“Kellie? Linda’s here.” Maggie’s voice filtered up the stars. Linda was the midwife Donna had told me about. I’ve been seeing her once a month for about six months. It’s been a quiet existence living at the house. I’ve left one time, and it was to have an ultrasound at a hospital three hours away. Warren hasn’t shown up here, but we have had to hide. Ashley, one of the new girls, called her boyfriend. He came one day and made a big scene in the front yard. We all had to hide in the basement until Donna convinced him that no one else was here but her.
“I’m coming,” I called back. I slowly stood, and began my waddle downstairs. I found out that I’m having a girl. She’s been beating my ribs up daily, and doesn’t like to sleep at night. I have a bad feeling that the trend may continue after she’s born.
When I reached the bottom of the steps, Donna and Maggie were talking to Linda. She was nodding, and then looked up at me with sad eyes. “What?” I furrowed my brow. Things had been ok so far.
“We’ve got to move you, and soon,” Maggie grumbled.
“What? Why?” I began to panic.
“Your husband’s got a reward out for any information about you. Someone from Mercy General saw it, and reported you being seen there.” Maggie pinched the bridge of her nose. “I think we better get ready to move tonight.”
“Tonight? What about the baby? Where am I going to go?” Sweat covered my forehead, my heart raced, and full-blown panic set in.
“There are other houses like this. We’re all over the country. We just have to go farther than Rockford. You get your visit in with Linda, and I’ll get the transfer started.” Maggie rushed out of the room, cell phone in hand, and already dialing.
“What does she mean ‘transfer’?” I followed Linda into the room that we’d been using for my visits.
“They’re going to try and cover a large distance. That means more than one driver.” Linda’s voice sounded so sad.
“Oh.” I laid down on the bed. I watched as Linda took measurements of my belly, listened to the baby’s heart, and made a few notes about my care. She checked my blood pressure and feet for swelling.
“You look good, Kellie. The baby is doing great, I only wish I’d get to meet her.” Linda smiled softly before handing me the file in her hand. “Take this with you. Wherever you end up, give this to whomever is taking care of you. Good luck.”
“Thanks.” I took the file, and then went to look for Donna.
ooooooooo
“You can do this.” Donna hugged me tight. We were standing on the front porch. It was around ten at night. Only the lights of the waiting van, and a porch light shone. I was starting over. There I stood, a single suitcase propped against my leg, and a handful of extras piled in a bag hanging from my arm.
I nodded as I mashed my lips together to keep from crying. Donna had been a godsend, and I honestly didn’t know how to do this without her. “I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you,” I whispered as tears started to fall.
“Survive.” She smiled softly.
“I will.” I swallowed against the sadness.
“I almost forgot.” Her arm came around from where she’d been holding something behind her back. “This is for the baby.” It was a book. A hardback copy of Cinderella. “When she’s big enough for you to tell her about all this, you tell her this was from Aunt Donna.”
“I will.” I wrapped my arms around her again. “Will I ever see you again?”
“Maybe, but you must never come back here. Promise me that no matter what, you’ll cut ties with all of us. You can’t have roots. You have to be a tumbleweed, bouncing around until he’s gone or given up on you.” She held me by the shoulders, staring into my eyes. “Promise.”
“I will. I’ll stay away. Thank you… for everything.” I clutched the book to my chest before grabbing my suitcase, and making my final descent down the front steps. Maggie was standing by the door to the van, and helped me in.
As I buckled into the backseat, I waved one last time before Maggie closed the door, blocking my view. As the van bumped along the gravel drive, I felt like I was losing my best friend. The group at the white framed house had become my family.
ooooooooo
Over the course of the next four days, I was handed off to numerous women. Two had vans, the rest drove cars. The cars were the most uncomfortable to ride in because I had to stay in the back. When we stopped, I could only get out if it was a remote location. If we were near a busy town, I had to stay put. Warren was looking for me, and with a reward issued, it was more likely that the busy cities would hear about it first.
When I finally reached my new home, it was much like the other. This one was a brick ranch and it was at the end of a gravel road. There was a root cellar that was used for hiding, and this home only housed six women. Susan was the house mother here. She was nice, but it wasn’t like Donna. Susan was quiet, and didn’t really talk to you unless you said something to her first. Her daughter, Rose, did most of the day to day stuff and checking up on us.
I lived at the brick ranch until Ava was born. Ava’s birth was not at all like I thought it would be. I was sitting at the table eating dinner, when all of a sudden, my water broke.
Rose jumped up, and helped me to my room. “Shouldn’t we go to the hospital?” I was confused. How was this going to work?
“They didn’t tell you?” Rose helped me sit on the edge of the bed as she rushed around, gathering towels.
“Tell me what?” I moaned as a contraction hit.
“This baby is coming out here. You can’t go to a hospital. That means records. You can’t have a paper trail. We’ll file birth records after you leave.” She paused at the door. “You best change into something more comfortable.”
Rose rushed away, and I could hear talking down the hallway, but couldn’t make out what they were saying. I shuffled around the room as best I could, and changed into a gown. Just as I was lying down on the bed, Susan came in. “Lori is on her way. You should walk while you’re waiting.” She nodded and then left again.
Lori was the midwife for this house. I’m guessing that each place had contacts for who helped out. Ava kicked me just as another contraction rolled through, and I groaned in pain. I didn’t know how I was going to do this. I’d heard of women having babies without pain medication, but I never imagined that I would.
As I made my way to the bedroom door, Rose met up with me. “I’m going to help you walk.” She draped my arm around her shoulders, and we began walking up and down the hallway. I’d pause every few minutes to wait for the contractions to pass, but I felt like I was at it all night. Maybe that’s because I was. I watched the sun rise through my window, and morning became afternoon before I’d dilated enough to lie down. Lori checked me, and when she finally announced that I could start pushing, I almost cried.
It took a good ten pushes before Ava’s head appeared. When Lori smiled, and caught her in her hands, I collapsed on the bed. It was finally over. Lori laid her on my stomach as she cut the cord. Ava blinked up at me, and right then I knew that my life was going to be better. She was worth it. Donna was right. Everything I’d been fighting for was right there in my arms. She was so tiny and innocent, and I was going to do whatever I had to to keep her safe. She was my purpose, and I knew right then that I’d do anything to protect her.