~Weeks pass. Melchi and I make do with his earnings from the carpenter, buying food, clothing and tools we need out in our wilderness home. We have been able to eat well and keep our health, and our child has continued to grow within me.
My nausea has gone, and instead I am feeling aches in my legs and back. Melchior tells me the weight I gain from my changing body alters my center of gravity, and may take some getting used to.
My stomach distends more; both Melchior and I are always putting our hands around it, feeling the shape of our child within my womb. Neither of us have felt any movement from it yet, but when we do, I know we will never forget it.
Late one morning I am sitting on the riverbank with my feet immersed in the water, one hand planted on the ground and the other cradling my belly. I glance over my shoulder to see Melchior enhancing the lean to with new branches, this time with leaves to give us some shade from the hot sun.
I turn away, feeling the day's heat against my forehead. I reach into the river and cup my hand, bringing some of the cool water up towards my head to sprinkle through my brown hair.
Suddenly, I feel something. My hand flings the water away and goes back to my stomach. My fingers feel a tiny flutter beneath my skin.
"Melchi!" I turn and call to him. "Oh, Melchi!" He rushes over, a look of concern on his face.
"Wendla, what's wrong?" he asks. He puts his hand to my belly. "Is…"
It happens again; this time we both feel it. I smile at my husband. He laughs and presses his forehead to mine.
It's real- we are going to be a family. Just the three of us.
…
Now that my figure has very obviously changed, I no longer accompany Melchior to town. It can be frightening, being all alone in our forest hideaway; even though I know I never really am, with our child nestled inside me.
I try to keep myself busy, which isn't easy with not much of anything to do. Most of the time I just sit and be completely silent while I knit with the needles and yarn Melchior purchased for me; I am trying to make a blanket for the baby.
Sometimes I do nothing. I'll just sit and ponder over the millions of thoughts that run through my head, some of which started the day we left our village.
Do they think we are both dead? Our parents, our friends, our teachers? The whole community? What if they know we ran away and have sent people to find us?
Nonsense. With the time that has passed, there is no way they could think we are still alive. All those horrid grownups, who do nothing but hide the truth and tie us down.
"Ha!" I chuckle. I sound a lot like Melchior now.
Melchior. Oh, I wish he'd come back soon.
~My day's work is over. I am eager to return to Wendla and surprise her with some flowers- daisies and woodruff.
It hasn't been easy keeping our secret. It always seems to feeling like there is someone eying me when I arrive at the workshop, or when I depart in the evening.
Herr Heisler has asked questions, regarding family life and school lessons. I have been able to put together a believable story-
My "sister" and I moved with our parents to a home some ways away from the village. Our father is always taking care of our mother who has been seriously ill for a very long time, and now depends upon me to make the money.
So far it seems I have convinced him, but I'm sensing that he may find it suspicious.
All I can hope is that this tall tale will last us a long while…
…
I have arrived back and Wendla is sitting near the shelter, her fingers playing with the hem of her dress.
She looks up, hearing my footsteps. "Melchior!" she smiles.
"I've brought you these," I go and kneel beside my wife, holding out the bouquet.
"Oh, Melchi, they're lovely!" She takes the flowers and sits her nose atop the blossoms, breathing in their sweet scent.
"I wanted to do something special," I tell her. "I just hate that you have to be up here all alone each day."
"It's alright, really!" she says quickly, taking my hand. "I know it's what's best for us right now. And for our child."
I sigh, smoothing my hand over her belly.
We sit quietly, watching as the setting sun's rays ignite the sky into an orange magenta haze.
"As long as I keep both of you safe," I murmur into her ear, "that's all that matters."
