*Author's Note*
Thank you for the reviews, faves, and follows.
A 3-month time jump has transpired from that last chapter to this one. Ooo, back to back updates! Exciting, right?
Fall Birthdays
Novella POV:
I felt exhausted most of the time an' looked like I had a pumpkin for a belly. I was ready to give birth anytime the baby was ready to come out. Hopefully the baby wouldn't come today tho. Today was October 3rd, Rihanna's second birthday. Oh, I just couldn't believe how fast she was growin'. Seemed like only yesterday she was born. The past couple of years seemed to have flown by so quickly.
I was currently in the kitchen makin' cake batter for my daughter's birthday cake. I had to get it baked, cooled, and frosted early 'nough 'fore family started arrivin' to celebrate Rihanna's big day. Tolbert was sittin' at the table keepin' me company as our daughter was nearby on the floor playin' with some of her wooden blocks, buildin' a tower.
"What kinda cake ya makin'?" My husband asked in his velvety gruff timbre as his stormy eyes raked over me as I mixed up the batter wit' a wire-wisk.
"Sugar molases, it's gonna have a sweet buttercream frostin' too." I explained, givin' the batter a few more stirs for tappin' the excess batter into the bowl and puttin' the wisk on the counter.
While grabbin' a wooden spoon I heard him say, "Hmm, sounds good."
"Should, I made the same cake back in July for your birthday." I teased as I poured the batter into the greased round-pans.
"That chocolate cake yer uncle got for yer birthday was good. Too bad cocoa powder cost too much greenbacks." Tolbert told me as I placed the cakes into the oven.
We could have the cocoa, but my husband was too cheap. He always said that we needed to spend our money wisely to make it stretch an' support or family, but he wouldn't think twice 'bout goin' to twon to get drunk wit' his brothers or our cousins. If it was somethin' I wanted it was too expensive, but if he wanted somethin' he found money for it. Like one time he came home from a trip to town wit' a bottle of Old Crowe Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey, which is costly and a prime label, and I just had to turn my cheek and deal wit' it.
"Yea…" I trailed off, closin' the oven door. "We get by just fine without fancy things, ya make sure of that, Tolbert." I told my husband, strokin' his ego, as I went over to a cabinet to grab a bowl to make the buttercream frostin' in.
"I do my best, darlin'." He said, sippin' on his coffee.
Maybe his best could be better, but I had a roof over mine an' my daughter's head, food in our bellies, and clothes on our backs so I couldn't complain. I was also gonna have a baby any day now, so…
"Your best is 'nough, Tolbert." I assured him as I placed a large 'mount of butter into the mixin' bowl. "I don't need fancy things an' lots of money to make me happy." I told him while placin' some scoops of sugar into the bowl. "All I need's my family." Actually, all I need's my chil'ren, I can take or leave him. Yes, I love the man, but lovin' him's a hard task. I've learn't how to walk a tight-rope wit' him as to not upset his irritable temper. My husband was a hothead, quick to fight an' spew out hateful words, an' that was hard to live with.
The love I had for my chil'ren as pure an' unconditional, but the love I had for my husband was grown out of bein' together an' knowin' him for so long. I loved him wit' a piece of me, but I kept a piece to myself so that if somethin' happened I wouldn't be broken hearted. A wife's love an' a mother's love are two different things. A mother's love never wavers, but a wife's love can.
'Nough bout that tho, it's my daughter'd birthday so I'm goin' to focus on makin' her cake.
"This time next year yer gonna be makin' two cakes." Tolbert said wit' joy drippin' from his smoothly gruff timbre as he sipped on his coffee, lookin' at me wit' a gleam in his stormy eyes.
I just smiled at him and nodded 'fore startin' the task of mixin' together buttercream frostin'.
Tolbert POV:
"Tolbert in about 12 more years you're going to be beating suitors off with a stick." Perry joked 'bout Rihanna, who was on his lap, as we sat in the sittin' chairs near each otha.
"Yes, son, yer daughter's gonna blossom into a purty lady one day." Poppy added in, noddin' his head, as he sipped on his cup of coffee from his spot on the sofa.
"She's only two, let's not start talkin' bout her blossomin' an' courtin' just yet." I gruffly groaned, not wantin' to think 'bout 12 years into the future. I was lucky that I didn't have t'compete for Ella's hand cause she was a law clerk an' deemed unfit, unmarriag'ble. My daughter's not gonna be schooled an' workin', she'll get scores of suitors that I'll have t'weed out. Just the thought of my sweet lil girl growin' up an' courtin's 'nough t'give me the shakes an' a heart attack.
"If this next one's a boy you can use him to help ya scare away any potential suitors." Perry joked as Rihanna hopped off his lap an' ran into the kitchen t'find Ella.
"If the boy's an'thin' like Tolbert Rihanna'll 've a helluva hard time courtin'. He'll be mighty protective." Poppy said in a matta-o-fact soundin' tone.
"He's gonna be named Tolbert 'Tol' McCoy Junior, course he's gonna be just like me." I'd be proud t'have a son be just like me. I'm a good mine, my boy'd be a good one too. I'd teach him all that he needed t'know 'bout huntin', farmin', shinin', an' life.
Novella POV:
I was sittin' at the kitchen table wit' Aunt Sally, talkin' 'bout mundane womanly things, whenever Rihanna came runnin' up to me. "Ya done sittin' wit' Uncle Perry?" I asked with a smile, lookin' down at my small girl.
"Yea, mama. Wanna sit wit' ya." She told me in her sweet sugar voice, smilin' wide.
"Climb up on the bench, sweetie." I told her, pattin' the bench next to me.
Rihanna just nodded and did as she was told while Aunt Sally just sat cross from her, a small smile on his lips. Suddenly my mother-in-law's smile dropped an' that glassy zoned out look she gets when seein' took over. She blinked her eyes 'fore leanin' over an' sayin' lowly in my ear, "Anna's gonna be sittin' on a kitchen bench next t'ya helpin' feed an' tend t'your boys while your husband's off huntin'. You scream an' nearly trip ov'r your skirts, orderin' her t'stay put an' watch the four lil ones, 'fore ya run out the door frantic an' pale upon hearin' the news your husband got shot."
What the hell? Damnit, Aunt Sally would have the gift of sight. Her blarin's 'bout me, my chil'ren, an' my future were freaky. I didn't like hearin' them, made my skin crawl.
She furrowed her dark brows at me 'fore hissin', "Don't look at me like I've sprouted 'nother head. What I say's true. Ain't gonna happen 'til many years from now. Many many years."
"Um…okay…" I trailed off, givin' her a wary look.
"Anna's your spittin' image durin' that time, but all your sons in their various ages all resemble their papa." She sighed in a low and said tone, one that was barely above a whisper.
I shook my head while tellin' her, "I reckon if my boys didn't look like me they'd look like my husband, but why're ya callin' Rihanna Anna for?"
"Cause it's what ya call her in that time." Why would I do that for? I've been callin' her Rihanna ever since she was born. Me an' Tolbert opted not to give her a nickname after talkin' wit' Uncle Perry, who felt that Rihanna was too beautiful of a name to chop down. Only one that I've ever heard call her Anna's Cap an' I think he just does it to get under my skin, like how he calls me Nova. "Your sons lookin' like your husband doesn't bode well for McCoys, he's not a McCoy."
"Aunt Sally, you're soundin' a bit crazy right now." I honestly told her, a leery look no doubt on my pale face. How could my husband not be a McCoy, I'm married to her son?
"I'm not crazy. Your mind's just refusin' t'believe what ya hear cause it don't make no sense right now. But hear my words, your boys won't be McCoys." Aunt Sally told me in a low an' firm tone that had chills goin' down my spine.
"I think it's time for cake an' presents. I'm gonna go collect everyone." I told my mother-in-law 'fore pullin' way from her and risin' from the table. "Rihanna, go tell everyone outside it's time for cake." I told my daughter as I helped her down from the bench.
"Okay mama." She nodded with a big smile for runnin' off towards the door to go outside an' find her kin to make her grand announcement too.
"It's time for cake, then presents, gentlemen." I called out to the men in the livin' room 'fore goin' to the counter to grab the birthday cake, hat was on a platter, in order to bring it to the table.
This year my little girl'd be able to blow out her own candles an' open her own presents. I was so happy an' proud.
A week later, late at night durin' a blustery fall storm, my water broke. Made Tolbert jump outta bed faster then a shootin' bullet cause he got wet. Of course, I woke up, I was the one with a soaked nightgown an' gettin' birthin' pains. Like the last two times I was in labor Tolbert quickly dressed an' went to fetch his mama 'fore goin' to town to get Doc Rutherford. Like wit' my first labor Ole Rand'l came with Aunt Sally while Uncle Perry came wit' Moses, after bein' informed by Tolbert the baby was comin'.
I was in the bedroom wit' only Aunt Sally an' Doc for company while Tolbert sat out on the porch with Ole Rand'l, Uncle Perry, Moses, and Rihanna. I got o doubt in my mind hat Mo was wit' Rihanna, keepin' her calm an' entertained. My brother was a good uncle to my daughter. He didn't mind helpin' out wit' her an' tendin' t'her. I think he viewed her more as a lil sister then a niece since he was only 'bout 9 years older then her.
My birthin' pains came strong an' fast. They hurt so bad that I was grittin' my teeth an' clenchin' the sheets. I'm sure my knuckles whiter then the sheets. As the hours past the pain grew. Oh my god, my last two birthin's didn't feel this pain.
After an unknown 'mount of time Doc checked me an' deemed me ready t'push. I pushed an' pushed every time I was told too 'til the Doc held up his hand an' motioned for me to rest. "Baby's comin' breech. Needs pulled out." He said from his spot at the bottom of the bed.
Oh god, a breech birth. I don't wanna end up like my mama. I can't end up like hat. MY chil'ren need me. With a strength I didn't even know a possessed I grabbed hold of the metal railin's on the headboard while orderin' in a steeled voice, "Pull the baby out. Quicker ya are better chance we'll both survive."
Aunt Sally looked 'tween me an' Doc Rutherfod 'fore quickly runnin' off, no doubt to fetch the tick I kept in a small closet in the main room to use for packin' an' to try an' staunch my bleedin'.
Doc just nodded his head an' told me, "This is gonna hurt. Don't got 'nough time t'give ya some morphine or a sedative."
"I don't care bout the pain, just pull the baby out so we'll both get our best chance." I wasn't gonna wait too long like the midwife an' doc did wit' my mama. They waited too long on her an' only my brother survived.
Doc nodded and then did as he was told. I felt the baby bein' yanked outta me, felt like I was bein' torn in two. The pain was unbearable and an unearthly cry escaped from my throat. I could feel my thick blood oozin' out of me, coatin' my thighs an' spreadin' onto the sheet as I let go of the headboard rails an' let my arms drop to my sides. My vison was blurred, but I could see Doc cleanin' off my baby. I heard the baby cry as I blurrily saw Doc smack it's butt. In my doubled vision state I saw Sally enter the room, arms full of tick.
"It's a boy, Novella." I heard Doc say in his raspy smoke-laden voice 'fore I fell into complete blackness.
Tolbert POV:
Dawn had risen a few hours ago an' we were still sittin' on the porch waitin' for Doc an' ma to come out an' tell us bout the baby an' Ella. Rihanna was sleepin', curled up on her Uncle Moses' lap. I was pacin', as I always did when Ella was birthin' a baby, while poppy an' Perry were rockin' on rockers.
I halted in my pacin' an' snapped my head in the direction of the front door whenever I heard the most blood curdlin' scream echoin' in the air from the house. It sounded so painful, so inhuman. I knew in my gut that somethin'd gone wrong wit' Ella an' the baby.
"Tolbert, she'll be fine." Poppy told me, givin' me a knowin' stare, from his spot on his rocker.
"My niece is strong and stubborn, she'll make it through. She's been through worse." Perry told me, remindin' me of the tragic stillbirth my wife survived over a year 'go.
I just nodded. I had no words to reply wit', I just had to have faith that my wife an' baby were okay. I relieved grin spread 'cross my face as I heard a baby's strong cry sound from the cabin. Any minute now Doc'll be comin' out to tell me the news on my newborn an' wife.
When the door opened an' Doc stepped out onto the porch wit' a long grim look an' a cryin' buddle in his arms I knew somethin' was wrong. Rushin' to him I asked, "What is it, Doc?"
"You got a strong son, Tolbert, but Novella had a hard time birthin' him." He told me as he placed Tol into my arms. Wait a minute, why was he givin' him t'me an' not lettin' Ella hold him an' nurse him? Doc took a breath 'fore explainin', "He came breech, had'a be pulled out. Your mother's in wit' her, tendin' to her an' tryin' to staunch the bleedin'." Oh my god! Most women die in breech births, was Ella?...
"Doc, is my wife gonna die?" I bluntly asked him, needin' to know the truth, as I held my son tight to my chest an' slightly rocked him to sooth his cries.
"There's a 50/50 chance her bleedin'll stop and she'll recover. Til then you'll have to feed the baby wit' the nursin' bottle I left on the table. I'm sure Sally'll explain how it works."
"Can I see her?" I asked in a pained voice. I had to see Ella, might be the last time I'm able to.
"Yes, you may go inside. I need to talk to Randall and Perry anyways." Doc told me 'fore walkin' off towards where my poppy an' Ella's uncle were at to give them the horrible news.
I pushed the door open and walked into my cabin. The pungent smell of blood was thick in the air. It was clear that Ella lost too much of it. Smelt worse then when bleedin' out an animal 'fore guttin' an' butcherin' it up. I spotted the nursin' bottle on the table. It was a a large glass bottle with a rubber teet on it. Eh, guess I'll be holdin' Tol an' shovin' the bottle in his mouth. Mama'll tell me how to work deal wit' that. Right now I needa see my wife.
I walked right by the kitchen and pushed my bedroom door open only to see blood-soaked sheets and my mother rinsin' her hands off in a basin. Doc said she was tryin' to staunch the blood, don't know if it's workin' tho. Ella's eyes were lidded, heavy and barely open. Her copper hair was matted an' dark from bein' wet wit' sweat.
"Mama, how's she?" I asked as I walked into the room.
Mama gave me a half-smile 'fore tellin' me, "She's strong. She's still got a bit o'bleedin', but it's slowin' down. She'll live."
"Are ya sure? The bed's crimson, can't lose that much blood an' be fine."
"She'll live, Tolbert. This I've seen, she'll live to have many sons." For once my mama's crazy seer ramblin' made sense. I liked what she said. Ella was gonna live an' have more sons. "I'll go an' ready the nursin' bottle for ya. I'll write down what t'do so ya can do it on your own til she's strong 'nough t'nurse the boy." I didn't like the way she said boy. She made the word hang in the air, linger flatly.
"Tol, mama, his name's Tol." I reminded her of what she should've already known. Me an' Ella just announced that we'd be callin' our son Tolbert 'Tol' Junior many times durin' dinner ov'r the last 9 months. I dunno how she forgot her own grandson's name.
"Ah…" Mama sighed, noddin' her head wit' an unin'rested look on her face. Why did she seem unattached, like she didn't care? "I'll let ya spend time wit' Novella even tho she's knocked out from pain." She told me for walkin' off into the kitchen.
I grabbed the corner chair from near the window an' drug it ov'r by the bed. I sat down an' looked at my wife. She was still, only mov'ment was her chest risin' an' fallin' wit' her breathin'. She looked so pale, it was frightnin'. I placed my hand ontop o'hers an' told her in a shaky, but smooth tone, "Ella, darlin' ya gotta make it. We got out Tol. He needs his mama an' I need ya too. So does Rihanna." I gently rubbed my thumb 'long her knuckles. "I love ya, Ella."
Ella's eyes blinked opened. Her usually bright cornflower blues were glassy an' dull as she looked at me. Wit' a weak smile she told me, "Love ya too, Tolbert." Her gaze drifted to the bundle in my arms 'fore she weakly asked, "Is he okay? I was told he's a boy, then I blacked out."
"He's perfect. Healthy an' strong, gotta ginger patch o'hair on his head too." I assured her, movin' my arm a bit so that she could get a good look at our buddled up boy.
Ella just nodded. Her painfilled face got a serious look to is as she asked, "Am I outta the woods yet or?..."
"Mama seems to think yer gonna be fine. She say's ya got many more sons t'have." I told her assurin'ly, wantin' her t'know she weren't gonna die on me an' leave me a widower.
"Oh…" Ella exhaled in a painful breath.
Seein' my wife in pain broke my heart. I couldn't do nothin' t'help her an' that bothered me. Knowin' she needed her rest I took my hand off hers an' told her softly, "I'll go, let ya rest up. Gotta feed him some cow milk in a bottle mama's fixin' up too."
"Go take care of him, but make sure ya take care of Rihanna too." She told me weakly, her flowin' voice a near whisper.
Rihanna, I forgot all bout her. I was so worried bout my son an' my wife that my daughter slipped my mind. Hopefully she's still on the porch waitin' on me or in the kitchen wit' mama.
I just nodded an' told Ella, "I will." I gave her a small smile and got up from my chair.
I walked outta my room an' into the kitchen to see Rihanna sittin' at the table eatin' a leftover biscuit from yes'erday. "Where's gran'ma?" I asked my toddler as I took a seat in the chair next to her bench at the table.
"Outside milkin' cow." Rihanna answered me 'round a mouthful of biscuit. Pointin' at the full bottle on the table she said, "G'anma says for baby."
"Yer brother's name's Tol, not baby." I told her while grabbin' the bottle off the table an' stickin' it in my newborn son's mouth.
"She call 'im baby." My daughter informed me as she continued t'et her food.
"She's outside milkin' cow tho we got some milk still in the house?" I asked, eyein' the milk container that was in the corner. It was prolly 1/3 full.
"Yea." She nodded her head, her messy coppery tangles bouncin' ev'ry which way. "Where mama?" She asked, lookin' 'round the room wit' a searchin' look in her cornflower eyes.
"In bed restin' from havin' the baby." I explained to my daughter, who just nodded her head in return. "Where's yer uncles an' gran'pappy?"
"Uncas went home. G'anpa on porch." Rihanna answered as she finished her biscuit an' grabbed her glass of milk.
I just nodded my head while continuin' t'feed Tol. Reckon it'll be a while til mama comes back inside. Most likely poppy's just gonna rock on the porch an' pray for my family. I know mama says Ella's gonna make it an' have more sons, but I think we're gonna wait a while til we try for anymore babies. This birth's got me shaken up too much.
AN:
Oh wow, the birth of Tol was dramatic wasn't it? So, was Sally's seer vision wrong or will something happen down the road?... Don't worry Novella doesn't die, obviously she's got more to be told in her tale of the feud. Next chapter will be a time jump, but I'm not sure how big of one tho.