Another Angel of Love
Page 55
“Yeah, that might be it,” Henry agreed. “But it sure felt like I was having a heart attack, Julean. It scared the hell out of me.”
Julean took his hand and they walked back to their apartment.
That evening, right after dinner, Henry had another attack.
Julean came to his side and felt his chest.
“My gosh, Hank, your heart is just racing. Do you want me to phone my dad and get his advice?”
Henry wasn’t sure what to do or whether he should bother his father-in-law with it. He already felt his in-laws didn’t like him much.
“No, that’s okay, hon. I’ll make an appointment to see a doctor first thing in the morning.”
Henry was relieved when the doctor told him his heart was fine. The doctor repeated much of what Julean had suggested; the pressure of university, perhaps his impending fatherhood. But he did add that these attacks could also be a culmination of past concerns adding to present ones. It reminded Henry of his worries over Jenny and what had happened to her—and the guilt he sometimes felt when his thoughts drifted to his first love.
The doctor prescribed sedatives, which Henry was reluctant to take. But once he did, the medication quickly alleviated his apprehensions and seemed to stop what the doctor called anxiety attacks. But Henry felt that the medicine was only treating the symptoms. There was something at the core of it all that he didn’t totally understand. Yet.
The young married couple could hardly wait to get home for the Christmas holidays. Julean’s expanding belly was visual proof to family and friends that she was having a baby. She was looking more and more radiant with each passing day.
Since the Carters had extra room, Henry and Julean stayed at her parents’ place. Although Mr. and Mrs. Carter were friendly, Henry felt an undercurrent of not being accepted. Julean told him not to worry himself over it, that he was married to her and not to them. She further stressed that time would make everything right. Henry wasn’t so sure; he’d thought the same would happen with Jenny’s parents but it never had.
It was great to see Mr. Engelmann, though. Neither Henry nor his parents could believe how much younger Henry’s mentor looked each time they saw him. It was as if he were taking some sort of youth pill. Wrinkles that had covered his face and circled his eyes had diminished—some even seemed to have disappeared. The slight paunch that prevented him from closing his vest all the way had all but vanished, the vest hanging so loosely it didn’t even seem to fit him anymore. It seemed his new vocation had given him a new lease on life. He was prepared to serve his Lord in his new capacity as a parish priest.
In the seventh month of Julean’s pregnancy the doctor noticed that the baby was in the breech position.
“The head is supposed to be down, not up,” said Dr. McCall.
“I guess he wants to come out running,” quipped Julean.
The doctor, however, didn’t see it as a joking matter. He worked for over twenty minutes and was finally able to turn the baby into the correct position for delivery.
Julean understood the doctor’s concern: the breech position and turning the baby to the correct one could cause the umbilical cord to become entangled around the baby’s throat.
“Well, now that we’ve got this little guy or gal in the right spot, I hope he or she stays there,” Dr. McCall smiled at Julean. “See you next month.”
“Yes, that’ll probably be the last time; we’re going back to Regina for the summer.”
“That’s right. Have you decided on a doctor there?”
“My father, Dr. Carter, is making arrangements for that and either he’ll notify you or I can tell you when I see you next month.”
Henry couldn’t get over how huge Julean was.
“My God, Julean, I’m amazed how much skin can stretch! And it’s only seven and a half months; you still have nearly two months to go. How on earth will that baby come out?”
Julean laughed, “Well, nature has looked after it all so far, Hank. The cervix does dilate quite a bit once labour starts.”
Henry was always amazed how easily Julean spoke of sex and anything else that might cause others to blush. Clearly it was a part of her upbringing, something Henry hadn’t experienced in his own family. He was getting used to it, though, and was glad their children would be raised with that kind of openness.
With the landlady’s permission, Henry and Julean started to plan the nursery. They moved their desks out into the living room, and instead of painting they decided to wallpaper the room in a nursery theme that would welcome either a boy or girl. The landlady also gave them a crib, change table and baby carriage her children had outgrown. The time was getting closer and the two of them could hardly focus on their final exams. Henry still felt an undercurrent of anxiety though; it permeated his joy.
When Julean went to see Dr. McCall for her eight-month check-up, he was dismayed to note the baby had turned breech again.
“This is my last appointment with you, Dr. McCall. I wish we were staying in Saskatoon so that you could deliver the baby.”
“Well, I’ll forward your files to your new doctor in Regina after today’s examination. Now, let’s see if we can turn this little bundle of joy.”
Julean smiled at the doctor’s words and then began to squirm as the doctor pushed and pulled on the hard wall of her womb.
“Everything’s packed and ready to go, Julean. I’m not sure you’ll fit in the car though!”
“Henry!” Julean smacked him playfully, then said, “yes, I can feel the strain on my back. Oh well, the baby will soon be here.”
“And I’ll be one very proud father!” Henry came over and kissed Julean tenderly. She held onto him for a few moments longer and gazed into her husband’s eyes.
Yes, she thought, our baby will truly unite us. And it will take away all my foolish thoughts.
Henry kissed his wife once more, then led her into the nursery. “The room sure looks nice the way you’ve decorated it, Julean.”
Julean cradled her belly in her hands. “Yes, I just love it too Hank. It was so nice of Helen to give us all her baby things. We’re ready to bring home our beautiful little angel!”
About the Author
Henry Ripplinger is the bestselling author of Pewter Angels, the first in the six-book series “The Angelic Letters.” The overwhelming response by readers to Pewter Angels gives testimony to Henry’s gifts as an author to write books that touch human hearts and offer direction to their lives.
Henry’s empathetic abilities, combined with his lifelong experience and eclectic career as a high school teacher, guidance counselor, professional artist and businessman, prepared him to craft this inspirational Christian romance series and indirectly realize his aspirations of writing a self-development book.
Henry is also one of Canada’s foremost prairie artists. His work is on display at private and corporate collections across Canada, most notably in Saskatchewan, his home province, and can be seen in the critically acclaimed book, If You’re Not from the Prairie.
He resides with his wife in the panoramic valley setting of Lumsden, Saskatchewan, Canada.
To contact the author and for more information on “The Angelic Letters Series,” visit his website at: www.henryripplinger.com
also by henry ripplinger
If You’re Not from the Prairie, written by David Bouchard and illustrated by Henry Ripplinger, is a poetic and visual journey depicting the prairies and the people who have made this diverse land their own…a treasure for the mind and soul.
For further information about this book as well as other artwork, limited edition prints and other products, please visit:
www.henryripplinger.com
Pewter Angels: Book One of The Angelic Letters Series
“He hath given his angels charge over thee; to keep thee
in all thy ways…In their hands the
y shall bear thee up:
lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.”
Psalm 91:11-12
…Suddenly, she turned to Henry as if to speak, catching him off guard. He didn’t have time to pretend he wasn’t staring at her. He’d been caught. Their eyes met now for a second time and although he felt his face warming again with a blush, this tiMain10me he couldn’t turn away. Her gaze locked with his and his with hers. They rose from their knees simultaneously, as if lifted, and were at once standing, facing each other.
Nothing existed except this moment and this place.
A charged, earthly attraction united their hearts while a spiritual energy traveled the length of the gaze they shared, drawing their souls from their bodies and joining them at the halfway point. The aura around them brightened…enclosing both in the surrounding glow of their celestial connection.
Time stood still…
Pewter Angels will grab your heart, squeeze it and hold it to the very last page.
For more information, please visit: www.henryripplinger.com