Part 6
Part Five
She may as well have clubbed Pie Eater in the stomach with a cement block. Terminate the pregnancy. Those were the best words that she could come up with. Why couldn�t she just come out and say it: kill the baby so your wife can live?
He thought of the child, and how far along Kay was. He thought of her giving birth to their son or daughter, and having it grow up to run through Central Park and chase squirrels and ducks and climb trees. This doctor was suggesting that she take that all away from them.
�Not our baby.� His mind screamed. The baby was already five months developed, he was sure that it would be able to experience pain. What would it feel like if he had this woman cut his wife open and remove the baby causing a slow and painful death? And what of the child when she removed it? Would she throw it out with the trash? His head throbbed. His eyes teared.
Then his thoughts drifted to Kay. If Evelyn took the baby, then she would live. But would she ever be able to deal with the pain of having her child taken from her in the condition she was in? How long would she remember the pain? What would it do to their relationship? Would this affect Kay�s ability to bear children?
�No.� he said.
Fantasia sighed heavily with relief from behind him.
�Listen, young man, your wife and the baby are in serious jeopardy.� �What am I doing? Why can�t I stop myself?� �If there�s any way to save your wife at all, it�s to take the baby.�
�Can she survive with the baby?�
�The odds are not on her side.�
He rethought his decision. He could not imagine his life without Kay. He had loved her the instant he saw her, and knew that she had too. Could he really live without her?
There were three possible outcomes. The first would be that he leave Kay alone and she survive although odds were not very good. The second would be to leave her alone and lose both her and the baby. And the third was to allow Kay to live but have the child killed. He massaged his temples in trepidation.
As much as he wanted to leave her alone, he knew that he didn�t want to be alone if he lost her. Could he keep her while living with the truth that they needed to kill their child so she could live?
�No.� he said again.
�Young man-�
�No! That�s my kid you�re talkin� about! You�re not takin� my kid away!�
�David�� came a soft voice.
He rushed to Kay�s side. She was conscious, but not fully alert. Her bloodshot eyes were glossed over and full of fear. He took her hand and held it to his face.
�I�m here, Karen.� He assured. �I�m here.�
�What�s happening to me?� she asked softly. �Is the baby okay?�
She needed to know the truth. �The doctor said that it�s gonna be a close call. But she said that ya�d make it through th� night if�she�she took th� baby. I-�
�Not the baby!� She squeezed his hand. �Don�t let her take the baby! We may not have planned for it, but I�d never forgive myself if I sacrificed the baby for my sake! Let it live!�
He kissed her hand. �I know, I told �er. Nothin�s gonna happen to th� baby.�
Her eyes were rolling back into her head. Then, before she slipped back into unconsciousness, she used the last of her strength for one sentence.
�I love you.� She whispered.
�I love ya too. An� yer gonna make it. Ya seem pretty weak, but ya got a will like steel. You cin do this! I know ya can!�
She slipped back into a deep sleep. He kissed her hand again, then rose and headed for the door. Evelyn confronted him one last time, despite her heart warring against her medical expertise the entire time.
�There�s still time to save her.� she informed. �I can-�
�No!� he whirled around. �How many times do I gotta say it? No! I�d rather live without both of �em than live with jus� �er knowin� that we killed our kid t� save �er life!�
The words cut deep. �If that�s your decision.�
�Listen lady, if you was only in my situation, you probly wouldn�t want th� same happenin� t� your kid!�
He signaled to Fantasia and whirled toward the door. Yet before he could take a step, he heard the soft words that Evelyn spoke from behind him.
�You have no idea how wrong you are.�
Instantly, he froze. There was something in her voice, something so heartbreaking and so unforgiving of herself that all the anger he had held for her suddenly slipped away. He turned around slowly to face her. Her head was lowered, and a tear slipped from her eye.
�Pie Eater?� Fantasia asked.
�Go tell th� newsies.� He said, still watching Evelyn.
�Me? How can I do that?�
�I can�t do it right now. Please Fantasia, ya gotta!�
Shrugging, she reluctantly agreed and left. Once the door closed behind her, Pie Eater took a step closer to Evelyn and could discern the heartbroken look on her face.
�What�d ya mean by that?� he wondered.
�I�m sorry about my pushing like the way I did.� She replied, hoping to push the question away. �That was my medical expertise speaking, not my true opinion. Forget everything that I suggested.�
�You was in th� same place at one time, weren�tcha?�
�Ten years ago. My husband and I had held off on having children so I could complete my medical studies. Then, once I had gotten a job as a doctor, we decided that then was the time to start having children. And I got pregnant.�
She stifled a sob, then covered her face with her hands and began to weep. Pie Eater went to her and helped her to sit down so she could calm down and ease her tears. He handed her his bandana, and she dabbed her eyes with it and handed it back to him.
�Ya got sick?� he wondered solemnly.
�Yes.� she nodded. �I was in the exact same position that your wife was in. Five months pregnant, and very ill. The doctor who attended to us gave my husband and I the same decision I gave you. And my husband, he told me that we could have other children some other day. So I had the abortion. It was a boy. And they wouldn�t even let me see him. They just disposed of him.�
His heart was wrenched at the thought of this fate for his baby to be put in his hands. He handed Evelyn the bandana again.
�Nothing was ever the same between my husband and I.� She continued. �Each time we wanted to get close, we remembered our son and it drew us further apart. We tried having more children, and I miscarried three times. The abortion kept me from ever carrying another baby full term.�
�I�m sorry.� He whispered lowly.
She sniffled. �My husband died three years ago. And just before he died, he said two words to me. I�m sorry. And I knew what he meant. He was sorry for what we had done to the baby. And I can�t stop thinking about him. Not a day has gone by where I�ve cried at least once for him. I even have nightmares of what he went through when he was aborted.�
Pie Eater wanted to comfort her, but had no words to say. What could he say to a grieving woman who had sacrificed her child to save herself? The pain she held must be unbearable. He took her hand in his and squeezed it.
�I�m sorry I tried to push you into the same situation.� Evelyn murmured. �I know it was mainly my medical expertise speaking, but part of me wanted someone else to understand the pain I�m going through.�
�Hey, it�s okay.� He gently patted her hand. �Don�t think �bout it. Jus� do what ya can for my wife.�
She nodded eagerly. �I will. I know I could have survived the illness and still saved our baby, and if I could, I�m pretty sure your wife can too.�
�Thanks.� He rose. �I gotta go now.�
�I understand. But come back tomorrow morning. I don�t know if your wife will last the night, but I believe she can.�
�Alright, I�ll be back tomorrow.�
He left the apartment and trudged down the stairs. Then once he stepped out of the building, reality began to set in. His wife was dying. If he lost her, he would lose the baby she was carrying. The tears began to form, and no matter how hard he tried, he could not hold them back.
He slumped onto the stairs and covered his face. He wept for his wife and child, and the son that Dr. Bauer had lost. Although losing the two people he loved more than anything in the world was heart wrenching, the thought of any child dying forcefully while still within its early stages was simply horrific. His stomach churned at the very thought.
After several minutes, he rose to his feet and ran off. There was only one place for him to go now. He couldn�t face the newsies. Not until Kay was out of danger.
* * *
The night was long for some, but incredibly short for Pie Eater. He had spent the entire night in this church, praying fervently for Kay and the baby. Only now were his prayers beginning to seem shallow.
How did he know that God had even heard his prayers, or that he would spare his family? Had he just given them the baby to play so dirty trick on them?
�God,� Pie Eater whispered, his folded hands quivering fiercely, �I�ve been prayin� all night an� I don�t know if ya heard everythin�. Please, if ya heard me, send me a sign. Send me anythin�, jus� so I know that ya heard my prayers!�
He leaned back and brushed the tears he had been unable to stop. He exhaled heavily and swallowed. God hadn�t heard him.
�David?�
Then again, maybe He had.
�I never expected to see you here.� Joseph seated himself beside his son.
�I din�t expect t� spend th� night �ere, prayin� th� entire time.� he muttered.
Joseph examined his surroundings. �I don�t know why I�m even here. I haven�t been to a church since your mother died.�
�Me neither.� He looked at his father. �Why did ya come �ere?�
�I don�t know. I just had the urge this morning to take a walk. And when I came by here, I just walked right in, and I saw you here. I don�t know how this happened at all.�
Pie Eater laughed blandly. �Looks like my prayers was heard.�
�So, why are you here?� Joseph wondered, his voice somewhat solemn.
�It�s Karen.�
�Is she all right?�
He sighed heavily. �I dunno. She got real sick. When I left las� night�th� doc said th� odds weren�t lookin� good.� His voice began to break. �She also said she could survive th� night if she took th� baby. Can you believe that?�
�I take it you told her not to.�
�You bet your butt I did. But�if she din�t make it through the night, she woulda taken �im with �er anyway. Pa, I couldn�t bear t� lose th� both of �em!�
The tears were beginning to form again, and his throat closed. Pie Eater rubbed his eyes, then wiped his nose on his sleeve. He wasn�t going to cry in front of his father. And for a while, neither said anything to the other.
After several minutes, Pie Eater noticed his father scratching the back of his neck. Whenever he scratched the back of his neck, this meant he was ready to speak.
�I�m sorry for what happened when you came in two months ago.� Joseph muttered. �It was completely uncalled for.�
�It�s okay.�
�No, it�s not. The moment you told me she was pregnant�I went crazy. Even after you told me you two were already married. I was angry at myself that it took a shotgun in my back to marry your mother after she got pregnant.�
�Pa-�
�I didn�t mean everything I said that day. I want you to forgive me. It�s just that�I was jealous of you, and shocked that you had actually listened to us.�
�I do forgive ya, but there ain�t nothin� �bout me t� be jealous of. You�ve got yerself a job an� yer makin� money. I got a new job but they�re already lookin� int� firin� me since Karen�s sick an� I wanna be with �er.�
�I�m just jealous that you�re smarter than me. I never listened to my father, and you suffered the consequences of what your mother and I did. It wasn�t fair to you.�
�Pa?�
�Yes?�
�How�d Ma make ya feel?� he looked at Joseph�s face. �I mean, what did it feel like when you was around her?�
Joseph shut his eyes, shook his head and laughed blandly. �Different. So different. She took my breath away with every move she made. There was something about her that made my heart flutter. I guess that�s why I didn�t want to wait for her. I wanted her at that very time. And I was wrong to do that.� He paused. �How does Karen make you feel?�
�Incredible.� His throat tightened again. �All I gotta do is jus� barely touch �er an� I come t� life. She sends some kinda shock through my body. An� she�s so sensitive �n� sweet �n� pretty. An� she cries a lot. I actually like it when she cries, cuz then I got �n excuse t� hold �er an� comfort �er.�
He could go on and on about her. He loved the scent of her body, the softness of her hair, the gentleness of her skin, and the very feel of her lips beneath his. He loved the way he felt when her body was against his in any way. He was surging with life whenever he saw her.
There was one time during their four-day honeymoon that he had stayed up just to watch Kay as she slept. She was so peaceful and so content, and she was his. She did not nor ever would belong to anyone else in this world. She belonged to him. Not as a possession, but as a partner, a friend and a lover throughout life. And now, that life seemed so short.
It was in the early morning hours, and his stomach was growling for food. Had Kay survived the night? Was the baby safe? Would Kay be fine in the near future? His heart pounded. He needed to see her.
�I gotta go, pa.� He rose from the pew. �I gotta see Karen. I gotta know if she�s okay.�
Joseph caught his arm. �David, do you have any idea what time it is?�
�No.�
�It�s six thirty. I doubt anyone will open their doors to you at this hour.�
Shrugging, Pie Eater agreed.
�Why don�t I take you to breakfast? Don�t think I haven�t heard your stomach growl every few minutes.�
�I don�t wanna eat. I wanna see Karen.�
�It�s too early. Let�s get you some food first, then we�ll see Karen.�
To avoid an argument, he agreed once more. He told Joseph of Tibby�s, and that it was inexpensive and had a good selection. Joseph appeared pleased by the suggestion and took him there.
Once they arrived, Pie Eater found Jack sitting at a table by himself. The look on his face was enough to tell him that Fantasia had told the newsies of the situation. Before he and his father could seat themselves, Jack approached.
�Is it true?� he inquired.
Pie Eater glanced at Joseph, then nodded to Jack. �Yeah. All of it.�
�Is Kay alright?�
�I�m getting him some breakfast first.� Joseph interfered. �He�ll starve if he doesn�t get any food into him.�
�Fantasia �n� th� girls �r� already there.� Jack paused. �How does it feel, knowin� that you was gonna be a daddy?�
Was. That word struck Pie Eater in the back of the head with fear. Was this a sign that Kay had not lived through the night?
�I can�t explain it, Jack.� He replied. �All I know is that I loved the kid, an� I love �im now. An� I hope he lives so �e�ll know it.�
* * *
Pie Eater�s knuckles froze as he readied to knock on the door. When he couldn�t raise his hand, Joseph stepped in and knocked for him. Snicker answered the door for them.
�How is she?� Pie Eater demanded as he burst into the apartment.
�The doctor said that she�s made it over the first hurdle. But she�s not out of danger yet.�
Although the second half of her statement stuck, he was filled with relief that Kay was still alive. He sighed heavily with relief.
�Can I see �er?� he wondered.
�You�ll hafta ask Dr. Bauer. She�s tending to Kay right now and should be out in a few minutes.�
It was then when he took notice of the girls camped around a couch. Pie Eater greeted all of them, and introduced his father to them. Shortly afterward, Evelyn emerged from the bedroom.
When her eyes met Joseph�s, her suspicions were confirmed. As for Joseph, he was more than shocked to see Evelyn here, especially after all these years.
�Dr. Bauer, how�s Kay?� Pie Eater wondered anxiously.
She returned her attention to him. �She did make it through the night, and the baby�s fine. For now. But they aren�t out of danger yet, although the odds of her surviving the night are far better than they were last night.�
Deeply relieved, Pie Eater sank to the floor as Fantasia hugged him.
�It�s been a long time.� she continued, directing attention to Joseph. �I thought he looked a lot like you.�
�I never would�ve guessed you�d be their doctor.� Joseph said.
Pie Eater glanced up. �You know each other?�
Evelyn nodded to him. �Yes. We were friends a long time.� she looked at Joseph. �But the last time I saw you, I heard about what happened with Margaret.�
�I�m sure you did. And he�s our son.�
�I see. Where�s Margaret now?�
�She passed away five years ago.�
�I�m sorry to hear that.�
�Hey doc,� Pie Eater interrupted again, �is it okay for me t� see Kay? I gotta see �er.�
�Yes, go right ahead. But she�s very weak, so I suggest you be quiet in there.�
�Yes ma�am.�
�Pie Eater,� Autumn spoke up.
�Yeah?�
�You tell her that we�re out here. We�d like to see her too.�
�I�ll do that.�
He entered the bedroom and found Kay resting on her side, completely covered up by heavy blankets to keep her warm. There was a chair beside the bed, and he seated himself down. It appeared as though Kay was sleeping, but he knew better.
Carefully, he reached over and touched her face. Then, with soft strokes of his fingertips, she opened her eyes. A tiny smile brightened her pale face.
�You�re here.� she whispered hoarsely.
�Yeah, I�m here.� he kissed her cheek tenderly. �How ya feelin�?�
�I feel so weak.�
�An� th� baby?�
�Dr. Bauer says that the baby�s fine for now. But she said there�s still some risks.�
�Hey.� He said reassuringly. �If you could make it through th� night, I know you cin beat th� risks. Ya can!�
Kay huddled further beneath the covers. �I�m so cold.�
�Can I get ya �nother blanket?�
�I don�t know. I�ve got four or five already.� She gazed at him. �What I really want is for you to hold me.�
�Okay, I�ll do that.�
�But you shouldn�t. Dr. Bauer�s not sure if I�m contagious or not.�
His heart sank. �Oh honey, I don�t care. T� tell th� truth, ya look sad �n� pitiful like this. An� all I wanna do is hold ya. I don�t care if I can get sick too.�
Tears were rolling down her face. When she wouldn�t cry, he took his bandana and dried her tears.
�I feel so unworthy.� She murmured.
�What makes ya say that?� Pie Eater wondered curiously.
�This.� She threw her covers aside. �You�ve always been and still are so wonderful to me. I�ve given you everything and you�re doing all you can to do the same to me. I�m bearing your child. And yet�I could be dying right now. I�ll be taking everything away from you.�
Her hands covered her face completely, and she wept profusely. To comfort her, Pie Eater went to his knees beside the bed and held Kay closely to him. She felt so limp against him as she had frailly embraced him. And still, he shushed her with soft words and kissed her hair.
When she drew away from him, he kissed her dry, grey lips in attempt to sooth her. The kiss had taken affect, but had not removed her sorrow. He pulled the blankets over her.
�Kay,� he spoke, �I want you to listen to me. I love you, not what ya gave me. You got my heart, �n� I got yours. An� I�m always gonna treasure that. Think of what yer holdin� on to.�
His hands forced their way beneath the covers to hers. He gripped them, and pulled them out into the open so she could see them as he could.
�Think of th� baby.� He gently tightened his grip. �I don�t wanna lose our baby. I know you don�t wanna lose �im either. But �e needs ya if �e�s gonna make it! Without you, �e ain�t gonna survive! He�s countin� on ya! He depends on ya! C�mon Karen, you can make it through this! Don�t go lookin� at what your life�s been already, look at what�s ahead! We got one kid on th� way now, an� I promise ya, �e ain�t gonna be th� last. We�re gonna have lots �f kids �n� a home of our own. We�ll even have dogs for th� critters t� play with.�
Kay�s eyes shut tightly as her crying resurfaced. Every word, though each brought a tear to her eye, was reviving her courage. Something inside of her was blooming like a spring orchid, bringing her hope.
The baby stirred inside of her, and she wanted to touch it. Even the baby itself seemed to be pressing her on.
�Is th� baby movin�?� he wondered.
She nodded. �Yes.� she managed.
�He�s agreein� with me. Imagine what it�s gonna be like when �e steps int� th� world. Think of �im around five years old. If it�s a boy, think of �im climbin� big pine trees �n� playin� in the mud �n� wrestling in th� hay with �is old man. If it�s a girl, think of �er runnin� through meadows with lots �f flowers in �er hands �n� pickin� flowers for �er hair an� helping ya with a garden. Look at it! Can�t ya see it?�
�I see it!�
�Hold on t� that! Don�t give up, cuz this will happen someday! This is our baby!�
The baby moved again. She could feel it kicking down into her lower abdomen. Her heart throbbed and brought color to her face. She opened her eyes and stared into her husband�s. He kissed her hands sweetly.
�That�s what�s gonna happen sometime soon.� he said. �You gonna hold on?�
�Yes!�
He embraced her again and kissed the side of her face as much as he could. His throat and eyes burned, but he would not cry. He had cried only once since his mother had died, and that was the night before in the church. He couldn�t give in to tears now, not at this fragile time.
As they continued to hold to each other, the doorknob turned and squeaked. They parted as the door opened, and Joseph peered in.
�Is everything all right?� he inquired.
�Yeah, everythin�s fine.� Pie Eater replied. �C�mon in. It�s time ya met Karen.�
