Chapter 11

"JAMES!" a sharp voice called, waking me from a deep sleep. I slowly sat up and tried to open my eyes, but a bright light seemed to be blinding me and increasing the pounding in my head. Slowly standing and stretching, I turned back to the light to get my bearings. As everything came into focus, I realized I was in my bedroom and had been sleeping in a chair. Rolling my head around and rubbing my neck, trying to wake up when all of a sudden the night's events had come back. I jerked quickly around to see Gabby setting up in bed calling my name.

"I have no idea why you are so tired, I did all of the work," Gabby said, "I can't believe I have sleep until noon, I am starved to death and where's my baby?" she demanded. "James, you look like you have seen a ghost, whatever is the matter with you? I know you are going to think I have lost my mind, but did we have a boy or a girl? I can't seem to remember anything since after midnight. I do remember falling back into the tub and my back feels ever so sore but it doesn't really hurt" Gabby's words kept running on.

I walked over to my wife and leaned over to kiss her forehead, what should I say, I had no idea where to begin. "Gabby, I uh, uhm," I stammered. Gabby looked up at him, "Well spit it out, you need a bath you smell horrible and your hair is sticking up all over. Where's the baby?" she asked again. He turned and they both stared at the bedroom door when they heard talking and footsteps on the stairs.

"Here's you a bite to eat Miz Gabby" Bet said "I know that after all the hard working you did last night you got to be starvin'. I made you some scrambled eggs and grits and toast with strawberry jam. I brought you some hot tea instead of your usual coffee," as she carried the tray over to the bed.

"Yes, darlin'," she heard Abigail say, "you need to realize that anything that you eat or drink goes into your milk and directly into the baby and what a beautiful little girl you have," she said as she stepped out from behind Bet and handed the baby over to Gabby with a smile.

Gabby pulled back the flannel blanket that was covering the baby, she counted every toe and every finger, marveling at how little she was. Why she couldn't be any bigger than a small bag of sugar. Gabby touched her little lips and they began moving as if she were already nursing. "Just look at that red hair," Gabby said. "Mother, was my hair that red when I was born?" she asked. "Not quite dear," Abigail replied, "but her hair isn't really red. It seems to be a strawberry blond, kind of like your grandmother's side of the family."

Gabby whispered, "Abigail Ivy McAllister," as she gently laid the baby on her lap to rest, and reached for her cup of tea, never taking her eyes off of her little darling. I walked over and stood next to Gabby looking down at the baby. Abigail and Bet quietly left the room. "Isn't she the most beautiful thing you have ever seen?" Gabby asked me. "Yes, she is beautiful," I replied. They watched as the baby began to wiggle and stretch and opened her eyes to stare at her new parents. "WOW," Gabby said, "Look at her eyes, I thought newborns all had blue eyes but hers are so green." I replied, "I believe she might be ready for a snack, do you need some help, should I get your mother?" I asked. "Please, James," Gabby said as she slipped her nightgown off of her shoulder and picked up the baby, "I do have some idea about what goes on. Why don't you get cleaned up and take a nap. You look tired," and smiled up at me as the baby began to nurse. "Our little Ivy, I think we should call her Ivy, three Abigails in one family seems like a lot, what do you think?" she asked, "Oh, and please bring me the blanket I stitched for her. I want her to get used to the feel of it. After all it will be her favorite."

I walked out of the bedroom and headed down the stairs to the kitchen. Everyone was gathered around the table and looked up as I walked in. "May I please have some breakfast" I said to Bet as I pulled out a chair to sit. "Gabby is doing fine, she is nursing Ivy." The kitchen seemed to be filled with a tension and the feeling of unspoken words. "I know that what I asked all of you last night was totally uncalled for, do we need to talk further?" I asked. No one said a word for the longest time; then Addie spoke. "It seems to me that the good Lord had two people needing somebody special in their life, to love, care and live for and he brought those two together." "As far as I am concerned that little baby was born into this world last night into the arms of a loving family and that's the way it should be." Thomas and Bet nodded in agreement. Abigail sat down her coffee saying, "My daughter is happy and my granddaughter is beautiful and healthy, my only fear is the future which, for anyone, is unknown and uncertain. I am sure when the time comes, you, James will be the ones to deal with it." I looked down at my plate then back up at Abigail. "Which is why I chose not to share the details with any of you," he said. "Only myself and one other person know the facts. That way nothing can slip and no one can be held responsible for my decisions or actions."

As everyone got quite, they could hear the faint singing of Rock A Bye Baby coming from the upstairs.