Page 113 of The Frozen River

Mrs. Page listens to me. I watch her think for a moment and then she nods. “I can do that.”

I push her pale blonde hair back from her face. I press my palm to her forehead. She is warm but not feverish.

“I have to touch you now,” I tell her. “To see how far along you are in this labor.”

“Okay.”

“But there is something very important I must know before I can do that.”

“What?”

“Your name.”

“Mrs. Page.”

“No,” I tell her. “Page is your husband’s name. And missus is the thing you became on your wedding day. What is the one you were given at birth?”

“Melody.”

“It is very nice to meet you, Melody. My name is Martha. And I will help you through this.”

Melody Page has to walk the room for five grueling hours before she hits transition. And it takes another full hour of pushing before her tiny daughter makes an entrance into the world. Even then, it is ten o’clock before the work is done. And eleven before I have finally packed my things.

Mrs. Hendricks joins me at the bedroom door as I am leaving. “I do not like you,” she says, apropos of nothing.

It makes me laugh. “Nor I, you.”

This earns the first real smile I have ever received from the woman.

“But I do respect you,” she tells me. “And I am sorry for the trouble I gave you with Grace.”

“That is more than enough for me,” I say. Then I look behind her to the bed where Melody is cradling her little bundle. “You will stay with her?”

“Through the night.”

“Thank you. Call for me if you have any concerns.”

“I will,” she says, then returns to Melody’s side without another word.

I am turning for the door when Dr. Page calls out. “Mistress Ballard?”

A sigh.

“Yes?”

“Let me walk you out.”

I nod. We walk in silence down the hall, the stairs, and to the first floor. He opens the door and leans against the frame, blocking my exit.

“What is your fee?” he asks.

“I do not want payment.”

“I cannot allow you to leave here without coin,” he says. “I refuse to be in your debt.”

“You have no say in the matter. I will accept nothing from you but an apology.”

“You are a stubborn old bitch, aren’t you?”