The Winter Baby

by Rhonda McKnight

  TAMAR’S CONTRACTIONS progressed from annoying to painful before I could wrap my mind around the fact that I was going to have to play midwife.

  Active labor was happening. She grunted as Clyde and I helped her down to the floor. She rested on the cushion we took from the pastor’s chair in the pulpit. We wrapped it in a trash bag and covered it with a sweater. Fortunately, there were a few throw pillows on the couch in the other classroom, so we covered those and propped them on a bag of clothes marked goodwill and made a large pillow for her back.

  “I watched someone deliver a baby once,” I said. “Have I ever told you that?”

  Tamar groaned and pushed the words out on a strangled breath. “No.”

  “It was during Hurricane Katrina. I was a teenager. We were in a shelter. A woman went into labor. I watched a nurse from the Red Cross deliver the baby.”

  “I didn’t know you were in a shelter.”

  “It was a horrible experience.” I raised my eyes to Clyde’s. I hadn’t shared the story with him either. “I don’t talk about it.”

  Tamar groaned through the contraction.

  I wiped the perspiration from her forehead. “So, you see, I’m a labor whisperer.”

  Tamar let out a pained laugh. “I hope so.”

  “You’re going to be okay, kiddo. I’ve got you.”

  “Whose got you?” Clyde asked. He was sweating more than Tamar.

  I reached for a choir robe from the stack I’d sent Clyde to get, rolled it up and stuck it under her lower back.

  “God’s got me, Clyde. He’s got all of us.”

  He nodded and dropped down on the floor with me.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Stephen

  My father-in-law didn’t have good news.

  “They’re still looking. I’m still looking, but so far we’ve found nothing.”

  “They couldn’t have just disappeared.”

  “I have to admit, I’m worried. Law enforcement is looking for them, but there are so many accidents and abandoned cars. I’m not sure what to do next. There was a big accident earlier and there were several detour routes from the interstate. Apparently, one of them was marked wrong.”

  My chest burned with a mix of anger and fear. “I’ve got to get there. I’m going to talk to someone here. The weather has improved. They’ve got to be about to open this airport.”

  “Be careful, son.”

  I nodded like he could see me. “I’ll text you the details if I get a flight.”

  I waited behind two other complaining travelers. They had clearly worked the patience of the clerk. When I reached the desk, she was even less enthused to see me. She spoke through a terse smile. “Mr. Pierce, what can I do for you?”

  “You can get a manager.”

  She nodded and left the desk. After about five minutes she returned with the same manager I’d spoken with earlier.

  “I have to get on a flight. Commercial, private, I’ll pay to get on anything that’s moving.”

  “Mr. Pierce, we are aware that you are in need of a flight, but we don’t have anything...”

  “I’m changing my ask. I’ll go anywhere that’s going to get me closer to the east coast. Maryland, Delaware, Virginia.” I paused on my next words. I couldn’t believe I was saying them. “My wife is missing. I’ve got to get closer.”

  The manager’s face was tight, but then concern filled her eyes. “What do you mean missing?”

  “She was traveling by car from New Jersey to Pennsylvania. No one has heard from her for hours. Please. She’s eight months pregnant.”

  The manager pecked on the keyboard. “Everything is going south or west for the next few hours. But,” she paused, “there is a flight leaving for Washington, DC.”

  “Thank you, Jesus,” I whispered. “I’ll take DC. I can drive the rest of the way.”

  She nodded. “We’re about to board. Let me get you switched over.”

  I could have kissed her, but I knew better than to show my excitement. Other waiting passengers would jump us, so I whispered again, “Thank you, so much.”

  She printed a boarding pass. “I pray you find your wife.”

  I accepted the boarding pass, grabbed my bag and hurried through the terminal to the new gate. Once there, I booked a reservation for a rental car and got in line with the other passengers who were waiting to board, and that’s when I saw her – a reporter.

  I stepped out of the line and walked her way. Finally, the media was going to come in handy.

  Once she finished interviewing the passenger she was talking to, I stepped closer. Her camera man nodded toward me and she turned.

  “I’m Stephen Pierce. I’m a—”

  “New York Giants. I cover sports too,” she said, “They won’t let us in the Diamond lounge. We’re not to disturb your team while you wait.”

  “I’m about to board a flight, but I need your help.”

  She tilted her head. I saw a glint of excitement in her eyes. “Help with what?”

  “I need you to interview me. I need the story to reach your affiliate networks in Philadelphia.”

  I filled her in on the details. Once we were done, she raised her mic and the cameraman began to film.

  She introduced herself and updated her viewers on her location. She followed with, “I’m here with Stephen Pierce, the starting running back for the New York Giants. The team is stranded here at the airport. Mr. Pierce has a request.”

  Once the microphone was in my face, I raised my phone and showed a picture of Tamar.

  “My pregnant wife, Tamar Pierce, was traveling from Rutherford, New Jersey to Pine, Pennsylvania this afternoon. She was in route with a female and male companion and they’ve disappeared. We’ve had no contact with them. I’m not asking anyone to risk their life, but I will pay a million-dollar reward to the party who locates my wife and friends and gets them to safety.”

  The reporter’s eyes bulged. “Did you say a million dollars?”

  I nodded. That would get some people looking.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Tamar

  “Ughhh!” I felt like my body was going to split in half.

  “I can’t,” I cried. I squeezed Clyde’s hand and hollered at the top of my lungs. I shook my head. Tears streamed down my face. Kim placed a wet cloth on my forehead and wiped me down. I shook violently. One minute I was freezing, the next I was sweating like a bull. Kim removed the cloth and piled more clothes on me. After a few minutes of her rubbing my limbs between her hands, my teeth stopped chattering. “Stephen must be so worried.”

  “He probably is, but he’s praying too,” Kim replied.

  I raised a hand to the top of my belly. “He’s missing the birth of another baby.”

  “That means you’ll have to have another one,” Clyde interjected.

  I threw my head back. “Does this look like something I want to do again? I was hoping I would be done.” I closed my eyes. Another one was coming. “Oh God, please!” I screamed as I crushed Clyde’s hand. Taking in quick, shallow breaths, I forced myself to breathe through it. It took about forty seconds for the pain to subside. I released Clyde’s poor battered hand. “Sorry.”

  He shook his head and whispered, “No problem. I’ve had my hand in a vice before.”

  I chuckled and turned my head in Kim’s direction. “I forgot how bad this was.”

  Kim stroked my cheek. “I know, honey. You’re doing a good job with the breathing.”

  “I’m early.”

  “A few weeks,” Kim said. “That’s not a big deal.”

  “Probably all that walking from the van.” I felt my belly tightening again. “Another one is coming.” I reached for Clyde’s hand on the left and Kim’s on the right and groaned again.

  “Breathe,” Kim said.

  I locked my eyes on hers, sucked in air, and let it out in short puffs.

  This went on for hours with the intensity of the contractions getting stronger. “I can’t take this.”<
br />
  Clyde looked at Kim. “When does the pushing part start?”

  Kim shook her head. “I don’t know.”

  “I’m going to pass out.”

  Kim raised a hand to my face and pulled my chin in her direction. “No, Tamar, look at me.”

  I focused on her. “I need to be in a hospital. I need an epidural.” I cried. “I can’t do this.”

  “Yes, you can, honey. You were born for this moment right here. You were born to bring this beautiful baby into the world. You just have to fight through it.”

  I sniffled and raised a hand to wipe tears from my face. “I need Stephen.”

  Kim nodded. “I know you do, but we’re here. Okay? We love you.”

  I closed my eyes and focused on the baby. She was right. I was born for this moment. This baby was my gift and Stephen’s. I had to make it. I had to fight for the baby. I felt my belly tightening again. Another contraction. I opened my eyes and met Kim’s. “Pray for me, Kim. I need you to pray.” The pain intensified. I yelled loud enough to start an avalanche in the mountains.

  “Dear Father, please help Tamar. Please hear her cries and be with her as she brings this precious gift into the world. Don’t let the pain overtake her. Strengthen her mind and her resolve. Remove anxiety about us being here, because no matter where we are, you are with us. You said you would never leave nor forsake us, so we trust you, Lord. Help her to cling to you. Let us feel your presence in excellent ways. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

  The contraction subsided. I closed my eyes and began to pray for myself. “I’m clinging to you, Lord. You are Jehovah Roi. You see me. You see me in this desolate place. Strengthen me. Strengthen me, Father.”

  A contraction rose again and this time, I felt the urge to push.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Pastor Jack

  “The last thing I want God’s children to be worried about at Christmas is losing their church.”

  Nan put a piece of pie in front of him. “You’re assuming they’re worrying. Maybe they’re praying.”

  Pastor Jack looked at her. “Maybe you’re right.

  “You forget what you taught them.” Nan sat. She picked up a fork and sliced into her piece.

  “The oil tank is empty. On the twenty-sixth, they’re turning off the electric.”

  “And there’s nothing you can do about any of that tonight, so eat your pie.” Nan insisted. “Today has enough trouble.”

  “How is it that you have more faith than I do?”

  She put a forkful in her mouth, chewed and swallowed before saying, “I’m not taking ownership of what God has to handle. You have not taken a salary in three years, not a penny. You’ve put our money into that building time and time again. I’m not complaining about any of that. You know I love the church too, but the battle is not yours. It’s the Lord’s. Those are his people. Step out of the way and let Him show us who He is. Let God be God.”

  Jack released a long sigh. “Don’t worry, huh?”

  “Trust God no matter what. Wait and see what he does.”

  He ate a few bites before saying, “I asked God for a miracle.”

  Nan’s chest rose and fell heavily. “I know how hard that was for you.”

  Two beautiful faces flittered through Jack’s mind and his heart ached. His first wife and daughter had died from the injuries they’d sustained in a car accident nearly thirty years ago. He’d had a good life with Nan, raised a set of twin sons in this house with her, but still the pain was hard to forget. When the doctors gave up on his family, he’d prayed and asked God for a miracle. Save them. If not both, one. He begged God to leave him with someone. But God had not given him either and he’d never asked for a miracle again. Until now. It seemed so silly to finally pray for one and it wasn’t even for a person, it was for a building. But it was a building he and his community loved.

  Nan spoke, but he hadn’t heard her. His thoughts were not in the present. “What was that?”

  “A miracle. There’s no point in asking for one if you don’t believe you can receive it.”

  This woman could read his mind. He took her hand. “Maybe you can believe for us.”

  A smile entered her eyes. “I certainly do.” She stood and came back to the table with two mugs of hot cider.

  Pastor Jack looked at the muted television. “Have you seen this story about Stephen Pierce’s wife?”

  Nan squinted at the television. “Who is Stephen Pierce?”

  “He’s a football player. Plays for the Giants. He grew up in Pine.”

  “Oh yes, the one who does the toy drive at Bethel Shelter.”

  Jack took a sip from his mug. “His wife is Pastor Johnson’s daughter. She’s missing in this weather.”

  Nan frowned. She stood, reached for the remote, and turned up the volume.

  The reporter said, “Stephen Pierce has just arrived from Minnesota.” She pushed the mic at him. Distraught wasn’t the word for the look on his face. “Stephen, has your wife been found?”

  Stephen replied no. He answered a few more questions and rushed away from the interview. The reporter reminded viewers he was offering a million-dollar reward for his wife’s rescue.

  Jack took another sip. “There’s probably a traffic jam out there. With a million-dollar reward, I’m sure everyone in Eastern Pennsylvania is looking for her.”

  “Money isn’t everything.”

  “A million dollars is life-changing. I should join the search.”

  Nan pushed the remote to mute the sound. “You’re talking out of your stress.”

  Jack stood and walked to the window. “I’ve known her father for twenty years. I should join the search, and I don’t mean for the money.”

  Nan’s lips thinned. “In that old pickup? There are men with plow attachments and bigger trucks who are no doubt looking. Sit down and drink your cider. You’re not going out to look for anyone. You’ll have to go through me.”

  Jack appreciated his wife’s love. He also respected her opinion, so he took his seat. He reached for Nan’s hands. “Let’s pray for them.”

  Nan nodded and lowered her head.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Kim

  “I can see the top of the head!”

  Tamar nodded. Exhaustion was taking over. I could see it in her face. She was trembling too. I wasn’t sure if it was the cold or her body’s reaction to the pain.

  “Clyde, try to see if you can find a knife or scissors. We have to cut the cord.”

  He sprung to his feet and raced from the room like he was glad to have something to do.

  “You know he’s scared to death,” Tamar said.

  “Poor thing. He has to watch you endure labor when you’re actually the one suffering.”

  Tamar shook her head. “Don’t be like that.”

  “Like what?”

  “He’s a good guy. He loves you too.”

  I was too curious not to ask why she thought so. “What makes you say that?”

  “He can’t take his eyes off of you.” Tamar grunted from her chest.

  I pulled the First Aid kit Clyde located and sifted through it. “He’s never had a problem looking at me.”

  “It’s not a lusty look. It’s love and heartache.” Tamar spoke through clenched teeth.

  “We’ve already had enough talk about me and Clyde.”

  “I’m trying to think about something other than this pain!” She screamed and thrashed her head around on the pillow. “Another one.”

  “I see hair. You’re close. Push again.”

  “Lord, please don’t let me lose my bowels. We’re making a big enough mess in your house as it is,” Tamar cried.

  Clyde came back into the room with one of those multi-tool things. He pulled the knife piece out and put it down next to me.

  “Get behind her. She needs support at the back.”

  “No!” Tamar shook her head. “I need you to film. Stephen needs a video.”

  Clyde blinked a few ti
mes before stuttering. “You want me to film?”

  “Yes,” Tamar insisted. She shoved her phone across the floor.

  “Tamar, I don’t...”

  “Shut up and do it. You’ve seen a vajayjay before. Mine isn’t even sexy right now.”

  Clyde picked up the phone and sat on the floor behind me.

  “It’s coming!” Tamar propped herself up on both elbows and grunted and pushed.

  I grabbed my bathrobe from the pile of clothes we’d assembled next to us. I remembered from the other time that the baby shot out like a rocket, so I was prepared. “Push, push, push, sweetheart.” Tamar kept pushing and groaning. I pushed her legs open and back as far as I could, but I didn’t have to help much. The baby slid out of her body. I caught it in the robe.

  Tamar fell back. I looked at Clyde. I could see he was forever traumatized, but he was holding that phone.

  Thank you, Jesus. A rush of emotion swept through me. I’d delivered a baby. I placed the angel on Tamar’s chest.

  She cradled the slippery little body to her chest. “It’s a girl.”

  I nodded. “It is.”

  Tamar smiled. “I felt it.”

  I picked up my robe and covered both of them. Tamar was shivering, and I knew the baby had to stay warm. I used a tissue over my finger to scoop the stuff out of the mouth. The room filled with the newborn’s wail.

  Clyde got closer. He filmed the first few minutes of Tamar holding the baby.

  “Stephen, you have a daughter.” Tamar positioned her like she was making a presentation. “We love you.”

  Clyde smiled. Tears mixed with perspiration ran down his cheeks. “What’s her name?”

  Tamar kissed the top of her head. “She doesn’t have one. We wanted to decide when we saw her or him.”

  I touched her little foot. “Well, Baby Pierce, you are blessed no matter what your name is. You have been born in Bethlehem. Pennsylvania, but Bethlehem all the same.”

  I gave them five minutes to bond and then said, “I need you to push again. We have to get the placenta out of you.”