Part 10
Part Nine
Kay’s teeth gritted as another contraction occurred. Steadily, these contractions were growing more and more painful, and closer together. Though they still felt like cramps, the cramps seemed more like they were pushing downward and inflicting more pain.
“Jus’ breathe, honey.” Pie Eater coached. “It’s gonna be okay.”
“I want this thing out.” She growled through clenched teeth. “I want it out now!”
“Well don’t do anythin’ till Dr. Bauer gets ‘ere! She knows what to do!”
The contraction lasted another minute, and she released a heavy grunt and flopped back. This peacefulness in between contractions was only too precious, and too short. When would Evelyn come?
Joseph arrived. He saw Pie Eater gripping Kay’s hand protectively, and knew unquestionably that now was the time.
“How’s everything doing?” he wondered.
“She’s been ‘avin’ contractions every…what, ten minutes?” he directed to Kay.
“They keep coming in shorter amounts of time.” she replied.
“Oh.” Joseph muttered. “Well, I don’t know too much about babies, but I know that this can take up to a few hours for the baby to come.”
Kay groaned loudly. “How many hours?”
“It’s took David’s mother nine hours to deliver him!”
She seethed and turned to Pie Eater. “If it takes me nine hours to have this baby, I’ll kill you!”
Pie Eater only grinned. “Alright, but don’t do it in front of the baby.”
By the time Evelyn arrived, Kay was in the middle of another contraction. Because Evelyn was accustomed to delivering babies, she set to work immediately. She drew out a different type of stethoscope and pressed it against Kay’s lower abdomen. She nodded.
“Okay.” She thought aloud. “The baby has a good heartbeat, Mrs. Kendric. I think everything will be fine. Now how long have you been having contractions?”
“For the past hour and a half or so.”
“And how far apart are the contractions?”
“They used to be ten minutes, and now they’re less than that.”
“I see.” She nodded again. “I’ll need to give you a quick check up before you give birth to your baby. But I’ll need to ask the men to leave.”
“Very well.” Joseph agreed.
“Why do I gotta leave?” Pie Eater wondered, gripping Kay’s hand tighter.
“It’s better if I work with no one else around. It’s less of a hassle.”
“Come, David.” Joseph ordered. “Never question a doctor.”
“Alright, alright.” He muttered.
They left the maternity room and went to the waiting room, where all of the newsies were camped and waiting for information. Jack and David were the first to ask questions.
“So, when’s th’ baby comin’?” Jack wondered eagerly.
“Not for a couple hours.” Pie Eater replied. “They’re jus’ givin’ Kay a check-up right now.”
“Hey Pie Eater!” Race called, beckoning to him. “C’mere!”
Shrugging, he complied. He went to Race and found him holding out his hat, which was filled with copper and silver coins.
“I know ya know we’ve been bettin’ on what th’ kid’s gonna be.” He explained. “But now we’re bettin’ on when th’ kid’s gonna come. Wanna piece ‘f the action?”
“Naw thanks.” He answered. “I’m too nervous as it is.”
Joseph betted in his stead. In the meantime, Evelyn required a nurse’s assistance to examine Kay. She checked her eyes, ears, throat, mouth, breasts and her breathing, and jotted everything down on a clipboard. She smiled reassuringly at Kay.
“Is everything going okay?” she wondered anxiously.
“Everything is going the way it should be.” Evelyn replied confidently. “You have absolutely nothing to worry about.”
Exhaling heavily, she folded her hands across her stomach. In a few hours, she would be no longer capable of doing this.
“Can you get my husband now?” she asked.
“Of course.” Evelyn turned to the nurse. “Find Joseph and David Kendric. They’re in the waiting room.”
The nurse obeyed and went to the waiting room. She found it difficult to find Pie Eater and his father because of all the newsies in the room, but called their names. When they answered, she told them that they could return to Kay. Before Pie Eater left, the newsies called out, “good luck!” to him.
“An’ be sure t’ ‘ave someone come out ‘n’ tell us when th’ baby’s comin’!” Jack called after them.
From that point on, Pie Eater held Kay’s hand and allowed her to squeeze whenever a contraction occurred. As the hours passed, her contractions were steadily increasing in both time taking place, time to come, and in pain. After two hours, she would begin to cry from the pain.
Evelyn monitored Kay carefully. She continually checked his dilation, and timed the contractions. At the rate her pains were coming, it was still too soon for the baby to be delivered. Her water hadn’t even broke yet. Still, Evelyn would gently remind her not to push on the contractions.
Joseph was unusually apprehensive during this time. He had not been with a woman in labor since Margaret gave birth to Pie Eater. He had remembered that Margaret had been ill at the time, and was ill even after the baby was born. Being pregnant had kept her sick throughout most of her pregnancy, but thankfully hadn’t affected their son. He hoped that Kay would not be enduring the same pain as his wife had.
With each contraction, Kay’s fear, tension and anxiety increased. Once the pain would end, a new life would begin. Must one endure such pain to create life? She assumed that if every woman knew what would come with pregnancy, they would not have children at all. She now acknowledged the courage it took to carry a child full term.
As for Pie Eater, he should feel his insides shiver at the prospect of him officially becoming a father. Would he be a good father to his child? He was thankful he worked with his father now and had a flexible schedule. This meant he could spend time with the baby and be there to help raise him. There was nothing more frightening or exciting to him than the realization that he was a father.
The hours were slow, and the contractions continued on into the night past midnight. Even then, her contractions were only three minutes apart, but she was still not ready to deliver. Joseph volunteered to keep the newsies up to date. Though some had gone home, most were still there. He informed them every hour of Kay’s progress. And every time, they told him to give Kay their best.
It was around two when Kay’s contractions were only a minute apart and lasting nearly five minutes. She was fully dilated, but her water still hadn’t broke. She could not deliver until the water broke.
“If your water doesn’t break soon,” Evelyn informed, “things can get a little more painful. Hopefully it won’t.”
Kay hadn’t stopped crying since her contractions increased. “I can’t go through with this! It hurts so much!”
“Yes ya can!” Pie Eater soothed. “Listen t’ me. I’m here for ya. An’ I know you cin do this! It’s gonna be okay. This’ll all be over soon.”
She cried out loudly and her legs raised. Evelyn then sighed heavily and called for assistance.
“Let’s get her to the delivery room.” She said. “Looks like your prep talk broke her water. It’s officially time now!”
Without a word said to him, Joseph went to inform the newsies. Then two nurses came and wheeled Kay into the delivery room. She was moved to another bed, one that could be adjusted to a seated position. She had it adjusted somewhere in between sitting and laying so to be comfortable. Pie Eater grasped her hand and kissed her cheek.
“It’s almost over, Karen.” He eased. “Jus’ a little while longer, and it’ll be over.”
“I love you.” She whispered.
“I love ya too.”
“Okay.” Evelyn spoke up. “Karen, are you having any contractions right now?”
“No, they stopped a few seconds ago.”
“Alright. Once they start up again, I’m going to count to three, and I want you to push. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
The next contraction occurred, and Kay called to Evelyn, telling her of it. Evelyn reassured her quickly, then began counting.
“Push!” she ordered.
Kay pushed with all of her might. She could feel the movement of the baby, but knew that it still wasn’t close enough to be delivered. She breathed slowly and clenched her teeth and pushed again. There was a substantial amount of pain, but she continued to push. She wanted this baby out of her.
The contraction ended briefly, and Kay relaxed. She could tell how close she was to finally delivering the baby and quivered. Pie Eater hugged her carefully.
“You’re doin’ great, honey.” He urged. “We’re almost done. We almost got th’ baby!”
He smoothed the damp hair from her sweaty forehead and kissed her. Once he drew away, another contraction began.
“This is it.” Evelyn called. “It’s almost all over. A few more pushes should do it.”
She huffed, then pushed determinedly. Evelyn continued to coach her, and Kay could feel a sudden loss of weight. Not a complete loss of weight, but a small one. Had the baby come out yet?
“The head’s out!” Evelyn announced. “Karen, I need a few more pushes, and the baby will be out.”
Nodding, she pushed again. She could feel a slippery slide of weight loss and swallowed. It was finally almost completely over.
“I have a shoulder now. Just give me one big push and it’ll be all over.”
“C’mon Karen!” Pie Eater pressed. “Jus’ one more, jus’ one more!”
“Oh, shut up!” she bellowed.
Knowing only one push was needed, she gave a tremendous push. With a slippery feeling, the weight left her. She could hear squalling, and her body eased. She had given birth to their baby.
“We got it! We got it!” Pie Eater kissed her quickly. “Ya did great, honey.”
Her chest heaved her joyous sobs as Evelyn lifted the baby for them to see. He was completely covered in water and another slimy substance, and wailing loudly.
“It’s a boy.” She announced proudly.
“It’s a boy?” Pie Eater echoed.
“You have a son.”
“Woo!” he leapt out his seat, then into the air and flipped backward.
“What was that?” Kay stammered, heaving both sobs and laughs.
“It’s a boy! I’m a daddy!”
Evelyn cleaned the baby’s mouth, ears and nose and set him on Kay’s chest. The baby’s trembling cries brought more tears to eyes. This was her baby.
“I wanna hold him.” she said.
“Not just yet.” Evelyn warned. “The cord needs to be cut.”
Another contraction occurred, but a smaller one. Fearful, Kay told Evelyn about it, and she only smiled.
“It’s not another baby, dear. Just the placenta.” She tied the cord with twine and handed a pair of scissors to Pie Eater. “Would you like to do the honors?”
“Will it hurt ‘im?”
“No, it’ll be fine.”
Carefully, he took the scissors and followed Evelyn’s instructions. Once the cord was cut, she took the baby, bundled him snugly into a blanket and handed him to Kay. With trembling hands, she cradled the baby in her arms.
“Mind his head.” Evelyn informed. “Always make sure it’s supported on your forearm. It helps his neck grow strong.”
She listened and complied. Then she stared down at the baby. He was so beautiful, and so tiny. His skin was a pale red and he had no hair anywhere on his body. He appeared a little wrinkled, his tiny fingernails were very sharp, and his dark eyes were wide with curiosity and fascination. He stared up at his mother and examined her with intrigue.
“Hi, baby.” She held his tiny hand in hers. “I’m your mother.”
Tears streamed down her face. He was her son. Together, she and her husband had made a baby. And he was perfect. She was so enthralled with him that she had not noticed Pie Eater staring at the baby over her shoulder. She finally acknowledged him and shifted the baby so he could see him.
“Do you want to see your son?” she offered.
Your son. Those words tightened Pie Eater’s throat so that all he could do was nod. She handed him the baby, and he supported him carefully. The baby examined him as well, and reached out to touch his shirt. Pie Eater was spellbound.
Something inside of him began to melt. He was no longer a street-wise tough guy, but now a tenderhearted father. For nine months, his son had developed inside his wife’s body, and he knew that it had been worth it. This was his son. The result of an accidental conception. He could not ask for anything more. And a tear rolled down his face. Another followed.
“Oh God.” He whispered hoarsely. “This is my baby. He’s my baby. Oh Karen, I love him so much.”
“I do too.” She replied softly.
Joseph entered and smiled when he saw his son holding his own offspring. He cleared his throat, and Pie Eater turned to him and allowed him to see the baby.
“It’s a boy.”
A boy. A grandson. Joseph held his arms out.
“May I see him?”
“Yeah.”
Pie Eater carefully set his baby into his father’s arms. As Joseph held the baby, felt warm inside, bursting with pride. He remembered that when Pie Eater was born, he had been proud, but also somewhat ashamed of his being conceived outside of marriage. This child was a pure child. The result of his telling his own son to wait for such a wonderful thing.
Already, Joseph could see Pie Eater in his appearance. There was something about his face in general; the nose, the mouth and the ears, they were all from Pie Eater’s side of the family. But the eyes, they were his mother’s.
“He’s a perfect little baby.” Joseph handed him back to Kay. “He has your eyes.”
She blushed warmly. “Thank you.”
“David?”
“Yeah?”
“I should leave now.” He patted his son’s shoulder. “But I want you to know that I’m proud of you.”
He grinned at his father. “Thanks, pa.”
After Joseph left, Pie Eater returned to Kay’s side. He kissed her softly, then kissed the baby’s forehead. Evelyn entered.
“We’d like to do some more tests on you, Mrs. Kendric.” She said. “Just to be on the safe side. And we’ll take your baby to the nursery.”
“But…” Pie Eater protested, “the newsies are outside. They gotta see ‘im first!”
“Well-”
“Please, Dr. Bauer, couldn’t I show ‘im t’ th’ newsies?”
She shrugged. “For a little while. In the meantime, we’ll do our tests.”
Pie Eater carefully took the baby from Kay’s arms. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
He held the baby close to him as he entered the waiting room. Instantly, the newsies who remained gathered closely around him. Every one of them was asking what the baby was.
“It’s a boy.” Pie Eater said proudly.
The newsies who had bet that the baby was a boy began to cheer. The girls crowded closer so they could see the baby, and even asked to hold him. He told them no.
“Why not?” Aki pouted.
“Cuz ‘e was just born. Get your own kid if ya wanna hold one!”
“That’s not such a bad idea.” Skittery said smoothly, looping his arm around Aki.
He left the waiting room shortly afterward. He then went to the room where Kay had been moved too, and found Dr. Bauer writing notes on her clipboard. She saw him and the baby and asked if they had agreed on a name yet.
“We agreed that if it was a boy, we’d name him David after my husband.” Kay replied.
“David Kendric the second.” She wrote. “Is that good enough?”
“Yes.”
“All right. Is there a middle name?”
“Not that we could come up with.”
“Dr. Bauer?” Pie Eater said.
“Yes?”
“Ya said your baby was a boy too. What was ‘is name gonna be?”
A saddened expression overcame her face. Yet when she looked at him, her confidence was renewed. She sighed.
“His name would have been Nathan.” She replied.
Pie Eater turned to Kay. “How does David Nathan sound to ya?”
Evelyn’s lower lip trembled.
“David Nathan.” Kay said. “It has a nice ring to it. I like it.”
“Would ya like t’ see ‘im?” Pie Eater offered to Evelyn.
She nodded silently, and he gently passed David to her. As she stared at him, she thought of Nathan. She had grieved him since the day of the abortion, and now she knew her grieving would come to an end. There was something about this baby that told her that he would be what her son would have been.
‘God.’ She thought. ‘You sure have a way with dealing with pain like this. Thank you for this baby.’
Smiling, she returned David to his father. “He’s perfect.”
David began to choke back a cry, then wailed loudly. Instantly, Pie Eater handed him back to Kay, and she attempted to calm him. She had no luck.
“Dr. Bauer.” She said.
“Yes?”
“Is…is it safe for him to feed now? I think he’s hungry.”
She nodded. “It’s safe. Here, I’ll show you how to do it correctly.”
She explained the process of breast-feeding in simple terms, and how to handle the baby as he would feed. Then she told Kay to try it for herself. She did everything she was told and the baby began to suckle. She gasped at herself. Now she truly felt like a mother.
Tears rolled down her cheeks as she watched her baby nurse. There was something about the tiny sounds and the tugging that brought the blush of pride to her face. With her other hand, she gently swept it over his head.
“Oh David.” She whispered. “Look at him. He’s so precious.”
“Yeah.” He slipped an arm across her waist. “And he’s ours. All ours.”
Little David suckled a while longer, then gradually drifted off to sleep. Once the tugging ended, Kay drew the baby away and shifted him. Then she handed him to Evelyn and pulled her gown up to cover herself.
“Doc, where’s ‘e gonna stay?” Pie Eater wondered.
“In the nursery. He’ll be warm and safe there. And I think you should sleep too, Mrs. Kendric.”
“I will.” She yawned. “Goodnight.”
Evelyn smiled, then left the room. Once the door closed, Kay shifted and moved her hands across her now flat stomach. Part of her felt empty inside now that the baby was born. She could already feel the skin sagging.
“I feel so different now.” She mumbled. “The baby’s not there anymore.”
“No,” Pie Eater kissed her cheek. “But he’s with us now. He won’t be kickin’ ya no more.”
“Mm hmm.” She altered onto her side. “I’m so sleepy.”
Pie Eater removed his shoes and climbed into the thin bed beside her. She was rather surprised at his action and frowned.
“What’re you doing?” she demanded.
“Jus’ gettin’ int’ bed.” He said as he slipped an arm around her.
“There’s not enough room, you’ll fall out!”
“I’ll be okay.” He kissed her hair. “But b’fore ya go to sleep, I think it’s time I told ya somethin’.”
“Told me what?”
“Somethin’ I ain’t never told ya before.”
She listened and gave him full attention. “Tell me.”
“I probly shoulda told ya this a long time ago, but I didn’t.” he inhaled. “My parents weren’t married when they had me.”
Her eyes widened. “They weren’t?”
“No. An’ everyone in th’ town knew, too. I told ya we moved ‘ere when I was a kid. But that was cuz th’ kids was always callin’ me names an’ being mean t’ me.”
“Oh.” She murmured sadly.
“Ya see, because ‘f what happened, Pa ‘n’ Ma was always tellin’ me that I was t’ marry a girl b’fore I made love to ‘er.”
“And that’s what you did.”
“I know. But we also got married real quick.”
“What does that have to do with this?”
“Cuz I din’t wanna wait till we got married.”
This sparked her attention. She rolled onto her other side so that their bodies were pressed against each other.
“What does that mean?”
“I knew I had a girl I’d love forever. An’ I wanted t’ love ya in th’ way it was meant t’ be. But we weren’t married. That’s part ‘f th’ reason why I said we should get married in secret. It was real selfish of me. An’ I am so, so sorry.”
Kay didn’t know what to say. She was thankful that they had waited till they exchanged vows, but the motive pierced her. Then, she knew that he needed to know her thoughts too.
“You shouldn’t be.” She said. “I had the same idea too.”
“Ya did?” his jaw dropped.
“Yes. But I didn’t want people to look at me if they found out. I wanted to be safe.” She touched his face. “But I knew you were the man for me. I loved you. And that’s why I waited.”
His kissed her hand. “That’s why I waited too. Cuz I loved ya, an’ I din’t wanna dishonor ya.” He grinned. “But I got a plan.”
“What?”
“I know ya wanted t’ have a big wedding. Well, since our anniversary’s next month, we’ll have one then.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, jus’ t’ renew our vows. An’ we cin have a real honeymoon. I’ll take ya somewhere real nice.”
She smiled. “That sounds wonderful.”
“It’s jus’ t’ make up for zoomin’ into a quick wedding.” He held both her hands in his. “Karen Manderly, would ya marry me again?”
She leaned forward and kissed him. Though it began simple, it became more passionate and increased. And once they drew away, she whispered her answer.
“Yes.”
* * *
