by Mary May
Chapter 17
Spring turned into summer and the big upcoming event on everyone’s minds was the birth of Keelie and Carl’s baby that was due July thirteenth. At the Fourth of July party at the estate, Keelie looked miserable. She waddled into the kitchen and eased into a chair at the table. Sabrina smiled at her in sympathy. She remembered well how uncomfortable she was in her last few weeks before Charlie was born. She imagined that with her being older she probably felt it even more so. “Keelie, can I get you something to drink?”
She smiled. “That would be great, Sabrina, thank you. I will be very happy when this little one decides to come. I knew pregnancy at my age would be hard, but, my goodness, this is a lot tougher than I expected!”
Sabrina fixed Keelie a glass of iced tea with lemon then sat with her at the table. She had never heard her say a word in complaint about the pregnancy, so to hear her say something now concerned her. She laid her hand on Keelie’s arm, noticing how thin it was. She had lost weight instead of gaining it and the doctors had her on a high calorie diet hoping she would gain a few pounds before the baby came.
“Are you ok? Is everything alright with the baby?”
Keelie shook her head; reaching for Sabrina’s hand, she gripped it tightly. “We agreed not to tell the family until we were sure, but I feel like if I don’t talk to someone I’m going to go crazy!”
Sabrina scooted her chair closer and wrapped her arm around her shoulders. “What is it? What’s the matter?”
Keelie looked at Sabrina, her eyes brimming with tears. “The doctors are saying that the baby might not be…normal.”
Sabrina felt her heart drop. “Not normal in what way? What are you saying?”
Keelie drew in a shuddering breath and reached for a napkin. “During my second trimester they did an amniocentesis, which is a standard test they give to women in my age bracket. What they found was that the baby has an extra chromosome, forty-seven instead of forty-six.”
Sabrina nodded her head. “Okay, what does that mean? How does that affect the child?”
She was silent for a few moments. “Sabrina, this baby has Down Syndrome.” Sabrina sat back in her seat stunned. Of course, she knew what Down Syndrome was; she had a classmate in high school that had it. Jeff was his name. He was one of the sweetest people that Sabrina had ever met. All he wanted to do was love people. Unfortunately he had a bad heart and he didn’t survive their junior year.
Sabrina reached for her hand. “Keelie, this is going to be okay. I know we won’t know the full extent of the baby’s disabilities until it is born. But we will face this together as a family. God has given you this very special child because it needs a very special mother and father to love it. And that’s exactly what you will do.”
Keelie reached for Sabrina and wrapped her arms around her in a death grip. After a couple of minutes she pulled away, wiping her eyes, and smiled at Sabrina. “Everything really will be alright, won’t it?”
Sabrina beamed back at her. “Yes, I promise you it will. Nothing has changed, the way I see it. You are still going to have a beautiful baby to love, and personally I can’t wait!”
Keelie’s smile got bigger and she looked at Sabrina from under her lashes. “Do you want to know what we are having?”
Sabrina’s eyes widened with surprise. “You sneak, you said you didn’t want the doctors to tell you! Yes! Of course I want to know!”
Keelie laughed. “I know we said we didn’t want to know, but once the results were in, I couldn’t stand it! I had to know!”
Sabrina shook her gently. “Now I have to know! Tell me!”
Keelie smiled a tender little smile that melted Sabrina’s heart. “A girl, we are having a little girl!”
Devon pulled his clanking sputtering truck over to the side of the road. The engine light had been an evil shade of red for the last twenty miles or so, but he had pushed it trying to make it into the next town. Didn’t look like that was going to happen. He reached and pulled the lever to pop the hood then got out to take a look at the damage. Steam was already boiling out from under the hood and when he lifted it up it really came rolling out. He stepped back to let the air clear out a little so he could see inside; then he pulled off his t-shirt and wrapped it around his hand to open the radiator. He cussed a blue streak when the hot steam blasted him in the face. He backed off, shaking his head at his own stupidity. He knew better than to try to open that right now. He walked out into the road, looking in both directions to see what he could see…and it wasn’t much. The empty highway stretched out for miles in either direction, so he wasn’t likely to have anyone drive by to offer a hand. Luckily he had his Harley on a trailer behind the truck, so he wasn’t stranded. He walked to the trailer and climbed up, loosened the tiedown, then rolled the bike off. He went back to the truck to grab his duffle off the seat and strapped it to the back of the bike. After locking up the truck, he pointed the bike east and opened it up.
The warm desert air felt good against his overly-warm body. He had been in Arizona for about month and he felt at home here. The dry heat reminded him of Texas. He had bounced from one state to another doing odd jobs here and there to keep some money in his wallet. He had his savings, so he wasn’t hurting; he just didn’t know how to not work. After a few miles he saw some lights and rode into a small town that could pass for a wide spot in the road. After making a quick sweep down what had to be main street, he saw a bar flashing a blue Coors Light sign and he decided to pull in and see what he could find out about a mechanic and a place to stay for the night. He opened the door and a blast of somewhat cooler air hit him in the face, along with the smell of cigarette smoke and warm bodies. After his eyes adjusted to the dim interior, he spotted a bar along the far wall that had several empty stools. He by passed those and picked a booth that put his back to a wall and gave him full view of the bar.
The waitress came over immediately, swinging her hips and flashing him her best come-hither smile. Devon barely even looked up at her; she wasn’t Sabrina, so he didn’t want to encourage the smallest of conversations.
“Hey there, sugar, do you see anything you might want?” Ignoring the obvious come-on line he just ordered a beer. The redhead frowned her disappointment but brought him his beer. He took a long swallow, letting the ice-cold liquid work its magic on his dry throat; then he surveyed the room. It was every bar he had ever been in. Somehow they all had that same tired and lonely look. You had your same lonely men and lonelier women all looking for something to ease their pain or boredom. The bartender looked like he had seen and done it all and had to clean up the mess afterwards. The music blasting from the speakers, standing in the corner of the room, told sad tales of broken hearts and lost dreams. There were a few couples on the dance floor slow dancing to an old Alabama hit. He watched a blonde get up off her stool and head his way. She smoothed her tight t-shirt down over her hips and slowed her walk to match the rhythm of the music. Devon stretched his long legs and propped them in the opposite seat of the booth then he sprawled out in his seat, leaving her nowhere to park her butt. She saw his move but wasn’t deterred.
“Hi, are you with someone or waiting for someone?”
He picked up his beer and took another long drink. “No and no.”
Her smile got a little wider. “Would you like some company?” Devon sighed and cursed his drilled-into-him good manners that wouldn’t let him be rude to her.
“Ma’am, I’m really in here just to cool off and find a place to stay for the night.” As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized his blunder. Her eyes got bigger and she leaned in a little closer, reaching out to play with a lock of his blonde hair that was on his shoulder. Devon caught her hand in a firm grip before she could touch him. “Ma’am, whatever you have in mind, I’m not interested, seriously… not… interested.” He looked her straight in the eye and watched as the hope faded from them.
Giving him a hard look she turned, swishing her way back to her bar stool but
not before saying, “Your loss, cowboy.”
He shook his head as he drained his drink. At one time he would have jumped on that opportunity. Both ladies were easy on the eyes and would have played with no strings attached. But he had lost his taste for treats like that. Devon wasn’t unaware of his appeal to the ladies; at one time he used it ruthlessly to get what he wanted, when he wanted. All of that was before a little dark-haired angel with sparkling blue eyes and a sweet smile had lassoed his heart and soul then wouldn’t give them back. He wondered again for the twentieth time tonight how things were at the estate. He wanted to call so badly, just hear her voice say hello. But he had made a promise that she wouldn’t hear from him again, and he would honor that promise if it killed him.
After paying his tab, he walked to the back to find a bathroom and maybe a phone book. He had just finished his business in the restroom when he heard someone whistle at him to get his attention. He turned and went down the hall a few steps until he saw a short scruffy guy leaning against the doorway of what appeared to be an office. When Devon approached, the man stuck his hand out.
Devon kept his at his side. “Is there something you want?”
The man smiled with what few teeth he had left. “Yes, there is. You from around here?”
Devon shifted his stance and kept his hands loose by his side. “Maybe, maybe not. What’s it to you?”
The man laughed a raspy laugh that spoke of too many years of smoky bars and bad living. Then he walked into the office and sat on the corner of a cluttered desk. “Let me ask you another question; are you always this friendly?”
Devon didn’t step into the office. He stood just outside the door and spoke. “Not usually. I must really like you.”
The guy barked out more laughter. “Unload your attitude, dude. I want to talk business.” Devon looked down the hall then took a step further into the office, just enough that he could see into the corners to make sure no one was waiting to jump him. The guy held out his arms. “Would you like to frisk me? Check the closet? Under the desk?”
This had the opposite effect than the man expected because he looked very surprised when Devon said, “Actually…yeah!” Then he pinned the guy to the wall, kicking his feet apart, and quickly, but effectively patted him down. After he was sure the guy was clean, he jerked the door to the closet open, and then he looked under the desk. Only after he was relatively certain there wasn’t any immediate danger, he relaxed and turned back to the other man in the room. “What do you want?” He watched as the man reached into a drawer and in a flash Devon had his nine out and pointed in the man’s face. “That was a real stupid move, bro. Hands where I can see them. Always keep the hands where I can see them.”
The guy didn’t look really surprised at Devon’s sudden move or the fact that he was now looking down the barrel of a gun. He raised his hands high and then slowly moved around the desk to sit down. “If I promise to be real sweet, can I put my hands down?”
Devon nodded. “Keep them on the desk. Make another move like the last one, and I really can’t be held responsible for my actions…you feel me?”
The man smiled again. “I feel ya, bro… Look, we got off to a bad start. My name is Austin and I’m the owner of this fine establishment. I really did want to talk to you about a job offer.”
Devon sat down in the chair across from the desk, after angling it to where he could see the doorway, keeping his pistol in his hand. He nodded his head. “So talk.”
Sabrina tried to entertain a tired, cranky Charlie in the waiting room of the labor and delivery wing of the hospital. Keelie had gone into labor a couple of weeks early, and the entire family was anxiously waiting to hear from Carl. Sabrina had kept the secret about the baby. Keelie had told Carl that she told her, of course, but they hadn’t really spoken about it.
Sabrina prayed off and on as each new concern would cross her mind. She finally figured that God was getting tired of her ever-increasing list so she finally just prayed, “Lord, Your will be done here today. I pray peace and calm to every heart here, especially mine. Lord, let Keelie’s delivery go smoothly with no complications to mother or child. Oh, Jesus, help Keelie and Carl to come to terms with whatever they may face with this precious baby. Let them feel Your arms around them so they know they don’t walk this path alone!”
Feeling much better after her talk with the Lord, Sabrina turned to her mother. “It doesn’t seem like it was that long ago it was me in the delivery room expecting a son!”
Catherine smiled at her then nodded her head toward Charlie, who was playing with some toys in a chair. “I know, darling. I was very surprised when you called and told me I had a granddaughter. Even in the shape my hard old heart was in at the time, I loved that baby girl dearly!”
Sabrina laughed, remembering back when her mother was a very different person. Since she gave her heart to Christ, Catherine had become the mother and the best friend that Sabrina had always longed for. “Mother, has Keelie talked to you about the baby?”
Catherine heard the concern in her daughter’s voice. “Talked to me about what? Is there a problem with the baby?”
Sabrina sighed; she knew she had made a promise to Keelie and to Carl, but the baby would be here soon anyway and she wanted to prepare her mother. Okay, she wanted her mother to help her deal with this.
“Sabrina, you’re scaring me…What did Keelie tell you?”
Sabrina scooted into the chair next to her mother. “She told me that they had run some extra tests because of Keelie’s age and they found some abnormalities with the baby.”
Catherine frowned. “What kind of abnormalities?”
Sabrina looked over at Charlie, trying to imagine her any way other than she was, and her heart ached. “Mother they are fairly certain the baby will be born with Down syndrome.”
Catherine gasped and covered her mouth. After a moment she asked, “Sabrina… are they sure?”
Sabrina sadly nodded her head. “Yes, they ran enough tests that show that the baby has an extra chromosome, forty-seven instead of forty-six.”
Catherine studied Sabrina’s face. “Okay, well, there are different degrees of this, aren’t there? We won’t know for sure how the child is affected until later, right?”
Sabrina nodded again. “Yes, it could be a mild case. I’ve done some research on this and even in a severe case these children can still live full and fulfilling lives. Do you remember Jeff from my junior year in high school? He was the sweetest person I have ever met. He had a heart defect that often affects the children with Downs, but he lived his life to the fullest every day. He was always so happy.”
Catherine frowned. “Sabrina, didn’t he die that same year?”
Sabrina sighed sadly, “Yes, he did. I remember that it really upset me. I didn’t understand death, and I thought kids our age were supposed to be immune to it or something.”
Catherine reached and took Sabrina’s hand. “Darling, I’m sorry. I should have been there for you at that time. There is so much that I wish I could go back and do differently.”
Sabrina smiled then hugged her mother tightly. “It’s okay, Mother; you are here now, and that’s what matters!”
They looked up as Carl came hurrying into the waiting room. He looked flushed and worried. “They just took Keelie in for an emergency C-section! They keep losing the baby’s heartbeat!” Carl looked so afraid that Sabrina felt fear leap into her heart.
Evan stood up and grabbed Carl by his shoulders. “Carl, look at me, look at me!” Carl finally focused on his friend. “He has this…Jesus has complete control of this situation, remember? We prayed over Keelie and the child, giving God authority over them both. Don’t let your fear take away that authority…Just breathe and focus on His promises!”
Sabrina watched in amazement as Carl visibly started to calm down. After a few moments he smiled. “Thank you, Evan. I lost myself for a moment there. Yes, Jesus has control over my family, and I trust Him with them. They have ta
ken her back to prep for surgery. I need to get back in there. I just wanted to tell you. As soon as I hear something, I’ll let all of you know. Thank you again!” Carl hurried back down the hall looking more confident than he had just a few minutes ago.
Sabrina sat in the floor with Charlie, scooping her onto her lap and just holding her, for as long as the energetic child would allow. She saw her mother whispering to Evan, and she knew that she was telling him about the baby. Evan nodded and asked a couple of questions. Then he pulled her mother into his arms and prayed over the child while he comforted his wife.
Sabrina looked away from the tender moment. It was times like these that she missed Luke so much she ached from it. She missed having someone to hold her when she needed a strong warm hand to wrap around hers when she was frightened or worried. She had thought, had hoped, that she had found that again with Devon. It looked like she had misread that situation… badly.
Thirty minutes later they saw Carl come running back down the hall and heard a couple of the nurses fussing at him. He flashed them a smile and a wave but kept up his jog. “It’s a girl! Keelie came through it like a champ. The baby has some problems, but that was expected. They are running some tests on her now.”
