Chapter 4: Birth and Burdens

The pain was fire and knives, every muscle trembling. My vision flickered in and out like a bad TV signal.

When I came to, Mr. and Mrs. Prescott were grinning so wide I thought their faces might split. Each had a tiny bundle in their arms, wrapped in blue and pink blankets.

"Look! Our grandson’s little nose looks just like Danny’s!"

"Yes, and our granddaughter’s eyes are just like Danny’s—just like when he was little!"

I blinked, dazed, trying to see what they saw. The babies were scrawny and wrinkled, faces scrunched up, but to the Prescotts, they were miracles.

Was it really possible?

While I was still in shock, Mrs. Prescott sat at my bedside, guilt etched in every line of her face.

"Honey… it’s all my fault, I scared you just now…"

"I was too anxious. For a young lady, there are things you’re too shy to say…"

"And I made you go into labor early. If anything happened to my grandchildren, what would I do!"

Mr. Prescott grinned, shaking his head. "You’re too frail. If you’d given birth outside, I’m afraid…"

"Luckily you came to the Prescott home, and luckily Dr. Sullivan was here today. Though the grandkids are a bit weak, what doesn’t our family have? I told you, you’re a lucky girl!"

The confession I’d planned to make caught in my throat. He was right—if I’d given birth out in the street, we all could’ve died. If I told the truth now, we’d be thrown out, no questions asked. I could almost feel the winter wind waiting for us outside.

I wiped my eyes, playing up the tears, and decided: I’d just stay another year. Maybe two, if I could get away with it.

"I’m sorry… I’m not a good woman," I said, voice trembling. "With Danny, months ago, by the river in Silver Hollow… we got together in secret. I still remember he…"

My mind flashed back to the corpse in the cabin, reaching for some detail to make it believable.

"I still remember he had a crescent-shaped birthmark on his chest…"

I forced myself to meet Mrs. Prescott’s hopeful eyes, even as shame burned under my skin.

"That’s right! I said it must be!"

Mr. and Mrs. Prescott held each other, tears streaming down their cheeks—joy and relief written all over their faces.

"Wonderful! Our Prescott family has heirs again!"