Ruth Anne squeezed her eyes closed and held her breath as she sat beside her husband in the hospital waiting room. They left Bethany’s room because her best friend’s wailing was more than Ruth Anne could bear. Levi leaned closer to her, the roughness of his brown beard grazing her cheek as he whispered, “You know your delivery won’t be like this. Bethany has never had gut tolerance for pain.”
She opened her eyes, glanced around the waiting room, then also spoke softly. “Having babies hurts. Even Mamm said that God makes sure we shed the memory. Otherwise, we’d all just have one child.” She squeezed her lips together and held her breath again, remembering Bethany’s cries.
Ruth Anne looked around the room again. Both of Bethany’s parents were here, along with her in-laws and cousins. About twenty folks waiting for little Esther Rose to arrive.
Levi leaned close to her again. “Ruthie, you’re gonna do real fine. Mary Elizabeth is going to see to that.” He gave a taut nod at the mention of the midwife who would be delivering their baby. Unlike her best friend, Ruth Anne had chosen not to deliver in a hospital, and she’d also opted not to have an ultrasound. Or pain medication. But as she listened to Bethany struggle, she was starting to second-guess her choices. But her husband was right. They’d all grown up together, and Bethany made a fuss over the smallest of ailments.
Ruth Anne stood and walked down the hall to listen at her friend’s door. She strained to hear something since Bethany had grown quiet. She silently prayed that the worst of the pain was over and that little Esther Rose had made a safe and healthy arrival into the world.
It was about twenty minutes later when John walked into the waiting area, a tiny bundle swaddled in his arms. His ear-to-ear smile was proof that all was well. Everyone rushed toward him, and Levi helped lift Ruth Anne from her chair. As scared of the delivery as she was, she had to admit she was ready to hold her own baby in her arms.
She waited until the grandparents and other family members had a chance to see Esther Rose before she and Levi moved toward the proud father.
“She’s beautiful,” Ruth Anne said as she eyed the tiny infant with a hint of Bethany’s red hair. “Welcome, Esther Rose.”
Ruth Anne and Bethany had both found out they were pregnant the same week, and they’d spent the last nine months knitting baby clothes, setting up nurseries, and preparing for these blessed events. She thanked God for Esther’s safe arrival.
“The doctor said she’s just perfect.” John beamed as he gazed down at his daughter. He didn’t lift his eyes when he added, “And Bethany did just great.”
Ruth Anne swallowed hard. If that was great, she wondered what not-so-great would have sounded like. She put a hand across her tummy, wondering if God would bless her with a boy or a girl.
Levi said it didn’t matter to him if they had a daughter or a son, but Ruth Anne knew he wanted a son. All three of his brothers had daughters. Five total. Levi was hoping to give his parents their first grandson.
Ruth Anne smiled as John said he needed to get back to Bethany, and then he gave both sets of grandparents a final peek at Esther Rose before he left the waiting room. Ruth Anne and Levi said their good-byes and left through another door that led to the parking lot where a line of buggies were tethered. Levi reached for her hand and squeezed.
“I can’t wait to see who shows up in our life—Joshua or Eva Mae.”
Waddling alongside him as fast as she could, she said, “Me either.”
And if truth be told—Ruth Anne was secretly hoping for a boy too. Somehow she sensed that Joshua would be making his entrance soon.