Did You Feel That?

DID YOU FEEL THAT?

Part One – Ida

“Did you feel that?” Ida placed her hand on her cheek while turning away from the open window.

“Feel what, love?” Hank looked up from the newspaper he had opened on the kitchen table.

“That breeze.”

“I wish. It’s hotter than blue blazes in here.”

Ida knew her husband’s answer was true. Her damp blouse sticking to her back was proof enough. But yet, there was that breeze she had felt on her cheek just for an instant. Then it was gone.

“You’re right. Would you like some iced tea? We can sit outside for a while, watch the sun go down.”

Moments later, Ida brought out the old tray with a pitcher and two glasses. She and Hank settled themselves comfortably on the front porch in their favorite chairs.

“It’s almost your big birthday. Have you decided what you want to do this year?” Hank took a long sip of his drink then placed the glass down on the small metal table between them.

“We can barbecue and set up the kiddy pools in the back. Maybe I’ll bake a pie or a special dessert. There’s a new recipe I’ve been meaning to try.”

“You sure you don’t want to go someplace instead? We can try that new place on Main Street. Joe said they make a mighty good pecan pie. He and the wife were raving about it.”

She sat up suddenly. “There it is again. You must have felt it that time?” Her heart thumped unexpectedly.

“Hun, I’m starting to worry about you. It’s happening a lot lately, no?” Hank looked at her quizzically over his glasses.

Ida flushed. “No, not really. Never mind. Just a silly old woman getting older by the moment.” She changed the subject. “Have you heard from the kids lately?”

“Sure did. Jackie has some sort of surprise she’s cooking up for your birthday.”

“Any clue what that could be?”

“I tried my best to get it out of her. She said I let the cat out of the bag too many times to be trusted again. Can’t imagine for the life of me what that girl is up to now. Maybe she’s expecting?”

“She has got her hands full with the tribe running under her feet already. Can’t picture another little one on the way right about now,” Ida responded with her thoughts elsewhere. That breeze blew in for the third time in just a few minutes. It never comes that often; must be something besides Jackie’s surprise that’s brewing. Something in the air.

“Come to think of it, Michael was acting awful suspicious when I dropped the kids off after practice yesterday.”

“Did you question him?”

“Sure did. Rushed the kids in and shut the door in my face. Leaves me wondering if there’s something more than his typical rudeness. Maybe he’s in cahoots with Jackie?”

“I do love those kids, hun. But sometimes I can’t figure them out for the life of me. Like they were dropped here from another planet.” She stroked her cheek absentmindedly, thinking that she felt the same way about herself. Then, just on cue, another breeze swept by.

***

Part Two – Natalie

Screaming in pain, with sweat pouring down her face, she begged him for help. “You have to get me to the hospital. I can’t do this.”

“You have no choice, girl. I ain’t calling for no help. You can think twice about laying down with that fella next time he comes sniffing around.”

She leaned her head back in the hay and let loose a bloodcurdling scream. Maybe a hired hand would hear her and break down the barn door, or maybe she would die from the pain. Either way would be a sweet relief.

She silently cursed Pete for showing up with a bottle of whiskey that day. Finished with her chores early, she had been restless and bored, and was more than happy to indulge. They passed the bottle back and forth until it was empty, and by nightfall found themselves tangled together in the corner of the darkened barn. She knew it was wrong, knew she was too young, but that didn’t stop her. She was her mother’s child after all, as her father had reminded her as often as the day was long.

Another searing pain shot through her, worse than the ones before, threatening to rip her insides out. She flailed about, digging her hands into the hay like a wretched animal.

“You will go to hell for this. I’m not one of your animals giving birth in the barn,” she hissed, her voice ragged from the hours of agonizing screaming.

“We’ll see who goes to hell, girl. It ain’t gonna be me. You’re lucky I didn’t throw you out when your belly became round.”

“I hate you. I truly do,” Natalie moaned.

“You better thank me if you know what’s good for you. You have no one else.”

Rough hands pulled her apart, filling her with humiliation worse than the physical pain.

“Clean yourself up, girl.” He threw a rag down at her as she lay bloody and soaked in sweat.

Natalie watched the silhouette of her father walk out the barn door, hearing the cries of her baby grow fainter and fainter as she lost consciousness.

***

Part Three – Jackie and Michael

“They found her.” Jackie scooped ice cream into two bowls and handed one to her brother as she sat down at the kitchen table next to the playpen.

“Holy shit. Are you serious?” He cleared the toys off and sat down across from her.

“Totally.”

“Tell me everything.” Michael switched off his phone giving her his full attention.

“Well, apparently Mom was left on the steps of Main Street Church. She was wrapped in a burlap sack as if she were a bag of seed.”

“That’s sick.” He shook his head, looking horrified at the thought of their mother starting life in that manner.

“Yeah. Grandma and Grandpa were the first ones to arrive that Sunday morning and discovered her. They took her home and eventually were able to legally adopt her. It was all very hush hush. No one knew anything all these years.”

“Who is the mother?”

“A farm girl from the outskirts of town. Her own mother had died in childbirth, and her father raised her. From what we were able to piece together, he was a very cruel man. He didn’t even tell her if she had a boy or girl, he just took the baby away from her right at birth. Horrifying.”

The siblings sat quietly absorbing the information. They knew their mother was adopted, but the details had always been a mystery.

“Is the reunion set?” Michael asked, breaking the silence.

“Yes. She’ll be at Mom’s birthday party. I can’t wait to meet her.”

“Same,” Michael said, his voice muffled as he licked the last soupy drops of ice cream out of his bowl.

“Ewww. You still do that?” Jackie looked at her brother with disgust.

“Sure do.”

***

Part Four - The Birthday Party

The two women sat on lawn chairs sipping their iced tea, their feet in the kiddy pool. They appeared more as sisters than mother and daughter with only fifteen years separating them.

Being surrounded by the children playing and laughing filled them with joy. Their blue eyes sparkled as they looked at each other in amazement. Although sixty years had passed since last being together, the love they felt for one another was strong.

Natalie leaned in close and whispered, “I blew you kisses all the time, more on special occasions.”

“I know,” Ida replied, absentmindedly stroking her cheek, “I felt them all.”