Tara's Forgotten Son

by Lana Mowdy

  Chapter 20

  They were pleased to find Mr. and Mrs. Johnson waiting for them at the train station in Athens. Very quickly, their bags were loaded onto the carriage, and they were headed toward their new home as Mr. Johnson announced that it was finished. It still needed a few finishing touches, but they had left the minor details to be finished by Louise so that everything would look just as she had envisioned. Wade discovered on the way that as a young child, Louise had been interested in architecture and had designed this very house. Of course her plans were rough, but Mr. Johnson had found someone who could take those drawings and turn them into master plans. They were going to live in the dream house that Louise had designed, and pride swelled through Wade’s heart.

  Before they arrived, Louise could barely contain herself. She peeked around her mother, trying to see the house from a distance, and as they pulled up, Wade was amazed at the difference that had taken place in only a couple of months. A bright red door hung in the middle of a white house with red shutters on either side of the windows. Beneath each window grew rose bushes yielding red roses. Wade lifted Louise from the carriage as she covered her mouth with her hands, hiding her incredulous smile, and as they opened the gate to the white picket fence surrounding the house, one of Mrs. Johnson’s maids opened the front door. Louise ran to her and hugged her then proceeded to wander through the house which had been carefully filled with furniture purposely chosen by Mrs. Johnson to Louise’s specifications.

  Throughout the house pieces of furniture ordered from New York were perfectly arranged. Delicate female touches were contrasted with articles of masculine line and color. White walls were crisp and clean, yet softened by bowls of fresh magnolias and small accents of pale pink and mint green. Their favorite room held books of innumerable topics from the ceiling to the floor surrounded by mahogany paneling and dark red leather chairs, and on the middle of the coffee table sat a silver serving set, the one from The Johnson home. Wade quickly found the law books from his own library, and Louise excitedly planned her next reading exercises. After they had made their way through the downstairs rooms, they headed for the nursery. The walls were covered with pale yellow paper with small white flowers, and the room was filled with a tall crib, an armoire, a large rocking horse and rocking chair. It was perfectly suited for the child they would welcome in just a few months. Wade wondered whether Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were aware of their impending grandparenthood, but he did not have to wonder long.

  Upon entering the room, Louise turned to her mother, “It is perfect, mother.”

  Mrs. Johnson laughed loudly and threw her arms around Louise and asked, “How long will it be before you can use this room?”

  Louise grinned broadly and rubbed her hands in circles around her enlarging tummy. “I believe it will be here in February.”

  Mrs. Johnson jumped with joy. “Oh Louise I had no idea it would be this soon!”

  Mr. Johnson entered the room, “What is all the excitement about?”

  Louise and Mrs. Johnson exclaimed together, “We are having a baby!”

  Mr. Johnson’s face turned stone white. He turned to Wade with a stern look then left the room without saying a word.

  Louise dropped her head then searched her mother’s face for explanation. Mrs. Johnson turned to follow her husband for she knew his fear, but sensing Louise’s disappointment, she spoke, “He is just worried, my dear. I had a terrible time and almost died with each of you girls. He hoped that you would not endanger yourself as well, but I have told him that you are much stronger than I was. You will be fine, dear.” Mrs. Johnson patted Louise’s face and smiled, but a dark look crossed her eyes before she left the room.

  Wade inched to Louise’s side then drew her in his arms. He saw the look in her mother’s eyes, and worry pattered its way through his chest, but he held her firmly. “Everything will be fine darling. You know that once he sees his darling grandson, he will be perfectly happy and at ease.”

  Louise smacked him playfully on the chest, “And just how do you know it will be a boy?” Her eyes glistened with the thought of a son, for she also knew it would be a boy, and she had been throwing names around in her mind for quite some time.

  “I have my ways. Now, let’s go down and feed the little tike before he starts throwing fits and making you sick.” Wade picked her up and turned her in a circle setting her down gently.

  They walked downstairs to find that Mrs. Johnson had already hired a cook and supper had been prepared. They sat at the long cherry table talking of their extended honeymoon, and though Louise resorted to her quiet manner, she managed to verbally illustrate Tara in great detail, speaking kindly of its inhabitants and describing the land in a perfect account. After a long evening, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson left reluctantly and Wade and Louise retired to the library where they studied the large, beautiful room in silence. There were so many books, and though Wade could not imagine reading all of them, he perused the titles, smiling with anticipation. Finally, they seated themselves in the large chairs, and began a long discussion. Within a few minutes, Louise began to yawn and her eyes began to droop, and though she fought sleep, she finally succumbed. Wade picked her up gently and carried her to bed.

  The next few days began slowly, but became a mad rush as he began his college courses and his work at the bank. He longed for the lazy days of summer, but threw himself into his work, anticipating the moment he would arrive home, where Louise would greet him warmly, showing him progress that had been made on the house. Wade had considered the house in perfect order when he first arrived, but each day, he found that she and her mother had made improvements beyond what he could have imagined. There were new spots of color, intricate details which made so much difference, yet would not have been noticed on their own accord, adding to the character of their home.

  They entertained often, people of the city, coworkers in the bank, students from the university, and Louise’s parents, but they soon learned that they preferred their evenings alone. For as much as Louise enjoyed showing her new home, she much preferred Wade’s company to any others, and guests became fewer. After only a few months, guests were socially unacceptable for Louise’s belly had become considerably larger, and to show herself in that condition would have been considered taboo. She stayed inside, enjoying her solitude, and Wade rushed home every evening to spend each moment with her.

  Wade was especially protective of her, for he had noticed more changes in her than just her physical growths. She had become increasingly weary, and her morning sickness had not yet ceased. The baby was not due for another two months, but her small frame had borne the increasing weight with difficulty, and she began to ache. Not once did she complain, which gave him even more cause to worry. What if something was wrong and she told no one? What if he was not here to help her if she needed him?

  He soon decided with Mrs. Johnson’s help that Louise needed someone with her at all times, and they hired a nurse to stay with her while he was away. Mrs. Elway, a large woman with gray hair pulled back from her face in a tight bun, gave him comfort, for she kept a strict eye on Louise. No lifting, pulling, or climbing the stairs was allowed, and Mrs. Elway made sure that Louise ate three healthy meals a day. She constantly gazed at Louise, searching for signs of pain or discomfort, for she knew that as a lady, Louise would never complain, and as much as Louise protested, she had to admit that she rather enjoyed Mrs. Elway’s company. The house had been lonely when Wade was away, and her mother had left her alone for longer periods of time, leaving her to roam the large house in silence. Mrs. Elway was brisk and unfriendly, but she was a warm body in the same room, and though they never spoke in friendly terms, Louise felt at ease with the nurse.

  As Wade was leaving the house one cold morning in early February, Mrs. Elway met him in the doorway. “Mr. Hamilton, you will need to stay at your post today in case I need to retrieve you quickly.” Mrs. Elway spoke strongly without emotion.

  “Is something wrong, Mrs. Elway?
Should I stay home today?” Wade began to worry, for although she showed no signs of urgency, she had never spoken to him in this tone of voice before.

  “She has been having pain in her lower abdomen and in her back for the last two days. I know that it is early, but I need you to be available, sir.” She turned to enter the house then shut the door behind her, disallowing further conversation.

  Wade strode to the bank, feeling the stinging snowflakes against his cheeks, and absentmindedly crossed the street, nearly missing a strong pair of horse pulling a wagon loaded with supplies. He spent the day filing papers and helping customers, but he could not concentrate, and he fouled more business that he completed. Finally, Mr. Johnson walked by and noticed Wade’s blank expression and sent him home, directing him to skip any classes and go straight home.

  That afternoon when Wade opened the front door and entered the house, his heart dropped to his knees for the house was silent. He raced through each room calling for Louise, but he could not find her, and she did not answer. He bounded up the stairs, taking two at a time and raced down the hallway to their bedroom, still calling her name. When he threw open their bedroom door, he found her, silently pacing the floor, still dressed her long white nightgown. Her hair flowed down her back in long curls, and her bare feet hit the floor with a sound like thunder. Mrs. Elway sat in the corner in a chair mending one of Wade’s shirts. She showed no signs of being startled as Wade entered suddenly, but rather laid her sewing on the table next to her, and stared at him as though he had interrupted a very important matter.

  “What are you doing home, Mr. Hamilton? Did I not say I would call for you?” She frowned at him disapprovingly.

  Louise walked to him and threw her arms around his neck, running her fingers through his hair and laying her head on his broad chest. “Oh my darling, I am so glad you are here. But really, why did you come? I am fine.” She smiled at him for a moment before another burst of pain ran through her, almost bringing her to her knees. He supported her until the pain had passed, and he noticed that a trickle of blood sat on her lip where she had bitten it to keep from crying out in pain.

  Unwillingly, Louise dropped to the bed as Wade pleaded with her to rest. Mrs. Elway interrupted, “I must beseech you, sir to return to your place of employment. I am quite capable of taking care of this child, and you are simply in the way. She needs to walk. It will ease her pain, and you, sir, need to go.” Anger flared through Wade and his temples began to throb as he stared at this woman in front of him, demanding that he leave his wife. Wade reached down, and carefully pulled the covers back so that Louise could get underneath then he reached down and kissed her on the forehead, feeling the heat radiating from her lips.

  “I will be back in a few moments, darling.” He raced out of the room and down the steps, and then ran swiftly over the few blocks to the Johnson home. When he reached her mother’s house, he rapped repeatedly on the door until the butler opened the door slowly and calmly. “I need to see Mrs. Johnson, immediately.” Wade pushed through the half open doorway then ran through the house searching for Mrs. Johnson. Finally he found her, and she looked up at him with a pinched smile on her face, maintaining her urge to scream with fear from his sudden impudent intrusion.

  He bent over, resting his hands on his knees, gasping desperately as he tried to catch his breath. As soon as Mrs. Johnson saw the look on his face, she instructed the butler to hitch the horse to the carriage, and her maid to fetch her cloak and her gloves. “That woman is horrid!” Wade straightened up, still gasping for breath. His face was red and aching from running so swiftly in the heavily falling snow. “Louise is in pain, and she did not call for either of us as she was instructed to do. We must find a doctor. She is in great pain.” Mrs. Johnson continued to flurry around gathering her things as though she did not hear a word that Wade had spoken.

  As he stood in the middle of the room, watching her fly around him, she suddenly spoke, “What is she doing now?”

  Wade was so inflicted with worry that he could not understand her question or who she was referring to, so he described everything he had seen, and Mrs. Johnson nodded accordingly, never missing a beat or interrupting her preparations. “We must go now.” They raced to the front door where the butler had hitched the horse to the small carriage reserved for Mrs. Johnson’s personal use, and they raced quickly to the doctor’s office. Mrs. Johnson ran inside then returned within just a few moments and they raced quickly on to Wade and Louise’s home. “Take the horse and carriage to the barn, Wade, and I will meet you inside. Wade stared at her, unable to move until she screamed at him, breaking him from his fearful trance, “Move!” then he followed her orders without further hesitation.

  Violent screams vibrated through the house as he entered through the rear door, leading through the kitchen into the dining room. As he entered the front entryway, he met Mrs. Elway as she left in a huff, meeting the doctor in the doorway, she slammed it with contempt. Wade led the way up the stairs, and stared with disbelief as the doctor quietly closed the door behind him without inviting Wade into his own room. He paced the floor in the hallway, envisioning Louise’s face twisting with pain, hearing her screams come more frequently until the doctor emerged.

  The doctor’s face looked red against his thick white hair and beard, and the veins in his temple throbbed as he wrung his hands. “There is no stopping it. The baby is on its way, but it is several weeks too early. To be quite frank, it does not look good, son. We will try to save your wife, but it does not look like we can do much for the baby.” He paused for a moment, “I’m sorry.” He turned and left Wade in the hallway, staring after him.

  Wade felt his heart begin to beat wildly in his chest, pumping so that he could hear the thumping in his ears as he fell to the floor. His stomach churned and ached as he wrapped his arms around his knees and rocked back and forth, focusing on the screams vibrating through the walls. Hours seemed to pass, as he rocked and listened, and tried to breathe. Every muscle in his body ached and his veins throbbed with pumping blood.

  He closed his eyes and pictured her in the room with her mother beside her, holding her hand, and he longed to be with her. He gathered his courage and walked to the door then stopped. He could not bring himself to turn the knob, and he immediately dropped his hand and began to pace up and down the hall. As he walked to the end of the hall, he looked at the grandfather clock and listened to the chime. He had been waiting for three hours, and still her screaming echoed through the walls. He walked back toward the room, his heart pounding, and he ached for comfort and news of what was happening.

  Suddenly the screaming stopped, and a gentle peace fell through the house. He ran to the bedroom door and stood, ready to open the door. Listening intently, he heard a small cry like that of a kitten, and his heart leapt, for as a new father, he could recognize the sound of his child. He listened for voices, waiting impatiently to be invited into the room. Muffled cries could be heard, and a woman’s sobbing, though not that of Louise.

  He could not take the waiting any longer. He turned the knob quickly and stepped into the room, pushing his weight against the doctor’s, straining to see his wife and his newborn child, but what he saw instead left him weak and sick. Blood seemed to drip from every corner of the room. Louise lay back on the bed, her head drenched with sweat and tears. Her arms lay beside her, lifeless as she lay helpless with her eyes closed. Her mother bent on her knees beside the bed, holding the child wrapped in blankets, sobbing uncontrollably.

  Wade raced to the bedside, whirling toward the doctor, “Is the baby going to live?” He clenched his fists, angrily as the doctor stared at him in silence, and Mrs. Johnson continued to sob. He grabbed the doctor by his shirt collar and shook him violently as his voice began to increase in volume, “Is the baby alive?” His face burned with fear and anger.

  The doctor looked him in the eyes and nodded his head silently then he picked up his coat from the chair and placed his hat haphazardly on hi
s head. “I need to take care of some matters. I will gather Mr. Johnson for you, Mrs. Johnson.” He turned back to Wade and placed his hand gently on his shoulder, “I am sorry, young man.” Without another word, he reached for the doorknob and closed it quietly behind him as he left the room. Even his footsteps were silent as he walked down the hall and out the front door.

  Wade stood staring after him. What did he mean? He just said that the baby was fine, why would he be sorry? A minute passed as he stared at the closed door, listening to Mrs. Johnson’s heavy breath as she finished her grief and the small wail of the newborn laying in her arms. Suddenly he felt a small soft hand on his shoulder and he turned to see Mrs. Johnson standing behind him. Her face was wet with tears and her eyes were brimming with a new flow. He watched as she dropped her head to look at the small child she held in her arms as tears ran down her face and dropped onto the blanket, splashing the baby’s tiny hands.

  “Wade, here is your son.” She held the baby gently then placed him in Wade’s outstretched arms. Immediately, his crying ceased, as Wade placed his finger in the child’s mouth as he had seen his Aunt Suellen do with her own children. Tears began to run down his cheeks as he looked as this new life he held in his arms. Relief filled him as he checked ten little fingers and ten little toes. He was the most perfectly beautiful baby he had ever seen, and still he wondered what could make the doctor feel sorrow. This child was strong and healthy. He could feel his chest heaving with deep breaths, and his eyes opened wide to reveal the loveliest brown eyes.

  He looked just like his mother. He had Louise’s small nose and perfect ears. His eyes were soft brown and his small tufts of hair were light brown. His little forehead was crinkled as he stared at his Daddy with twinkles in his eyes, and when he smiled, his tiny cheeks puffed out, making Wade chuckle with pride and joy. As he held him closely, Wade raised his eyes to study Mrs. Johnson. Her tears were not those of joy. She looked at the baby fondly, but sorrow and grief overcame her and she ran back to Louise’s bedside, crying hysterically.

  Wade ran to join her, “Is Louise sleeping? Has she seen the baby?”

  Mrs. Johnson turned her eyes to him, gawking at him in horror. Suddenly, he felt his arms grow weak, and he laid the baby on the bed in front of him, for he no longer had the strength to hold him. The baby immediately starting screaming, but the sound seemed to come from farther and farther away as the room began to spin. He glanced down at Louise, and noticed again that the sheets and blankets were stained with blood, and he looked into Louise’s angelic face, for there was no movement, only a gentle look of peace.

  Mrs. Johnson grabbed Wade around the chest, and held him upright as the room began to spin again, and suddenly everything went black. He felt her slapping his face roughly, and he opened his eyes to see Mrs. Johnson holding his arms and seething with frustration.

  “Wade, you must wake up now.”

  Wade stared at her, unaware of the full circumstances. “What is happening? Has Louise seen her son? Why is she still sleeping?”

  Mrs. Johnson held him tightly, sitting him on the floor. Then she gently placed the baby in Wade’s lap, wrapping the blanket around him and pressing him closely to his father. “Remember I said that I almost died with each of my children. I was lucky. Louise was not quite as strong. She never has been.” Mrs. Johnson knelt beside Wade, willing him to stay calm, for as much as he would grieve, his grave responsibility lie with the child on his lap.

  “Did she see her son?” Wade stared at the child in his lap in disbelief. He never thought it would be possible that he would raise this child on his own.

  Mrs. Johnson spoke solemnly, “She saw him and kissed him. She did not have the strength to stay with us. It was just too much for her.” She began to break down, but caught her breath, determined to see Wade stand and fight for his child. “She knew the risks of childbirth, but she wanted this for the two of you. She believed in you, and so do I. You can handle this responsibility, and this baby will grow to become the kind of man that you are, and the kind of man that Louise knew you to be.

  Wade began to rock him gently as he wrapped his tiny fingers around Wade’s larger one. Numbness crept though his body as he rocked, unnoticing when Mrs. Johnson quietly left the room to greet Mr. Johnson in the foyer. He sat there quietly rocking the baby, praying desperately for help, for he did not know where he would summon the strength to make it through the next few days or the next eighteen years.