Rosemary bit down on the coat sleeve that hung from the hanger above. Why wasn't this contraction passing? Rather, it seemed it was gaining in intensity. Was it natural to want to stand up, to squat? Was that apart of this process?
With her limited room in the closet and her reasoning slowly slipping away due to the desperation of the pain, she, despite her proper upbringing, began to loosen her skirt and pull it up over her knees. If not for the criminals outside, she would have ripped the whole skirt away, giving her luxurious freedom. At the space she gained, her legs naturally spread apart and her feet pushed hard against the closet wall. How on God's green earth did ladies survive this process? And why, oh why, did they succumb to it more than once? Lee would be lucky to get within an arm's distance of her after all this.
"Ah ha!" A victorious cry came from the country bumpkin, causing her to startle just as the sawing ceased.
She took slow, deliberate breaths. One, two, three. That was a bit better. Yes, something about intensely focusing on the breath brought a calm deep inside of her. Perhaps breathing was the key to feeling more in control during this whole outrageous birth experience. And, it did silence her moans quite a bit, which was a plus considering her situation.
But how long could she keep this up? If the criminals did not leave soon she was going to be found out. Ready or not, these babies were coming. Even without this unusual circumstance of being alone and in labor in a closet while the criminals lurked outside- she wasn't ready. Her bag wasn't packed for the hospital, her and Lee had only practiced the breathing exercises once before, and Doc Carson said they would go over the final details at her next appointment. But here, it seemed the babies were coming today. Today of all days!
"What is it, Saunders?" Fife's voice held a lilt of expectation as if the coin had just been found.
"I knew she was here!" The assistant, who's name was obviously Saunders, shuffled from foot to foot. His voice was so close it felt like he was standing over her. Perhaps he was. She had her eyes pinched shut in pain the last several minutes. Perhaps she had been discovered. And if she had, at least she would be free of the tight, dark confining closet. She shook her head at the surprising thought. Wait—what? Was she going crazy? Sure, the freedom from the closet was tempting, but not so much so that she would wish to be found by those scoundrels.
"Get your head on straight, girl." She murmured to herself.
She slowly opened her eyes, fully persuaded she would see the awful stained tooth mongrel looking at her, but instead, the closet was black. Her hiding spot was intact. Who then had they been speaking of?
"It's a little kitty cat." Saunders' voice had gone soft and high-pitched. Rosemary bit down hard on the sleeve as the contraction continued to tear her apart, so hard she felt she would grind her teeth to smithereens. Poor Sidney!
All at once two things happened— first there was a hiss from the cat followed sharply by a howl from Saunders. Someone stumbled and hit the closet door causing her to nearly jump out of her skin.
She put a hand over her mouth and prayed—prayed for her hiding place to stay intact, for a break in the birthing action, even prayed for the safety of her Sidney… all was quiet outside the door. She counted the breath. One, Two, Three. If she could just stay focused she would be able to get through.
"Serves you right for messing with the darn animal." Fife's voice finally broke the silence. "Get back to work!"
She could imagine Saunders rubbing his reddened, clawed up arm, a look of pain across his face. Sidney could be quite nasty when she wanted to be.
After a moment, the sawing continued. Thank the Lord above! At least her small moans and groans would be under the cover of the noise once again. Just as suddenly, a horrid, loud sound split the air… the sound of wood splintering in a mighty way. Dottie's sewing machine must have broken in half.
"It's gotta be here somewhere—" Fife called out just as the sound of a coin hitting the hardwood floor sounded. "There!" He must have bent and picked up the coin. "Good work, my man. Good work. Let's get out of here…"
"I done split that machine apart, didn't I, Boss?" Saunders voice was desperate for approval.
Fife sighed then grunted. "I do have to say, Saunders, you deserve to pick out a treasure all for yourself for your part in all this. Anything you want—"
Rosemary could imagine Fife's hand sweeping out towards the parlor, showcasing all her fine items. But she didn't care. Saunders could take anything he wanted as long as he was quick and it would get them out of here quickly. Except for her victrola… he could have anything but that.
She heard Saunders scuttling around the room. Over to the grandfather clock. Then to the mantle. Over to the end table where her victrola stood on display. Back towards the staircase. Oh for goodness sakes, she was about to go out and pick something for him to take if it would help them move along.
"Oh, I know!" Saunders sounded like an excited ten year old, and relief coursed through her. "I want that can of coffee."
Rosemary continued to bite into the coat sleeve, the darkness around her spinning.
He continued, "That stuff is sure good."
Even though she wanted to howl out in pain, she couldn't help the smirk that came to her face. So the bumpkin had drank it himself. What luck! If it truly was Bill's criminal blend, both Saunders' and Fife's innards would be churning in a matter of moments if not sooner.
Just as quickly, her smirk turned to a grimace as her belly tightened again. His bellyache would rival her own if Lee and Bill's assessment of the stuff was correct. But nothing, no criminal coffee could be this painful… could it?
"Suit yourself," Fife sounded a mite seasick, "I'm feeling a little funny after that stuff. Grab it and let's get outta here."
She heard Saunders' stomping to the kitchen as the pain ripped through her even stronger than before. If she could just keep quiet one more minute they would be gone…
"Why," Fife called out, "what do we have here?" And for the second time in a matter of moments she was convinced she had been found out. For the love of Pete, she was trying to be quiet but she couldn't help the skirmishes and little yelps she emitted. And now that the sawing background noise had ceased, she wouldn't be surprised to be found out.
"It looks like a car, sir." Saunders replied.
"Of course it is, Idiot."
Her belly tightened… was it nerves or the continuing of this contraction? Or both? If they saw the car… surely they'd notice the open door. They'd figure someone had stumbled into the middle of their stealing spree. She would be found out. They would search for her, find her. What would they do to her? To the babies?
By miracle of miracles, the men resumed their walking to the front door, both of them laughing in a very sinister-like way.
"Well, I'll be." Fife's voice had traveled further away. "I say that is a treasure for the taking. Let's just see if we can find the keys around here somewhere."
By the telephone! She wanted to call out to them, to speed the process along, but instead crossed her legs quite determinedly. These babies just had to stay in there a moment longer.
Silent prayers coursed through her lips. She wasn't even sure of the words, she just knew that it was the most fervently she had prayed in her entire lifetime.
A moment passed, then two. She was just about to cry out when she heard the rattling of keys.
"Got it, let's go." Fife called out.
The tromping of their boots went across her precious rug and out the front door, down the steps. She was pretty sure she heard the car engine start and rattle away. But there was no way she was getting out of this closet yet. Not until she was sure.
If she could just get to the telephone she could phone the operator, Sarah. Sarah would find Lee and send him home more than likely with a troop of men including the doctor. But she didn't have an extra moment to spare. Even if she called him, it would be a miracle if they beat the babies' arrival.
She moaned as she gripped the jacket, this time, with such strength it fell from the hanger above and toppled into her lap.
"God, it is just you and me. I have no idea what I am doing so you gotta help me here. Help me!" She howled as she dug her heels into the closet wall. A warm gush of water wet her skirt and her underthings, leaking onto the closet floor below. Yes, this time it was real. The babies were coming.