my best friend had all of her babies in less than six hours. The last two were within less than half an hour of starting contractions. So you see, you can just never tell. The thing that’s important is that you save your energy. The harder you fight this, the more tired out you’re going to be.”

“Two days?” the younger woman groaned. Tears formed in her eyes. “I can’t stand it, Ginny. I’ll never make it.”

“Nonsense. Half of the battle is up here,” she said, pointing to
the girl’s head. “You have to decide that you’re going to give this baby every advantage. You don’t have a right to be selfish anymore. You have to consider your child’s needs first.”

“I wish Collin were here,” she sobbed. Things would be all right if only he were here.

“I wish he were too. Because if he were here, then John might be here as well. But they aren’t here,” Ginny added, pushing aside her worry. “So we have to do the best we can.”

“I wish my mother were here,” Melody said, turning her face to the pillow. Why did things have to be like this? A girl should at least have her mother nearby for an occasion like this. Maybe she should have Ginny call her. The thought intrigued Melody momentarily and took her mind off the labor. If Ginny called, then perhaps she could convince Melody’s folks that they needed to forgive her and come to Longview. But just as quickly as the thought came, Melody decided against it. She could easily remember the look on her father’s face and her mother’s disappointment. She had broken their hearts, and as far as they were concerned, she was dead.

She cried quietly, wishing against all hope that a miracle could change her situation. That she could wake up safe and warm back home—that she could start over. She didn’t want to say that she’d trade Collin and the baby, she just wished she could have had them both under different circumstances.

“Your contractions are nearly twenty minutes apart,” Ginny announced, “so it’ll probably be a little while before this young one makes his or her appearance.”

Melody opened her eyes and turned to faced Ginny. “I’m so tired.”

“I know, sweetheart. But,” Ginny said with a smile, “you are getting the very best of all Christmas gifts. You will have the best of all presents to remind you of our Savior’s birth.”

Melody looked back at Ginny and shook her head. “I don’t want to think about God. Collin says it’s questionable if God even exists, and given the way my folks have acted, I’m beginning to think he’s right.”

Ginny was undaunted. “Melody, ever since you came to live with me, you’ve been making comments like that. Who do you think provided for you in your hour of need?”

“You did,” Melody replied.

“No, child. God did. God put my son and your husband together. God allowed me to have the heart and compassion to care about someone in your predicament, and God caused all of us to come together in such a way that we could help one another.”

“Collin says it’s just dumb luck,” Melody said, drying her eyes with the sleeve of her flannel nightgown. She hadn’t been brought up to believe that way, but in her anger, Collin’s suggestion made her feel justified in ignoring God.

“Well, I don’t believe in luck, dumb or otherwise,” Ginny replied. “I believe in God’s divine direction. Why, even the birth of Jesus was divinely directed.”

“Why do you say that?”

Ginny smiled. “Jesus was born to a family who made their home in Nazareth. They lived a long ways from the town of Bethlehem, yet that’s where the Bible prophets foretold the Savior would be born. So God did a little bit of work here and there and low and behold, the ruler of the day decided he needed to count heads. He put out an order to get everyone to go back to the city that their families were originally from. Now, Joseph was from the lineage of David. You remember stories about King David, don’t you?”

“The one who killed the giant?” Melody questioned.

“Exactly the same.” Ginny leaned over to the nightstand and rinsed out the washcloth in cool water. Handing it to Melody, she continued. “Now, because Joseph was betrothed to Mary, he took her along as well. Can you imagine riding on the back of a donkey in your condition?”

Melody actually smiled. “I wouldn’t want to ride in a
car
in my condition.”

Laughing, Ginny took back the cloth after Melody wiped her face. “The point is, God wanted to fulfill prophecy. He had a plan. A divine plan for His only Son to be born in Bethlehem. He had to move in a ruler’s heart and mind, and in turn this moved a nation of people into action, and all in order to bring two very special people to the place they needed to be. He had it much easier in bringing you and Collin into my life.”

Melody relented and considered Ginny’s words quite seriously. “If that is true, then God would also have a reason for making my
parents react so heartlessly with me. I don’t like to think of God being that way.”

“There are all sorts of influences on folks,” Ginny said. “Could be God wanted your parents to react another way and instead they turned from His will and looked to their own. Either way, I think once they calm down and see what’s been done, they’ll want you back in their lives again. You and Collin and this baby.”

“But what if they don’t?” Melody questioned soberly. The thought struck terror in her heart. She loved her parents. She loved her little sisters. And she missed them all desperately.

“I’m sure they’ll come around, and until they do, you can just stay with me. Even if you have to wait until the war is over and Collin comes home, you’ll have a place. I have no one else to worry over.”

Melody allowed doubt to creep into her heart. She gripped Ginny’s hand tightly. “But what if Collin doesn’t come home?”

“We won’t cross that bridge until we need to. No sense going down a path that neither of us wants to travel. No matter what happens,” the older woman assured, “I will be here for you, just as I hope you will be here for me.”

“Ohhh!” Melody moaned. “It’s starting again.” She rolled to her side and drew her knees up as best she could to stave off the contraction. In her heart she wanted to pray, but fear kept her from crying out to God. Fear that He wouldn’t hear her. And worse yet, fear that even if He did, He no longer cared.

Two and a half hours later, Melody was no closer to delivering her baby. Her contractions still came between fifteen and twenty minutes apart and her hope was fading.

Ginny took time away from the girl to fix herself some breakfast. She didn’t feel all that hungry, but she knew it might well be a long day and an even longer night. Slicing a bit of ham, she made a sandwich. With this and a cup of coffee, Ginny sat down at the kitchen table and began to pray.

“Oh, Father, I come to you with a heavy heart,” she began. Then worrying that Melody might overhear her, Ginny prayed silently. She’d been thinking about John and Collin and couldn’t help but wonder if they were in some sort of jeopardy.

I don’t know why I feel so worried about my boy, Lord, but he’s been on my mind all day. You know how concerned I’ve been. I don’t mean to worry and doubt that you have it all under control. I’d do well to take my own advice and give it over to you. But, Father, I just don’t know what to do
.

Call Mrs. Meggison
.

Ginny looked around the room. The voice had seemed very audible. But there was no one else in the room. She felt a slight chilling sensation go up her spine.
Lord, are you trying to tell me to call Melody’s mama?

The silence in the room was not at all reassuring.
What did I expect?
She chuckled and said a silent thanks for the food.
If God wants me to call, He’ll make it clear, even if He puts the call through himself
.

Just then the telephone rang. Ginny nearly jumped three feet into the air. Getting up quickly she answered the phone, half expecting Melody’s mother to be on the other end of the line.

“Ginny, it’s Ruth Bennett,” the voice came.

“Ruthie,” Ginny said in relief. “What can I do for you?”

“I called to see if you needed anything. The ice is really bad. Marion said everything that wasn’t already closed down is shut up tight as a drum. We just wanted to make sure you and Melody had enough wood and anything else you might need.”

“That’s good of you, Ruthie. Truth is, I haven’t paid much attention. Melody went into labor early this morning. We’ve been waiting to see how things progress, but so far the baby is just taking his dear sweet time.”

“Better be careful about saying it’s a boy,” Ruth chuckled. “Girls can be just as stubborn in coming.”

“Well, Melody wants a boy so badly, I guess I’d just begun to believe that’s what she’d have. I tell you, if sheer willpower has anything to say over it, then she’ll have a son. Say, that reminds me. How’s Rachel feeling these days?”

“Oh, she’s just fine. Baby isn’t due for another couple of months. David is half beside himself worrying over her. I’ve never seen a young man more devoted. He’s the best son-in-law a mother could ask for.”

“I’m sure he is,” Ginny replied. She’d often seen David and
Rachel Cohen at church, and it was her belief that no couple was more suited to each other. David’s arm had been permanently injured when the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor in ’41. The doctors had worked diligently with him, but David was still unable to have much use of the arm. He didn’t let it stop him, however.

“Well, I guess I shouldn’t keep you,” Ruth said. “If you need anything, just holler. We’re within walking distance and even with the ice, we’ll get to you if you need us.”

“Thanks, Ruthie. I appreciate your concern.”

“We’ll be praying for Melody,” Ruth added.

“Thanks. I know we’ll need all the help we can get.”

Ginny hung up the telephone feeling only marginally better. She stood there looking at the wall phone for several moments. She had written down the Meggisons’ California number some time ago. Surely it couldn’t hurt to just call and let them know that Melody was all right. She wouldn’t have to say where Melody was, but as one mother to another, Ginny couldn’t help but feel that Melody’s mother was probably grief-stricken. Ginny knew
she
would be—she knew she was. She had no idea where John was and would have given the world if someone would call just to let her know he was all right.

She stepped over to the kitchen counter and opened a drawer. There among the dish towels, toward the back of the drawer, Ginny had put the slip of paper with Ralph and Louise Meggison’s telephone number.

“Lord, if this is your will and not just my hopeful thinking, let them answer right away. I won’t call a second time if I don’t get ahold of anyone this time,” she promised, heading for the telephone.

Cranking the handle, Ginny rang for the operator. “Hello, Mary Beth, I need to call long distance.”

She waited patiently for the long-distance operator to come on the line. Finally, when the entire matter was settled, Ginny heard the telephone ring on the other end.

“I have your number,” the operator said in a singsong voice.

“Thank you,” Ginny said, her heart racing as she waited to see who would answer.

“Hello?” a woman’s voice sounded distant and scratchy through the lines.

“Go ahead, Longview,” the operator told Ginny.

“Mrs. Meggison?” Ginny questioned.

“No, I’m sorry, the Meggisons don’t live here anymore” came the reply.

Ginny’s heart sank. She didn’t know what to say. Apparently God didn’t want her getting in touch with the family and this was His way of interceding.

“They moved a while back. Are you a friend?”

Ginny sighed. “In a roundabout way, I guess you could call me that. I’m caring for their daughter while her husband is in the service.”

“Oh my!” the woman grew excited. “You have Melody there with you?”

“Yes,” Ginny replied. “She’s gone into labor and I figured on letting her folks know.”