Bert was trying to be more active this pregnancy. Occasionally, the Quinn boy would come over and they would throw the basketball around a little bit. She promised Paul that she wouldn't overdo it.
Bert also liked to bike ride. Scratch that….she loved bicycling! Bert would ride around the little gravel paths by the ranch house and around the ranch in her little orange Schwinn bike. She always took a break or put the bike up for the day if she was feeling really tired or if her morning sickness kicked in. It wasn't so bad yet and so she felt really good this particular pregnancy. She took that as a good sign. Nevertheless, she loved to be on her bike. It was so fun and freeing! Also good exercise. She rode down to the pasture where Paul and some of the men and the cattle were late one morning. It was almost getting too chilly to ride, though there was no snow yet.
"Bert, what are you doing out here? I don't think you should be riding all the way out here…it's too bumpy." Paul told her, leaning his arms on her handlebars.
"Just trying to get my exercise before the time comes where I'm too big and can't move for nothing! If I'm dressed properly, I can ride till the snow starts flying!" She chuckled. Bert took hold of his strong arms and kissed him. "If it makes you feel better, I'll go put the bike up….."
"Just be careful...you make me nervous, Sweetheart."
She playfully tapped his chin and kissed him. "I'll be good, I promise!"
She rode around just a little more. Paul saw her almost fall on the gravel, but she caught herself. Bert swore she was fine, but agreed to put the bike up for the day. She was only about 5 or 6 weeks along and didn't want to overdo it….and she didn't want to scare him. He was being so protective over her with this pregnancy. Bert thought it was sweet but was starting to get a little annoyed with him. Although, she knew he meant well.
She felt fine, other than being nauseous. Bert was happy things were starting to go well. She couldn't wait to hear Baby's heartbeat for the first time. The doctor never gave her the chance to with Paul Jr., since his heartbeat was faint…. and her other pregnancy's were early miscarriages. …so this would be the first time for Paul and her to hear it.
She put a hearty, spicy Colorado beef chili on for lunch and decided to tackle some other housework. She had been meaning to dust the kitchen shelves above the kitchen counter, and she knew in later months of her pregnancy, Paul would put his foot down and wouldn't let her do it., so she decided to clean them now. So she took her step ladder, climbed up there….raised up every dish and decoration and wiped the dust out with an old, clean rag.
"Bert…..please be careful…." Paul walked in from the pasture and saw what she was doing.
Bert looked down at him as he felt him place his hand up on the small of her back. "I want to get this done…" she told him determinedly. She was stubborn and independent at times. "I'm not going to hurt myself or the baby, I promise…." She felt his arms around her waist gently, as she got down from the little ladder. "What do you expect me to do? Let the whole house go to pot?! I may be pregnant but I'm no invalid, Paul! I can do some work, and it won't hurt me…."
Paul hugged her gently and kissed her forehead. "Please don't give me frequent heart attacks your whole pregnancy! Geez, Bert!" he held her hands in both of his at her sides, and kissed her.
"Paul honey,…I'm fine!..." Bert smiled up at him. "I feel great and I'm taking good care of myself…..I can do a lot more than you're letting me…."
Paul caressed the back of her neck and softly kissed her forehead. "I'm just worried. I want to make sure you're okay….You're really scaring me, honey. "
"Me scaring you?! Well, what about me for crying out loud?! " She snapped at him. "I'm the one carrying a life inside me!...Our baby!" Bert looked at him and started tearing up. "Oh, honey…..I shouldn't yell at you! I'm sorry!" Bert was nearly a puddle of tears at this point. Paul figured it was a mood swing going on. He had been doing a lot of reading on early pregnancy and wanted to know what would be happening to her and when. What was good or bad. He was serious about learning all he could for her this time. "Honey….I'm sorry…." Paul whispered and wrapped her up in his arms, rocking her gently, standing there in their little kitchen. "I didn't mean to make you upset….." he whispered to her.
"I shouldn't yell at you, I'm sorry….….I'll sit down and rest again, ok?" she cried with tears in her brown eyes, nodding her head. "I shouldn't yell at you, I'm such a horrible wife to you!" She cried and buried her face in his neck and wept. "I'm such a horrible wife! Why did you ever marry me?! What good am I to you?!" She cried on to his shoulder for a few minutes. Paul held her in his arms, he was such a sweet gentleman.
"Sweetheart…..you barely yelled at me." Paul whispered. He held her close to him and whispered lovingly into her ear before tilting her face up to kiss her. "You're right, Bert….I'm just worrying about you maybe too much. You're doing a fine job taking care of yourself this time…..I'm being too protective over you, I'm sorry…."
"You really think so?" Bert was still crying and was dabbing at her tears and face with her handkerchief. Bert took a deep breath and let it out. "I feel a lot better this pregnancy…I understand why you're worried though….I am too….but I,…"
"Honey….Shhhh…." Paul whispered, hugging her. "Let's both calm down….we're fighting over nothing….this is silly…."
"But I can't help all this!" Bert started to cry again. "I'm sorry, honey…..I never meant to yell at you….."
"I know Sweetheart…." He whispered, guiding her over to their little couch and sat her down with him.
"My chili!..." she exclaimed, with the tears just pouring. Bert took out her hanky as the tears were still streaming her pretty face.
Paul kissed her softly and patted her hand sweetly. "I'll get it…." He went to the cookstove, and stirred the chili for her.
"It should be done and ready to serve, honey….Oh my cornbread! I forgot to bake cornbread to go with it!" She unleashed more tears and laid down on the little couch.
"Honey…Its fine. We don't need it…." Paul said calmly and quietly. He was setting the table for himself and the ranch hands. He let the bowls of chili cool down on the table a little and went back over to his wife, who was curled up on the little 1930s velvet and wooden sofa, still crying her eyes out.
"Yes you do!" She cried and wiped tears from her eyes and face. "What fool forgets cornbread with chili?! This one!"
"You're being too hard on yourself…." Paul told her and softly ran his loving hand down her hair and her body as she was lying down on the little couch in the front room. She had finally stopped crying again for a moment.
"We'll have crackers with it….it'll be just fine!" he told her.
" No it won't!" She replied tearfully again. "….it's the main meal. I want it to be just perfect for you guys!"
"Sweet, it will be…." Paul said gently.
"No, it wont..." she slumped her shoulders and dabbed at her eyes and face with her handkerchief.
"Yes, it will…I like crackers with my chili too. Must be a Midwest thing." Paul smiled slightly, holding his wife's hand.
"But the men are from the South and they love cornbread with chili! Remember on our honeymoon trip too, we toured the South and all the recipes I got?!"
"Yes, Sweetheart." Paul whispered, smiling and he nodded and kissed her temple. "It will be fine. They'll be ok missing one little loaf of cornbread."
She saw Lester as he sat down at the little kitchen table. "No cornbread, huh…" he said in his Southern drawl. "….I say, Mrs. B., you Yankees talk so much of your crackers with chili, I've been fixin' to try It. Now I get to…..I reckon, it's still good eats!"
"You're not upset?...Oh, I was so angry at myself I forgot to bake the cornbread!"
"Don't amount to a hill of beans!...but I know you, Mrs. B. You're as tough as a pine knot!" he laughed. She was always so stubborn and determined on whatever meal she made for them was just how they liked it.
"We always eat high on the hog no matter what you fix, Mrs. B.!" he told her. "You just rest up, ma'am…Ol' Lester's got it…." He nodded. Paul walked with her into their bedroom and Bert laid down on their bed.
"Do you need anything? Anything you want me to get you, honey?"
"You need to eat your lunch, Paul!"
"I will!" he chuckled at her. "Let me know what you're in the mood for….."
"A chocolate ice cream cone?" she asked, sheepishly smiling at him.
"Done…." Paul smiled and kissed her on the forehead.
"We're out of salt and sugar….oh and dill pickles too!"
"I'll go pick some up….." he chuckled. Thinking it was more for a pregnancy craving. He had read how pregnant women craved pickles and ice cream! "I'll run to Cheyenne Wells real quick and I'll be back in a few." Paul smiled at her, putting on his coat. Soon he was out the door and in the car. He drove to the Cheyenne Wells Grocery and picked up the salt, sugar, jar of pickles and lastly the rich chocolate ice cream. He was glad he found everything there, or he thought he would have had to go all the way into Kit Carson, Colorado to the Kit Carson Market! Soon he was back home to his wife in First View. The men had eaten, cleared the table for her and Paul saw her resting on their bed in the bedroom.
"Ice cream makes everything better…." Paul grinned and gave her the delightful chocolate ice cream cone and the jar of pickles. He had filled the salt and sugar shakers for her too. She sprinkled the salt on the ice cream and sugar on the pickle.
"Bert….are you really gonna eat that?" He chuckled. "Pickles and ice cream?"
"Together?!...No, that's disgusting!" Bert looked up at him nearly horrified and her little nose crinkled in disgust. She was just fine eating the ice cream with the salt on it. She would have the pickle with the sugar later, she decided. "Apples with salt….now that sounds good too!" She nodded to him, enjoying her salted, chocolate ice cream cone.
"I'll go pick up some apples, I guess…."
"Honey,…I don't NEED it. I just said it sounds good! Have you ever tried it?!"
"Uh, no….never even heard of it, Bert." He chuckled at her.
"Now don't laugh at me!" She smiled, laughing at him. "You go eat your chili and I'll enjoy my salted ice cream! "
"Enjoy, Sweetheart…." He chuckled, shaking his head. He left the room so he could eat his chili.
"So,…you're not getting the apples?!" Bert called from the bedroom. Soon she found Paul in the bedroom doorway again, smirking at her. "Well,…I was just wondering!..." She grinned at him.
"Anything for the baby…" he chuckled. "How's the ice cream, hmm?"
"It is just lovely! Makes it so much colder, and I love it!….You want a taste?!"
"No, dear….you just enjoy it." he chuckled and there was still a little playful smirk on his lips. "…..I love you, Bert." Paul smiled. He stood there, resting his hand on the doorpost. He walked over and sat down next to her.
"I love you too, honey…" Bert smiled and her lips melted with his as he leaned in and kissed her.
Paul left her to rest and to put the cattle out to pasture before the ranch hands went home before suppertime. Then Paul and Bert would eat supper together. He came in that evening after putting up the cattle. "Hey Sweet….you don't need to worry about cooking tonight…." Paul said, sticking his head in the bedroom door. "I'll make a tomato sandwich…." His voice trailed off and his face broke into a smile as he saw her laying on the bed in a funny position. She was fast asleep and looked like a beautiful angel.
He could sense pregnancy was tiring for her and noticed she was quite tired, quite often. Paul chuckled and softly took off her shoes for her, undid the bed covers, swung her legs over and tucked her into the bed. "Goodnight…." Paul whispered, kissing her softly, his lips just brushing her forehead. Later that night she awoke to him in bed beside her. "Well…hello…..how are you?!" Bert grinned at him with a gleam in her eyes. Her voice was soft, low and sultry and she sighed happily, feeling his lips with hers. "I love you…." Her words drifted off and her lips and loving touch found only him. They spent their night together as a man and his wife should. Soft and loving…..picking up speed. Changing positions. Paul was worried though, in the back of his mind….he was afraid he would do something harmful and that they shouldn't be intimate anymore during her pregnancy.
"Bert, I cant…." Paul breathed. He got up and sat on the edge of the bed, trying to catch his breath later on. She saw his naked form, sitting there in the dark, hunched forward a little. "Honey….I can't anymore….. I'm sorry…." He ran his hands over his face and his short brown hair and let out another breath. "I don't feel right about it…."
"Paul…." She whispered and rubbed his bare back. She covered him in dozens of kisses and hugged him. Her hands lovingly grazed his chest and torso and she laid her head upon the warm skin of his back. "Honey….we've never had trouble in this area…..Talk to me….." she whispered and her lips grazed his jawline in sweet little kisses. "Sweetheart….don't you want me? I'm still attractive to you…aren't I?" she asked, in her low whisper. "I'm not even showing yet…." She kissed him, sighing and studied his body language in the darkness. "Paul Ivor, please….tell me."
"It's not that, Bert….." he whispered and turned his face to her. "You'll always be attractive and sexy in my eyes." He whispered, reaching up over his shoulder and grabbed her hand. "I really mean that. Pregnant or not….I love your body…."
"Then what is it?" she whispered and held him. "Honey…."
He tried to explain…but couldn't put it into words. "What if you bleed again?..." he whispered at last. "What if that's it?...I don't want to hurt you….or the baby. I don't feel right…."
"We'll just go to sleep now…if it makes you feel better…" she whispered, wrapping her arms around his bare upper body. "I'm sorry….I want you more than I ever did….I can't help it, honey…" Bert whispered and she kissed him. "I never thought sex would feel more amazing than it had…." She said softly and cuddled him. "I've been-….I just…I crave you….all the time." She felt her cheeks get red and was slightly embarrassed at her desires. She was so bold and usually never had a problem being so.
"I never thought sex was a pregnancy craving!" Paul laughed softly and held her in his arms. They both chuckled a little.
"I love you so much…." She whispered, gazing at him. "Not just your body. I love you." Bert whispered, smiling at him. "I just love you…." She whispered, tears spilling over a little bit. Bert laughed at herself and fanned her face with her slender hands. "Don't cry, Bert! Don't cry!" She chuckled, telling herself. Bert then took in a deep breath and let it out. She smiled and couldn't help but gaze at him with so much love. They soon both drifted off to sleep.
Faint sunlight hit the large windows of their bedroom late the next morning. They had overslept.
"Honey….hmm." Paul grunted and sat up a bit and looked over at her, sleeping on her back. "Ugh…I'm tired…" he mumbled, rolling over and flung his hand carefully across her body. "Morning…." He whispered with a grin and woke her up with kisses and his loving touch and his hand felt something warm, and wet. He brought his hand out from under the covers….and he saw the blood.
"Bert…." He nearly gasped. There was dead silence as he turned back the covers.
"What is it?" Bert said groggily. She was very tired. She was in some pain and thought she had been dreaming. Paul looked closer at the blood on his hand. He saw she was passing blood clots and there was a small pool of deep red blood underneath her. They both soon realized,….it was another miscarriage. Paul had usually been away at work at the Crowell Publishing Company when they were first married and the previous miscarriages had happened. Bert was relieved at the fact he was with her now.
"Honey…I'm so sorry….Honey….we shouldn't have-…..It's my fault….Honey….." Paul rambled and he felt his heart pound in his chest and his chest heaved with his breaths. He was in shock at the sight and felt guilty that he caused it. If he caused it, that is. "I'm so sorry…I'm so sorry…." He could hardly speak clear sentences and just kept apologizing and yet he couldn't look away from her. "Are you in pain?" He choked out. Paul saw she was bleeding yet. He could tell she was in some pain but she didn't complain. Bert didn't say anything, she just laid there and Paul wasn't sure what he should do. He tried to hold her in his arms and stroked her hair and face comfortingly. He didn't know if she should get up and move or what they should do? He thought of taking her to the hospital in Kit Carson….or the new one in Cheyenne Wells and asked her if that was what she wanted to do.
"No…." she shook her head. "I'd like a bath….for right now. If we need to go later, we'll go…." Bert said quietly and she was numb. She hardly cried. She just felt numb emotionally anymore. Now her pregnancy was over before it started, so to speak. Just like the others.
"I'll run your bath water right now…." Paul said quickly and his clean hand lingered on her cheek a moment as he caressed it. He nearly worshipped the ground she walked on and he dreaded to see her in such pain and to see her bleeding like she was. He wasn't really scared….but he was hurt to see her in such a state. Sad as it was, he was hardly thinking of the baby….Yet another little life they were unable to meet face to face….Paul was only concerned for his wife at the moment.
"This is my fault…." Paul said. He was choked up.
"Paul…" Bert whispered. "Don't blame yourself with this…."
"What if the loss was because of this….Think back…every time we-" he was stern with her. He didn't mean to. Paul just stared. Tears were in his eyes.
"You don't know. Maybe it wasn't because of sex…..and I didn't protest at all last night, honey. I wanted you. I thought it was going to be ok to do…but apparently not….Paul,….honey…I love you….don't blame this on what we did…..Maybe something was wrong with the baby too…." She told him softly and held him. "Maybe my body's out to get me…I don't know…"she sighed and rubbed his back and felt his arms around her. "I'm sorry I'm such a failure as your wife…." Bert buried her face in his shoulder and felt a few tears run down her cheeks.
"You're not…." Paul stared at her, sternly.. "Don't you ever say that again…..Even if you never give me a child of our own…it won't make me love you any less and you're no less of a woman…."
"And you're not any less of a man. Remember that…..Paul, I love you regardless. " she said, in tears and held onto him as he held her in his arms. "I'm sorry if you felt I was pushing you into this!…."
"I want what you want…." Paul whispered. He carefully picked her up into his arms and brought her into their little bathroom with the little sink and the claw foot tub. Paul helped her into the warm bath water. He cautiously cupped water in his hand and ran it over her bare back and shoulders.
"I…am…so…sorry…" Paul whispered sitting outside the claw foot tub and he held her wet, naked upper body in his arms. He cried as he sensed she was in a lot of pain, almost like very awful period cramping or close to labor pains. He hoped rubbing her back was good for her, he was doing that to mostly try to comfort her. With each pain she felt, Paul saw more blood mix with the bath water. Turning it an awful color. He was so scared for her.
"I'll be alright…." She whispered, holding herself up by her arms in the bath and ended up resting her head on the tub's edge, near Paul's shoulder.… Paul was right there. He was holding her hand. He stroked her jaw. Her neck. Her hair. He wished the whole ordeal was painless for her, but he knew it wasn't. They couldn't change it. He just tried to keep her as comfortable as possible. She kept breathing hard…deep breaths….in and back out slowly….to try to cope with the pain and bleeding.
"I'm glad you're with me this time…." She said in a numb, low whisper. Bert closed her brown eyes as she felt his hand lovingly placed on her face, stroking her cheek.
" I can't believe you had to go through this alone before…Several times over. Alone…...I'm sorry. I'm SO sorry!" Paul cried. "I'm glad I'm here this time….I'm so sorry…" he whispered and pressed his forehead to hers. "If this is the last time….I understand. I don't want to put you through this anymore!" he cried and hugged her neck.
"I want to try again….just not right away…."
"I don't understand you…" Paul cried. The tears poured from his eyes and his strong arms held her close to him. "Why go through so much pain and heartache?"
"I don't….want to…" Bert said, the tears spilling over. "But…I guess….you want something so badly, you're willing to do whatever it takes to get it….I want the chance to have a healthy baby. It will be all worth it once we hold OUR baby in our arms!" She got real quiet. "Sometimes I feel like I'm waiting for something that will never happen!" Bert cried. "But….but!…My desire never goes away!….I just feel-… Just ONCE it will turn out different…and we'll have our baby….You're right. I should just give up on it!" Bert exclaimed and she started to cry.
Paul hugged her again. He never meant to make her upset or make her cry.
Bert kept up with her deep breathing. It was sort of helping with the pain. What helped her more was knowing Paul was with her during this miscarriage. He was right there.
"Do I need to call a doctor?" Paul whispered. He stroked her forehead as he saw her tense up a little at the pain and saw the tears slide down her cheeks. "I think Dr. Keefe in Cheyenne Wells makes house calls."
"No…." She gasped, tilting her head back, even though doing so got her midnight black hair all wet. "If we absolutely need to go…we will…" she gasped and clenched her teeth with the pain and felt another gush of blood between her legs. She felt her body pass a large blood clot and, taking another breath, she glanced at her husband's worried, soft eyes. "I usually pass everything…..I haven't ever needed surgery for this yet….." With miscarriages anyway, Bert knew what to expect and knew just how her body reacted.
"I'm so sorry…." Paul whispered. His full lips mingled with hers and he started crying. He wished his life that he could switch places with her. He was amazed at how strong she was.
"I ruined our mattress….we'll need a new mattress, won't we?" She asked breathlessly, her brown eyes shut from the pain and her head tilted back again. She wasn't bleeding as much now. It was tapering off some. Bert prayed it was all over soon. They would change the bath water and she would take a bath to get cleaned up and wash her hair, she decided. She felt so gross.
"Don't you worry about that!" Paul cried shakily and roughly kissed her lips and caressed her neck. "I don't care about the damn bed….I care about YOU.…..We'll get it cleaned or we'll buy a new one, Bert…I don't care about the bed…."
"Are you having trouble breathing?" He asked later and held her closer to him. He noticed something was beginning to be different. He was so worried.
"No…" she gasped, trying to catch her breath again and focused on breathing deeply. "Perhaps there was something wrong with the baby…." She later gasped, trying to get air into her lungs again. She thought an unhealthy fetus from the beginning of the pregnancy might lead to shortness of breath during a miscarriage. She vaguely remembered a doctor telling her that once.
"I think we need to head to the hospital in Cheyenne Wells….it's closer…." Paul said. He was worried sick over her even more than he was before.
1937 fell away and the year 1938 came.
"There." Eddie told his landlord, Mr. Danglemeyer. "My very last month of rent's pay…."
"Thank you, boy….You've been an excellent tenant…you and your little family." Old Mr. D. said in his deep voice and took the money from the young man and shook his thick hand. "That cute little boy of yours is growing like a weed!...I wish you 3 very well in your new place, young man."
Eddie grinned confidently and nodded. "The wife don't know yet….gosh, she'll be thrilled! I bought her grandparents place….up the road from her parents' place. Real pretty up there….back in the woods. Couple other houses….Real quiet area too." Eddie nodded a goodbye to the man and went in to tell his wife the news! They would pack their things and move into the brick house in a few weeks.
"Hey Babe…." Eddie grinned. He saw his wife at the kitchen sink washing the dishes. He grinned that bright and confident, sly Walbrun grin and wrapped his arms around her middle. He wore his crisp white dress shirt and dark slacks and his blacker than midnight hair was combed back just so. Eddie was always particular about his hair! Eddie gave her rough, playful kisses on her cheeks and chin and neck.
Helen laughed as she felt his Errol Flynn type pencil mustache prickle the soft skin of her slightly chubby face. "I keep telling you to shave that thing and you won't listen to me!...I STILL think a goatee would look nice on you…"
"C'mon now….It's a real honey catcher!" Eddie grinned and put in his Sir Walter Raleigh pipe tobacco into his wooden pipe. "Now Babe, you're gonna just LOVE what I have to tell you! You're not gonna believe it!" Eddie grinned and smoked his pipe. He was so proud. She followed him into the front room after taking off her little apron. Eddie lay on the floor as little Dale played with his blocks and cars and playthings. The nearly 3 year old chubby boy grinned at his Papa and gave him a toy car.
"Sure "Tiger"!...Dad'll play a bit!" Eddie chuckled and played with his little son and looked up at his wife who was smiling at him. "Babe….we're moving!" Eddie flashed his movie star grin at her and came right out and said it. He shot right up from the floor and smiled as he saw the look on her face. "….to the Gruber homestead….We are now the proud owners of the Brick, Gruber homestead on Peru Road! Been wanting to buy that place since we got married, Babe!"
"Oh Eddie!...Can we afford that?!" Helen gasped as he hugged her, kissed her and held her in his arms.
"We sure can! My job at the Biscuit Company is doing great! I'm working in the carpentry business with my Dad more often…Life is grand now!...Babe, I feel like I got the world by its tail!"
"Oh Joseph Edward….I'm SO happy!" Helen smiled, tears coming to her eyes and she kissed him. "We own it now?...we really own my Grandparents' brick house?!"
"And the barn….AND the blacksmith building. The WHOLE lot, Babe!" he grinned. "Every little bit of it….It's OURS."
"Paul…" Bert sleepily rolled over in bed one night and held herself up on top of him.
Paul sleepily found his lips against hers in a lazy kiss. "Hmm?" He breathed. They both had a long, hard day working on the ranch together, feeding and watering the cattle, shoveling paths in the snow to the barn from the house. Paul was surprised that Bert had woken up. "What's the matter?" Paul groaned. He was so tired he couldn't open his eyes, he just laid there in bed.
"Nothing…." Bert whispered. "It's alright that I'm visiting my folks for Christmas…isn't it?" she asked, sitting up in bed.
"You can do whatever you want…..you deserve a visit home, Sweet." He whispered and rolled over a little. His head hit the cold side of the pillow and his tired body sighed. What a relief! The most amazing feeling, Paul thought to himself.
"I wish you were coming with me…" Bert whispered, smoothing his back.
"I've got the ranch….I can't really up and leave…"
"I know…." Bert sighed. It made her feel bad. She felt like he really needed her help, and she was letting him down.
"Sweetheart…don't worry over it…." Paul sleepily snuggled close to her. She sighed as he lazily kissed her again. "You will be just fine driving on your own tomorrow….you'll be with your family, friends….and you'll be back to me in no time!" he yawned a huge yawn at the last line and smiled, his eyes shut in sleep and he felt her beautiful, tall form in his arms. "You'll have a wonderful time…"
"I still wish you were coming with me…." Bert whispered, laying her head on his chest.
"Well…" Paul sighed. "Your mother doesn't like me very well…so I don't think her seeing me would be a good thing…." He whispered, then he softly ran his hand along her back and rubbed his face close to hers. "I don't want to create any more strife…."
"SHE's the one with the problem!…." Bert said boldly. "She didn't even come to our wedding! Daddy either!...I wouldn't be surprised if she made him stay home that day!" She huffed. Inside, she was still a little bit hurt about it….though she didn't let on.
"You don't know that for sure…..you're his first. His first daughter who got married too."
"No way to change it now…." Bert sighed.
"That's right…" he yawned, patting her back and smoothed it lovingly with the palm of his hand. "So…when are Rosa and Adriel getting hitched?" Paul yawned again and chuckled.
"Honey…the boy hasn't proposed yet!" Bert grinned and looked for his face in the dark. "They haven't known each other for long and have hardly dated either…..They want me to go on a little date with them while I'm there…."
"Think he'll do it then?"
"I highly doubt it!" She laughed and he faintly saw in the darkness, that look that lit up her whole face! "…She's just turned 19. Daddy wouldn't be thrilled….and Mother would have a fit! She'd put her foot down for sure!"
"Yeah I could see that…." Paul sighed. "Well…you'll tell me all about it when you get back. I'll be interested to hear about it. Ah, young love." Paul chuckled.
The next morning Bert set out to drive the many miles to Dubuque in her little Ford car. Paul saw her off that morning. "Have a great time….Give me a call when you get there…" Paul gave her one last hug and she left him with a kiss. "Who's harder to say goodbye to?" she whispered.
"You for sure…." Paul smiled. He hooked a hand in the pocket of his denim rancher's pants and kissed her again. He didn't want to let go of her.
"I say you…." Bert smiled and gave him one long, last kiss! "Goodbye….see you later!"
"Gilbertha Theresa….You've said goodbye to me 16 times already!"
"17…." She grinned. "Goodbye…." Bert said, soft and low and her lips left his and she got into her little car and drove out of their little driveway. "I love you…." She told him, giving him one last wave goodbye out the little car window. He stayed there till she and her little car were out of sight.
She drove the miles by herself to her little hometown of Dubuque. Bert was proud of herself, driving all that way alone. She drove around her charming little hometown some. "Hasn't changed a bit…." She smiled. Bert soon pulled into her parents residence, 1921 Simpson street. Nobody was out in the yard with the little white arbor. One usually would see her little brother John playing with the boys in the neighborhood….but he was no where in sight. Her father's car was gone too and she assumed he was gone on a carpentry job. Probably with her younger brother Eddie…..maybe John Jr. too, she wondered. Soon the front door of the charming brick home opened and Bert's little sister Rosa came out running to meet her! It reminded her of when Rosa was a little girl and would run to catch up with Bert and her school friend Millie. Mildred Spensley to be exact. Rosa loved to be around Bert and Millie all the time back then!
"Bert!...You're home!" The 19 year old young lady hugged her older sister's neck." I feel like I haven't seen you in FOREVER!" Rosa started crying but couldn't help but smile.
"Oh, my baby sister! I'm so happy to see you!" Bert smiled and hugged her little sister.
"Paul's so good to let you come!...Oh Bert! We should go shopping at Roshek's, you and me…..and we could call up Mildred Spensley….Oh, and Esther Potter and Carol McNeely, she'll want to see you again…and Gladys Fenton, you remember Gladie don't you?!…..She asked about you, you know….and Dorothy Hillery and Virginia Kingsley and….the two Johns! John Cullen and John Fox….and Odessa Winge and that cutie pie Elton White, he is so handsome as ever, Bert! A real dreamboat! Oh, his brother Harold still asks about you…..just the other day in fact! Well, then again, Elton does too! Oh and…."
"Rosa…are you going to name every student in my graduating class?!" Bert laughed at her little sister, talking so fast and was so excited. She and Bert were a lot alike in that way!
"Hold on, let me start again!...Mary Beach, Mary Bradley, Homer Butt….poor guy, what an unfortunate name!...Harry Buxton, oh I forgot about him, he's gorgeous too!...Carlton Conzett, John Cullen, Eleanore Eddy…."
"Rosa, honey….that's enough!..." Bert laughed at her 19 year old little sister. "So when do I get to go with you and Adriel for that little date?!"
"Tomorrow night! Oh it's a pity that Paul isn't here! We could've gone on a double date!" Rosa smiled big and brightly.
"Oh, that's alright. I am sure there will be other times!...Where's Mother? And Daddy?! And John?" Bert smiled after hugging her little sister again.
"Oh, Mother's inside making luncheon! And Daddy and John are out driving Daddy's car around town!"
"Little Johnnie is learning how to drive?! Our little brother?!" Bert smiled widely. "Last I knew, he was 13 years old!" She laughed.
"Bert! He's 16!" Rosa giggled.
"Well where have I been this whole time?!" Bert laughed at herself and hooked her arm around her little sister and they went into the charming home at 1921 Simpson Street.
"Hallo Mutter!...Oh, hello Mother…." Bert smiled, hugging the short little petite black haired lady with glasses and a bold look on that face of hers.
"Hallo Liebes ... schön dich zu sehen! ... du schwanger, hä?" Rosina asked her a question in German, seeing her daughter had put on a bit of weight around her middle since she had last seen her. "You….ah….um…put on weight?!" Rosina, in her broken English wasn't sure how to word it.
"Mother…." Bert sighed and her thin shoulders slumped. "I come back to Dubuque for a little visit and that is what you ask me, "Are you pregnant?"
"I said nice to see you as well!" Rosina nodded.
"Are you?!...Oh, are you, Bert?!" Rosa hugged her sister, grinning from ear to ear. "Oh, I prayed for you!...This is so nice!"
"Are you?" Rosina looked back at her oldest child and oldest daughter.
"I'm not….Not right now…." She sighed and looked at her little sister as if to say sorry.
"Well….you put on weight….you work, get that off! No want to get fat….." Rosina said in her broken English and went back to her work. "Schoeberl side get fat late in life!…..no good!" She sighed, shaking her head. "You getting fat. You blow up like balloon soon or later…"
Bert stared at her mother in disbelief and looked back at her sister Rosa.
"Bert, let's go already!...Mother, we're going to Roshek's, okay?!" Rosa called out the door as she nearly pushed her older sister to her car.
"Now don't listen to Mother! You're gorgeous as ever, Bert!" Rosa was in the passengers side and Bert was busy driving…..and worrying about her body. She never had a problem before. She learned to love her body for exactly how it was. "I know I'm not as thin as I used to be!...Rosa, is it that noticeable?!"
"Now, Bert! You're perfect!...I could kill for your long legs! You have gorgeous legs! The other girls always talked about your legs…."
"We'll they never said anything to me about it!" Bert chuckled a little.
"They were just jealous!...Oh, and the guys sure did!...Maybe more than just your legs!" Rosa giggled. "Your legs are to die for! Trust me sis! You're beautiful!...Now, Bert! Remember Roshek's is downtown!"
"Yes, Rosa….I know!" Bert chuckled with her sister. And turned down a street.
"You're SURE you're not pregnant…." Rosa asked quickly.
"Rosa…." Bert sighed.
"Sorry…Well, you could be!...Someday you will be again, I just know it!…..oh would it be nice if we were having babies at the same time?!"
"Rosa….." Bert chuckled, shaking her head. "You, young lady need to get married first…..you're such a good girl. Never even kissed a boy…."
"I have so!" Rosa laughed! "Milton Sweeney and I used to go to Lovers Lane to kiss all the time! That's as far as we got though…he wouldn't give it up to me!"
"Rosa Katherine Walbrun!" Bert exclaimed with a breath. "Well good,…you worried me there a sec!….Have you kissed Adriel, huh?" Bert enquired and raised an eyebrow with a sly grin. That sly Walbrun grin.
"Bert, you made out with every boy in your class except for Homer! So you be quiet!" Rose chuckled. "And no,…..I haven't kissed Adriel! He almost did the other night though!"
"And why not? What happened?" Bert grinned, glancing at her sister.
"Johnnie sent the dog out the door after us and Adriel doesn't care for dogs so he got out of there quick! I was SO embarrassed!"
"Oh Johnnie…" Bert grinned and chuckled, thinking of her baby brother's little antics.
"It's not funny, Bert! He ruined our moment!"
"There will be other times, I'm sure…..Just don't get too carried away….Well…Here we are!" Bert stopped the car in front of the large department store. "Shopping or Food first, Rosa?"
"Shopping, of course!" Rosa exclaimed excitedly and the sisters walked through several little shops within Roshek's department store.
"Oh Bert! PAUL would just LOVE you in this!" Rosa said boldly, holding up a black lace brassiere and girdle lingerie set. She loved to tease her sister.
"Rosa! Put that down!" Bert whispered sharply, embarrassed at her little sister, though she couldn't help but grin. "I already have a set of those!...Now, this. This I don't have…." Bert said, holding up a 1930s lingerie Kimono robe.
"Get the burgundy one! You would look gorgeous in it! And this necklace!...I think Paul would LOVE it! Some makeup and your hair curled real pretty!"
"That reminds me….I need to call Paul…." Bert said, searching for a telephone.
"Bert, does it matter?! You're a grown woman!" Rosa asked as she followed her older sister.
"I promised I would when I got in town…..Plus, I miss him already!"
"Oh please!"
"You'll understand when you're married someday, my little sister…." Bert smiled. She paid for the long distance call and got Paul on the line.
"Hi Sweetheart…..glad I caught you. Yes, I got in just fine. No problems….Yes, Rosa and I are at Roshek's right now…..I'm buying something nice, you'll love it….." She whispered, flirting with him. It was in the way she said it. "Oh….you'll…have to wait and see…when I come back to you!….I love you, honey. Talk to you later. Muah!...Yes, I still wish you were here. Then I'd really kiss you!...oh yes, of course. And then some…" She teased, in her low sultry voice. "Yes, honey….Talk to you later. Love ya! Bye bye!"
Bert hung up the little department store phone to find her sister staring at her.
"Now what's that look all about, Rosa?!" she asked, softly placing a dainty hand on her smooth hip.
"You still flirt with your husband?" Rosa stated. "You two seriously still "have it off"?!….I thought married couples stopped having sex soon after marriage!"
"That's silly. I don't know why folks say that!" Bert said boldly. "It doesn't have to be that way…..I mean.. it has slowed some with us since were so busy with the ranch but to completely stop, no….I don't think I even have to answer that question!….We make time for it…" Her eyes gleamed at her sister. With a daring wink, her blackest black hair flipped with the turn of her head and she strolled down the large open space with counters and glass windows and pillars holding up the large building that is Roshek's and the two women walked into the building's restaurant, "the Roshek Packet Room" to grab a little bite to eat.
The next night of course Adriel Randall picked Rosa and Bert up for the little date at a place called "Central Lunch" or the "Central Café" listed at 1410 Central Avenue. Bert had a good time being their chaperone, so to speak. It was a nice little time….but Bert missed her husband some and she too thought to spend some time with her parents while she was in town. So Bert asked her sister's boyfriend to drop her off at the Walbrun home. Adriel then asked Rosa to go with him for the rest of their little date. And she agreed. Adriel took her to the Julien Dubuque Monument, the gravestone of the city's founder. Snow was on the bare trees surrounding the little place, with snow covered hills and walkways. Then, as you walked up the snow covered path up to the monument, there were red rose petals up the snowy path to the stone monument.
"Oh…Adriel…." Rosa let out a breath in the chilly air. "How beautiful is this…"
"I…uh…had a little help. I hoped you'd like…something like this."
"It's beautiful…Adriel…." Rosa smiled at him. Her eyes shone with love at him. He was fairly tall, wore glasses and looked a bit nerdy, but 19 year old Rosa Walbrun was head over heels in love with the boy.
"I…uh…I uh…wanted to ask you…..I've been thinking…..I've been wanting to…." Adriel took a deep breath because he was so nervous. "I uh…want to give you this…." He whispered and placed a ring into her hand.
"Adriel William Randall….are you trying to propose to me?" she asked boldly. Her face broke out into a beaming smile and stared at him, placing the ring on her finger herself. "I was thinking a diamond…but this'll do….yes…." She smiled, holding her hand out to admire the ring, it had a colored gem of her birthstone in it.
"I didn't know how to go about this…I want to marry you…I promise I'll be true to you till….till we can get married….someday…." Adriel's chest heaved. He was so nervous.
"So….you've given me a promise ring then…."
Adriel nodded. "Is that alright?" He breathed, he held her hand wearing the ring and for some strange reason, he bent down on one knee. He felt dumb and maybe this wasn't the way he should go about doing this….but he really felt that he loved her….and that he wanted it to be romantic and sweet and what she wanted. He hoped it was.
"Adriel…do you want to marry me?" she whispered holding his hands. He stood slowly to his feet and let out another breath.
"Yes…" he said softly. He wished he could let her know she was the most beautiful woman he had ever met but he was so nervous.
"Adriel…." Rosa smiled at him. "What is stopping us?"
"I don't know if I have the money right now…..Are we ready for this? I thought I'd work another year or so….then we'd get married….and move to my hometown,…Guttenberg. You'd like it, there….it's a nice little town, Rosa."
"What is stopping us?!...Let's just go!...We can go right to City Hall and sign up for our marriage license…." Rosa wrapped her arms around him, standing in the cold breezy weather. "I have money too, Adriel….I can help us along to get us started. I don't care…I want to be Mrs. Adriel William Randall….."
"How soon? Right now?" He asked her. A big smile appeared on his face.
"Right now…." She said and kissed him. "C'mon!" she told him, grabbing his hand and boldly led him to his car. He drove the to the Dubuque County City Hall to apply for their marriage license. December 22nd, 1938 was the date that cold day.
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
Eddie and Helen indeed rented the small brick home on Rhomberg Avenue from a Mr. Danglemeyer. My Grandpa Dale had written Mr. Danglemire, but I saw in some news articles it was Danglemeyer. They moved to the Gruber homestead in 1938. Things eventually were going well when Eddie started working with his dad in the carpentry business. He even told Helen, my great grandma, that he "felt he had the world by its tail! "
My mom remembered her great grandmother Rosina Schoeberl Walbrun as a short, fat lady with coal black hair till her dying day. Her husband, John Henry Walbrun seemed to be a skinny tall man…so my guess is the weight may come from the Schoeberl side and so in this chapter, Rosina's words came back to bite her later! Lol.
All the people's names I mentioned were actual people Bert went to school with and was in clubs and such. She was in glee club and on the basketball team too. Acted in school plays. Etc. My Grandma let me scan family photos years ago and in it was a photo of Bert and her friend, Millie. From my research, Bert may have known 3 Mildred's! Mildred Spensley, Mildred Mueller and Mildred LaShorne.
Adriel and Rose's engagement appeared in the newspaper on December 11th, 1938. The news of their marriage license appeared on December 22nd, 1938 and they married on December 27th, 1939. Perhaps they planned to get married in 1938,…when she was only 19? Moving awful fast! Adriel died at the age of 43 in 1950.
Apples with salt. One of the residents at my workplace, Della, as I've mentioned her in this story before, used to eat apples with salt sprinkled on them. Never heard of that till I met her. She's now passed on. I miss her. One time I came into her room at the nursing home to deliver some laundry and her (adult) kids who were there were like, "Hey, mom...it's your favorite Laundry lady!" I was like, "Aaawwww!" That blessed my heart!
Paul and Bert's wedding announcement mentioned that Paul worked for the Crowell Publishing Company. A magazine publishing company... I don't know if this was in Dubuque or Waukon.
