AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Human,” I offer.
“What the hell are ye’ doin’ here?” the young boy asks.
“Watch yer’ mouth, Fischer.”
“Sorry, Papa.” He dips his head in shame and continues stoking the fire.
The woman turns to her husband. “What are ye’ waiting on! Get the lass some clothes, ye’ fool!”
“Yes, love,” he chuckles then turns to a wooden chest against the wall. Reaching inside, he withdraws a brown dress with a green bodice. When he hands it to me, I stare down at it.
The fabric is soft beneath my fingers, far too soft to be wool—cotton maybe?
“What are ye’ waitin’ on? Not a fan of green?”
I meet his gaze, and knowing what green means to some people here, I shake my head. “I love the color green.”
He relaxes slightly. “Then get dressed. I’ve got a babe to deliver.”
“Shouldn’t you get her to a hospital?”
He tilts his head to the side. “What the bloody hell is that?”
“Nothing. Sorry. I’ll just get dressed.” I dip over into the corner and slide the dress over the top of the chemise. As much as I want to remove it, to burn and then bury the damned thing, I also don’t see anywhere to change where I wouldn’t have to get fully naked.
And I’m good on that.
The woman screams and growls, and the man cheers her on. “So close, love, babe is crowned. One more big push should do it.”
“You’ve got this, momma,” the older girl is seated at the base of the bed with her arms prepped to catch the baby.
Shit. I’m about to see a—high-pitched crying fills the room, and I stare in awe as a baby covered in placenta and blood cries in the arms of its new sister as she wraps it in a thick blanket. Then, she stands and hands the baby to her mother. “’Tis a boy, momma.”
“My little love, you will be so cherished,” she coos.
I feel like a total intruder in this beautiful moment as the children all gather to meet their new sibling, so I slowly back toward the stairs and sit down on the bottom to watch. I know I shouldn’t be thinking about it—shouldn’t be focusing on my past when there’s such a murky future in front of me—but I can’t help it. What must it feel like to grow up in a house full of love? Where you are wanted from day one?
“Where is our guest?” the woman calls out.
“Here!” I reply.
“Do ye’ not like children? Get over here, lass, and meet my new babe!”
Not wanting to be rude, I push to my feet and move across the room to the bed. The father cradles the child now, beaming down at him as a proud parent should.
All of the siblings gape up at it in complete awe.
“Shoo now, the lot of you.”
They all giggle as they rush away, the older girl guiding them back toward the center of the room where they gather around the fire.
“Our wee son,” the father says, tilting his arms so I can see the baby’s plump face. “Seamus.”
“He’s gorgeous.” I have always loved babies—wanted a bunch of my own to love and cherish one day. When I got sick, the thought of never getting to hold one was yet another blow, so when he offers his brand-new son to me, I can do nothing but stare at him. “You don’t know me.”
“I can read ye’ like a book,” the woman says. “Ye’r a kind lass, are ye’ not?”
“I try.” Swallowing hard, I accept the baby and stare down at the tiny pink face. Tears spring to my eyes. “Hello, little one.”
