“Thank you. That tasted good. Now, I think I would like a nap before everyone comes.” She looked at her busy husband, who for the last several hours focused solely on her, tending to her every need. “I am very happy you are here with me,” she said sleepily. “You have taken care of everything. I love you, Pappa.”
“I love you too, Mamma.”
~~~
An hour later, Eva woke to family members beginning to show up. She could hear Victor talking with his mother. They reportedly had boxes of food and homemade blankets and clothing for the baby. Victor’s father had fetched the Makis in the horse-drawn sleigh and now he brought Eva’s father into the house, with the help of Victor, and sat him in the rocker in the bedroom, Eva’s mother right behind them.
“Mamma, Pappa,” Eva whispered. “Look what Victor and I did all by ourselves.”
She disconnected the sleeping newborn from her breast to give to Victor, so that the beaming grandparents could hold their new grandchild. Eva’s father begged off holding her, saying he didn’t want to give her germs. Eva’s mother had tears of joy washing down her cheeks as she held the tiny girl.
“Her name,” Eva said softly, “is Ellen Franciina. She was born at one o’clock.
“I was wondering about you yesterday, Eva,” Mamma said. “You were so quiet and withdrawn. It’s what mothers feel when the baby is about to come.”
As Eva and Victor told the story of the last several hours, the Mattsons entered the bedroom slowly. As they did so, Liisa and Aili went to the kitchen to make room and to start the cooking. There were gasps and “awws,” and laughing at Hannes’s cow comment.
“It looks as though the line of girls continues on the Maki side, and gives the Mattsons a respite from boys.” Eva’s mother said and turned to the group who couldn’t resist quietly coming closer to see. “Maria, come see your granddaughter.”
Mamma Mattson happily obeyed and quickly came closer. She took the pink-faced, sleeping baby. “She looks like Victor,” she cooed. She turned to her husband. “Look Jacob, come see. She looks like you, too.”
~~~
Victor came to sit on the bed next to Eva as the family fussed over the baby, passing her from one person to another. He had another overwhelming feeling of incredulity. He took her hand and whispered, “Do you believe what we just did?”
She smiled at him and shook her head. “I feel I can do anything, now.”
She is the victorious one today, he thought.
“You were amazing today, Eva. You were strong, and didn’t give up. I am so proud of you.” He picked up her hand and kissed it. “I love you with all my heart.” He gazed at her with tears welling in his eyes.
“Victor, I couldn’t have managed without you. It was you who kept me from losing my courage.” She pulled him to her to kiss him. “You were my strength.”
He whispered into her ear, “It was all my pleasure, ALL of it, if you know what I mean.” He pulled away from her ear to look into her eyes.
“It was?” she asked. “Well, next time you can give birth, Mr. Mattson.” Her eyes mirrored his.
“No thank you, Mrs. Mattson. But what I will do is make sure it’s your pleasure, too, when we try again.” His entire face smiled.
She was very much in love with Victor Mattson. “Shhh, everyone will hear you,” Eva said in mock scolding. They smiled conspiratorially and kissed.
Chapter 17
Liam was happy that November passed quickly. He was excelling in his courses, all his professors seemed impressed. He and Smythe had a close friendship born of conspiracy and illicit activity. One afternoon after lab, Liam stayed behind to discuss things with Smythe.
“I read in the obituaries last night there would be a funeral for a nine-year-old girl today, probably goin’ on right now.” Liam saw Smythe’s interest peak with a side-glance and a raised eyebrow. “But do ye really need her? I’d rather not …”
“I was waiting for one like this to come along, Dady. It’s much easier when it’s an adult, I understand.” Smythe studied Liam’s face. “It’s precisely what we need, however.” He stopped and waited for Liam to weigh the conflict.
“I don’t want to feel like a ghoul any more than I already do. Somebody’s grievin’ over that child.” Liam could see Smythe feeling the same trepidation.
“I understand that, Liam, but think of what we can learn from the young bodies for living children in the future who need healing, or surgeries.”
There was a pause. Smythe pulled a bottle of Scotch whiskey and two shot glasses out of his desk drawer. He poured two, not asking if Liam wanted one. He nudged a glass toward Liam.
“What if I doubled the fee?” Smythe offered, tossing his shot down slowly.
Liam looked at him, picked up the shot, and threw it back. He wiped his lips on the back of his hand.
“If I don’t have to retrieve every deceased child that’s available, I’ll do it.”
“Deal,” breathed Smythe. He looked relieved. “We'll see you tomorrow at lecture.”
“I’ll see ye at three in the mornin’. Where’s the interment?”
~~~
That night, Liam and his partners found themselves at Dean Cemetery at two-thirty in the morning. They were retrieving the child corpse that Smythe was willing to double the fee for.
They had learned it was best to leave the wagon a few blocks away. Just as they were finished refilling the grave and about to carry away the corpse, Robbie spotted a lantern near the entrance. “Shhh!” he whispered with alarm. “Someone’s in here with us.”
The three ducked behind some nearby tombstones, watching which way the lantern moved. It seemed to be heading away from them.
“It must be the watchman making rounds,” Kurt whispered.
“Let’s get the hell out of here,” Liam said.
Luckily, their wagon was in the opposite direction of the lantern and whoever was carrying it.
They crept stealthily, two of them carrying the bagged body. Just outside the back gates and near the wagon, the grave robbers were startled.
“What do ye think ye’re doin’?” a slurred male voice came out of the dark.
Liam turned toward the voice. An elderly, unkempt man stepped out of the pitch-black shadows of the tall wall, fixing his trousers as though he had urinated. He had a bottle.
“Nothin’, old man," Robbie said nonchalantly. "What are you doing here?”
“I’ve been imbibin’ at the local establishment down yonder, and—what the hell is the bag for? Are ye stealin’ bodies?” His volume rose to where it could wake the neighbors across from the cemetery.
“Shut up, old man,” Robbie hissed.
Liam stepped in before another shout could be uttered. He knocked the drunk unconscious with a fist to his slack jaw.
“Let’s get out of here,” Kurt said. They carefully put the canvas bag into the back of the wagon and in moments they were gone.
At four o’clock, they arrived safely at the ground floor of Playfair Hall.
Smythe was there as always, not trusting anyone but himself to bring the cadavers into the morgue. Liam told him of the back-to-back incidences.
“Dean does have security in the form of a deaf old man. He’s fairly regular at his rounds and doesn’t turn down a bribe if one’s ever necessary. Make sure you carry some cash with you. As for drunks on the street? I think you handled it just fine. Keep vigilant eyes on your surroundings.”
~~~
The next day, Liam took his latest earnings to the Edinburgh Bank. His account had about a thousand pounds from his fighting and grave robbing combined. Right now, he had enough money to get him and Dolly to America and set up a life, a very comfortable one. Before he left for school, he and Dolly had talked one night about going somewhere out west where doctors were needed. He enjoyed the recollection.
“What about wild Indians, Liam?”
“I don’t think it’s that way anymore, Dee. Not like forty or fifty years ago. It’s muc
h more civilized.”
“I hope so,” she’d answered but sounded doubtful.
“Perhaps we’ll go to Montana. There are cattle ranches and cowboys there. They call it Big Sky.”
“Why?”
“Because in the wide-open spaces of the prairie, the brilliant blue sky seems to go on forever.”
“What’s the prairie?” she’d asked, child-like in her curiosity although she was twenty.
Liam had smiled and kissed her passionately. “I’ll buy ye a book on America and we can read all about it.”
Liam couldn’t wait to see Big Sky Country with Dolly. They’d have room for lots of children. He smiled at the fact that his life was so different from two years ago. Then, he had no plans and aimlessly wandered the streets of Belfast, or joined Patrick in his dangerous life of war. Now, he was thinking of children—in America, of all places! I’m going to be a physician, he thought with amazement. He loved that Annie and Dolly were proud of him. His parents were proud, but in a this-will-impress-society sort of way. He was grateful for his father funding college for him, though. He wasn’t entirely callous by using his father, only his money—for the time being.
Chapter 18
It was May fourth, Eva’s nineteenth birthday. She was in a happy mood. She liked taking the baby visiting. Victor, Eva, and nearly two-month-old Ellen Franciina, slung in a shawl tied over Eva’s shoulder, walked to the Maki house for sauna and dinner. Liisa and Aili met them halfway. They had taken turns helping with Ellen over the last weeks, one daughter being home at all times with their parents. Their father was completely bed-ridden now. Eva went there with the baby as often as she could. She knew Pappa would not last long now, and she also knew he was grateful for the time he was spending with baby Ellen.
Liisa and Aili's cheeks and noses were rosy from the brisk, cool spring wind. They thundered down the path, racing to their beloved niece. Aili won.
“I get the baby,” Aili announced.
“I’m not about to take Ellen out for a short walk to the house. I’ll take her out when we get there,” Eva said.
“Aww,” Aili lamented. Liisa delivered a look of serves-you-right, at which Aili stuck out her tongue.
It was Saturday, otherwise known as Sauna Day. Victor and Eva had hoped they would have the sauna to themselves. They’d had little time to spend alone since the baby was born. Even if it was an hour in the sauna, they would consider it a luxury.
“So,” Victor said casually. “Have you two had sauna yet?”
“Yes, we have. Mamma thought it would be nice for you two to have time together, and we could take care of Ellen while you two get frisky in the heat,” Liisa blurted. She had just turned sixteen, and looked as though she were much older.
“Liisa, you are being rude,” Aili said, turning bright pink.
They both ran off, Liisa attempting to pull off Aili’s hat. They chased each other up to the door, giggling and out of breath.
“They’re like the cows let out to pasture after being stuck inside all winter,” Eva murmured wryly. It had always been a fun spring event to watch the cows, who ran and jumped and delighted in their freedom.
Victor laughed out loud. He leaned close to Eva and whispered, “I wonder what Yuri has been writing in his letters?”
“And I wonder what she is writing back,” Eva added.
Liisa turned around to wait for Eva and the baby. “Yuri wants to come live here and be a farmer and marry me,” she announced.
“I had been wondering about that,” Eva said, knowing full well how Yuri felt about her sister.
“It drives him mad to be away from me for long periods of time,” Liisa said in seemingly glorious lamentation.
“I know how hard it was for you and Yuri being apart all winter. Is he coming to visit soon?” Eva asked her lovesick sister.
“I just got a letter. He said he’d get here very soon, perhaps a day or two.” She sounded elated and skipped to the door, a huge grin erupting on her rosy face.
The exuberant group piled into the fragrant, warm house, greetings were given, and Eva’s mother, in her rocker, immediately took Ellen.
“Everything will be fine,” she assured Eva and Victor. “You can go and take a nice long sauna. Take some steam.”
“That is a wonderful idea, Mamma. We brought a sauna bag. But first, Liisa can you take the baby to see Pappa?”
A few minutes later the young parents were on their way to the sauna. Eva felt good that her father was holding Ellen. The wood smoke from the sauna chimney was fragrant in the cool spring air. Both Eva and Victor were giddy, purposefully bumping into each other on the path. It was difficult to abandon acting like the teenager she still was. Victor had just turned twenty-one. They both giggled breathlessly when Victor tripped on a small stone, nearly falling on his face.
“You can’t watch where you are walking? It’s bright daylight,” Eva teased.
“You pushed me into it,” he said accusingly. “You are evil. That’s all there is to it.”
In high spirits, they walked into the warm dressing room and shut the door. Once inside, they tore their clothes off, leaving them in a heap by the door, and embraced in an open-mouthed, passionate kiss. Eva didn’t even care if they lay on the floor, right there, on their clothes. Her knees opened for him.
“Come inside me,” she said.
He pushed in. “You are so slippery. My cock is inside you, Eva. Do you like it there?” he murmured setting a frenetic rhythm.
“Yes,” she whimpered. “Push hard.”
He bit her breasts, making her moan loudly. He spilled into her, “I feel it in my whole body.” Victor laughed breathlessly. “I feel like such a pagan here on the floor, wildly wanton.”
“Don’t forget me,” she whispered, pushing her hips against his.
“Never,” he whispered back.
He ground his pubic bone into hers, kissing her until he heard her moan in completion, leaving her limp and satisfied.
In her ecstatic state, she breathed a chuckle as they snuggled. “Remember when you taught me to give you everything when we make love?”
“Yes, I do,” he said.
“Do I get a high mark, teacher?”
“Very much so. You are a magnificent lover.”
“How do you know, if I’m your only one?”
“I just know. You make me feel wonderful, and my love grows for you each time.” He kissed her softly.
She smiled into his eyes.
~~~
They lay together for quite a while, Victor, enjoying the carnality of the last few minutes, played with her ample breasts with his tongue. It didn’t take long before they started to feel chilly from the cool, spring draft wafting under the door.
“Let’s get into the sauna,” he said, giving one last kiss to her large nipple. He helped her up. He realized he was never was attracted to skinny girls. He opened the sauna door and let her go in before him, giving her a little pat on her bum. “Come on, Mamma, you first.” He smiled at her. She looked dreamily at him.
Taking steam, they sat for a long time on the highest bench in the intense moist heat. Occasionally, they would toss a ladle of water on the rocks to create moisture. Eva started to hit Victor with the birch branches used to stimulate circulation. It turned into another game altogether, and ended up in wild sexual abandon on the top bench. Eva straddled Victor with his cock inside her. He watched her gyrating hips and her face when she climaxed. It brought his own on. He sucked the side of her breast until the pulses faded.
“We’re going to need lots of water after this sauna,” he joked. “Having sex in the sauna is a double dose of sweating.”
When it was time to wash, they climbed down to the floor and prepared buckets of cool water. After all that heat, sexual and otherwise, it felt refreshing to pour the much-cooler water over each other, drinking from time to time. They took turns washing the other.
“Let me wash your private parts,” he said to her.
&
nbsp; “Do you want me to lie down?”
“Just spread your legs. I want to see your face when you climax again.”
After Eva climaxed, she asked him, “do you want me to wash you now?”
“Of course,” he said. He became instantly erect.
“I didn’t have to touch you.”
“You can touch me now. Make your hand soapy. Rub me.”
She happily obliged his request.
“Your breasts are so nice. I like your baby fat, too. Look at your little belly,” he said. He kissed her belly and squeezed her buttocks. “Ummm.” She massaged him until he spilled himself on the floor.
Victor knew that as long as Eva nursed Ellen, she shouldn’t get pregnant. He felt like a child in a roomful of sweets and nobody to tell him “no.” Come to think of it, no one has ever told me “no.” The only one was Eva and that didn’t last long. Her “no” was as good as a “yes.”
Deciding it was time to dry, they went into the dressing room. Standing face to face, Victor started to rub Eva with a towel.
She looked down. “Victor, you are getting hard again,” she said as he kissed her breasts.
“Yes, I know. It’s your wobbling breasts’ fault.” He looked into her eyes, full of lust, and pushed up against her.
“What do you want?” she said.
“You know what I like.”
She knelt on the floor in front of him and looked up at him. “Yes, I do.” She grabbed his buttocks. Standing, he held her head with his penis in her mouth, and closed his eyes in sheer pleasure.
Before they went into the house, Victor stopped. “Do we look like we’ve been—?”
“Yes, we do. It’s written all over our faces.”
Just before he opened the back door, they both took a deep breath at the same time and snickered.
~~~
Pappa was able to come to the table for dinner with Victor’s strong support. It was truly end of days for her father, and it broke Eva’s heart. He held that fatalistic point of view of “when it’s your time, it’s your time.” She watched the emaciated shell of a man who used to carry her on his shoulders. A man who showed her how to drive a horse team, fell trees, split wood, and butcher livestock. He ate with them, but very little. She noticed him staring at baby Ellen for long periods as if he were trying to sear her being into his memory. She wondered if his life was what he’d intended it to be and if he would leave this world a happy man. By the way he lovingly gazed at his granddaughter, she knew for certain that his life was as he had intended. This thought put her at ease. She was glad she had come often this spring with the baby, sitting for long hours with him, reading anything and everything. Mamma and Eva had sat in the bedroom with him for hours, knitting or mending as they chatted, all with the baby present. It had seemed to comfort him.
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