Plain and Fancy

by Wanda E. Brunstetter

  Darla’s gaze went to the ceiling. “Not only have you changed in appearance, but I can see that you’ve gotten all self-righteous and sappy now, too.”

  Laura gripped the handles of her black purse and pushed away from the table. “This was a mistake,” she said through clenched teeth. “I should never have agreed to meet you for lunch.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “Home. To tell Eli I’m going to have his baby.”

  ***

  Laura lifted the teakettle from the back of the stove and poured herself a cup of raspberry tea. This afternoon she felt better than she had in many days, and the reason was because she had put Darla in her place and decided to come home and wait for Eli so she could give him the news of her pregnancy.

  She thought about little Ben—always playful and curious, so full of love, all cute and cuddly. Laura had never cared much for children until she met Ben. She loved that little boy and was sure she would love her own child even more.

  If Laura had listened to Darla, it not only would have ended her baby’s life but it would also have ruined things between her and Eli. She was sure she would have been excommunicated from the Amish church, too.

  Did Darla really think Laura could take the life of her unborn child and go on as though nothing had ever happened? While Laura might not understand all the biblical implications of the Amish beliefs, she did want to be a good wife to her husband, and she was sure that having Eli’s child would only strengthen their marriage. She would just have to work twice as hard at counting calories once the baby came so she could get her figure back as quickly as possible.

  The screen door creaked open, pulling Laura out of her musings. Eli hung his straw hat on a wall peg and went to wash up at the sink. “I hope supper’s about ready, because I’m hungry as a mule!”

  “There’s a chicken in the oven, and it should be done soon.” Laura turned to him and smiled. “I was wondering if we could talk before we eat, though.”

  He shrugged. “Sure, what’s up?”

  She motioned him to sit down, then poured him a cup of tea. “How do you really feel about children, Eli?” she asked, keeping her eyes focused on the cup.

  “I’ve told you before, someday I hope to fill our house with kinner.”

  “Would November be soon enough to start?”

  His forehead wrinkled.

  “I’m pregnant, Eli. You’re going to be a father soon.”

  Eli stared at her with a look of disbelief. “A boppli?”

  She nodded.

  He jumped up, circled the table, pulled Laura to her feet, and kissed her so soundly, it took her breath away. “The Lord has answered my prayers!” He grinned and pulled away, then started for the back door.

  “Where are you going?”

  “Over to my folks’. I’ve got to share this good news with them. Have you told your parents yet?”

  She shook her head. “I wanted to tell you first.”

  “Guess you should go over to the neighbors’ after supper and use their phone. I’m sure your folks will be as happy about this news as I know mine will be.”

  Laura swallowed around the lump in her throat. She hoped they would all be happy.

  ***

  Laura hung the last towel on the line and wiped her damp forehead with her apron. It was a hot, humid June morning, and she was four months pregnant. She placed one hand on her slightly swollen belly and smiled. A tiny flutter caused her to tremble. “There really is a boppli in there,” she murmured.

  She bent down to pick up her empty basket, but an approaching buggy caught her attention. It was coming up the driveway at an unusually fast speed. When it stopped in front of the house, Amon jumped out, his face all red and sweaty, his eyes huge as saucers. “Where’s Eli’s mamm?” he panted.

  Laura pointed to Mary Ellen’s house. “Is something wrong?”

  “It’s Martha Rose. Her labor’s begun, and she wants her mamm to deliver this baby, just like she did Ben.”

  Laura followed as Amon ran toward the Yoders’. They found Mary Ellen in the kitchen, kneading bread dough. She looked up and smiled. “Ah, so the smell of bread in the making drew the two of you inside.”

  Amon shook his head. “Martha Rose’s time has come, and she sent me to get you.”

  Mary Ellen calmly set the dough aside and wiped her hands on a towel. “Laura, would you please finish this bread?”

  “I thought I’d go along. Martha Rose is my friend, and—”

  “There’s no point wasting good bread dough,” Mary Ellen said, as though the matter was settled.

  Amon stood by the back door, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. Laura could see he was anxious to get home. “Oh, all right,” she finally agreed. “I’ll do the bread, but I’m coming over as soon as it’s out of the oven.”

  When Laura arrived at the Zooks’ some time later, she found Amon pacing back and forth in the kitchen. Ben was at the table, coloring a picture. “Boppli,” he said, grinning up at her.

  Laura nodded. “Jah, soon it will come.” She glanced over at Amon. “It’s not born yet, is it?”

  He shook his head. “Don’t know what’s takin’ so long. She was real fast with Ben.”

  “How come you’re not up there with her?”

  Amon shrugged. “Mary Ellen said it would be best if I waited down here with the boy.”

  “Want me to go check?”

  “I’d be obliged.”

  Laura hurried up the stairs. The door to Martha Rose and Amon’s room was open a crack, so she walked right in.

  Mary Ellen looked up from her position near the foot of the bed. “It’s getting close. I can see the head now. Push, Martha Rose ... push!”

  Laura’s heart began to pound, and her legs felt like two sticks of rubber. She leaned against the dresser to steady herself.

  A few minutes later, the lusty cry of a newborn babe filled the room. Tears stung the backs of Laura’s eyes. This was the miracle of birth. She had never imagined it could be so beautiful.

  “Daughter, you’ve got yourself a mighty fine girl,” Mary Ellen announced. “Let me clean her up a bit; then I’ll hand her right over.”

  Martha Rose started to cry, but Laura knew they were tears of joy. She slipped quietly from the room, leaving mother, daughter, and grandmother alone to share the moment of pleasure.

  ***

  Laura had seen Dr. Wilson several times, and other than a bit of anemia, she was pronounced to be in good condition. The doctor prescribed iron tablets to take with her prenatal vitamins, but she still tired easily, and Eli felt concern.

  “I’m gonna ask Mom to come over and help out today,” he said as he prepared to leave for work one morning.

  Laura shuffled across the kitchen floor toward him. “Please don’t. Your mom’s got her hands full helping Martha Rose with the new baby. She doesn’t need one more thing to worry about.”

  Eli shrugged. “Suit yourself, but if you need anything, don’t think twice about calling on her, you hear?”

  She nodded and lifted her face for his good-bye kiss. “Have a good day.”

  Eli left the house and headed straight for his folks’ house. Laura might think she didn’t need Mom’s help, but he could see how tired she was. Dark circles under her eyes and swollen feet at the end of the day were telltale signs that she needed more rest.

  He found Mom in the kitchen, doing the breakfast dishes. “Shouldn’t you be heading for work?” she asked.

  He nodded. “I wanted to talk with you first.”

  “Anything wrong?”

  He shrugged and ran his fingers through the back of his hair. “Laura’s been working too hard, and I think she could use some help.”

  “Want me to see to it, or are you thinking of hiring a maad?”

  “I’d rather it be you, instead of a maid, if you can find the time.”

  She smiled. “I think I can manage.”

  “Danki.” Eli grasped the doorknob, but wh
en another thought popped into his head, he pivoted back around. “Do you think Laura’s happy, Mom?”

  She lifted an eyebrow in question. “Why wouldn’t she be? She’s married to you, after all.”

  He shrugged. “I ain’t no prize.” His eyebrows drew together. “Do you think she’s really content being Amish?”

  Mom dried her hands on a towel and moved toward him. “Laura chose to become Amish. You didn’t force her, remember?”

  “I know, but sometimes she looks so sad.”

  “Ah, it’s just being in a family way. Many women get kind of melancholy during that time. She’ll be fine once the boppli comes.”

  Eli gave her a hug. “You’re probably right. I’m most likely worried for nothing.”

  CHAPTER 26

  A few days before Eli and Laura’s first anniversary, Eli arrived home from work one afternoon and found Laura lying on the sofa, holding her stomach and writhing in pain.

  Alarm rose in his chest as he rushed to her side. “What is it, Laura?”

  “I—I think the baby’s coming.”

  He knelt in front of the sofa and grasped her hand. “When did the pains start?”

  “Around noon.”

  “What does my mamm have to say?”

  “She doesn’t know.”

  “What?” Eli couldn’t believe Laura hadn’t called his mother. She’d delivered many babies and would know if it was time.

  “I wasn’t sure it was labor at first,” Laura said tearfully. “But then my water broke, and—”

  Eli jumped up and dashed across the room.

  “Wh–where are you going?”

  “To get Mom!”

  ***

  Laura leaned her head against the sofa pillow and stiffened when another contraction came. “Oh, God, please help me!” It was the first real prayer Laura had ever uttered, and now she wasn’t even sure God was listening. Why would He care about her when she’d never really cared about Him? She had only been pretending to be a Christian. Was this her punishment for lying to Eli, his family, and even herself?

  Moments later, Eli bounded into the room, followed by his mother.

  “How far apart are the pains?” Mary Ellen asked as she approached the couch.

  “I—I don’t know for sure. About two or three minutes, I think,” Laura answered tearfully. “Oh, it hurts so much! I think Eli should take me to the hospital.”

  Mary Ellen did a quick examination, and when she was done, she shook her head. “You waited too long for that. The boppli’s coming now.”

  Eli started for the kitchen. “I’ll get some towels and warm water.”

  “Don’t leave me, Eli!”

  “Calm down,” Mary Ellen chided. “He’ll be right back. In the meantime, I want you to do exactly as I say.”

  Laura’s first reaction was to fight the pain, but Mary Ellen was a good coach, and soon Laura began to cooperate. Eli stood nearby, holding her hand and offering soothing words.

  “One final push and the boppli should be here,” Mary Ellen finally said.

  Laura did as she was instructed, and moments later, the babe’s first cry filled the room.

  “It’s a boy! You have a son,” Mary Ellen announced.

  Laura lifted her head from the pillow. “Let me see him. I want to make sure he has ten fingers and ten toes.”

  “In a minute. Let Eli clean him up a bit,” Mary Ellen instructed. “I need to finish up with you.”

  “Mom, could you come over here?” Eli called from across the room. His voice sounded strained, and a wave of fear washed over Laura like a drenching rain.

  “What is it? Is something wrong with our son?”

  “Just a minute, Laura. I want Mom to take a look at him first.”

  Laura rolled onto her side, trying to see what was happening. Eli and Mary Ellen were bent over the small bundle wrapped in a towel, lying on top of an end table. She heard whispering but couldn’t make out their words.

  “What’s going on? Tell me now, or I’ll come see for myself.”

  Eli rushed to her side. “Stay put. You might start bleeding real heavy if you get up too soon.”

  Laura drew in a deep breath and grabbed hold of Eli’s shirtsleeve. “What’s wrong?”

  “The child’s breathing seems a bit irregular,” Mary Ellen said. “I think we should take him to the hospital.”

  “I’d like Laura to be seen, too,” Eli said with a nod.

  ***

  Laura had only gotten a glimpse of her son before they rushed him into the hospital nursery, but what she’d seen concerned her greatly. The baby wasn’t breathing right. He looked kind of funny, too. He had a good crop of auburn hair, just like Laura’s, but there was something else ... something she couldn’t put her finger on.

  “Relax and try to rest,” Eli said as he took a seat in the chair next to Laura’s hospital bed. “The doctor’s looking at little David right now, and—”

  “David?” Laura repeated. “You named our son without asking me?”

  Eli’s face flamed. “I ... uh ... thought we’d talked about naming the baby David if it was a boy.”

  She nodded slowly. “I guess we did. I just thought—”

  Laura’s words were interrupted when Dr. Wilson and another man entered the room. The second man’s expression told her all she needed to know. Something was wrong.

  “This is Dr. Hayes,” Dr. Wilson said. “He’s a pediatrician and has just finished examining your son.”

  Eli jumped to his feet. “Tell us ... is there something wrong with David?”

  Dr. Hayes put a hand on Eli’s shoulder. “Please sit down.” Eli complied, but Laura could see the strain on his face. She felt equally uncomfortable.

  “We still need to run a few more tests,” the doctor said, “but we’re fairly sure your boy has Down syndrome.”

  “Are you saying he–he’s going to be handicapped?” Eli’s voice squeaked, and his face blanched.

  “Quite possibly. The baby has an accumulation of fluid in his lungs. It’s fairly common with Down syndrome. We can clear it out, but he will no doubt be prone to bronchial infections—especially while he’s young.”

  Laura was too stunned to say anything at first. This had to be a dream—a terrible nightmare. This couldn’t be happening to her and Eli.

  “Once we get the lungs cleared and he’s breathing well on his own, you should be able to take the baby home,” Dr. Hayes continued.