Baby
The next week went by smoothly. Things were normal - well normal as far as they could be. Beth moved on from what almost happened, and Maggie was talking to Hershel with Glenn about seeing each other. He agreed if they were safe and careful. He was more worried about Beth and keeping her safe, along with the boys.
Meredith was taking fresh bread over to the group. Merle was sitting down by the fire drinking coffee. She sat down the basket of bread.
"Holy shit." Merle said looking at it, grabbing a loaf and ripping it in half. "Smells like heaven."
Meredith smiled slightly. "That would be a good aroma in heaven." She sat down, and rubbed her hands slightly. "Thank you."
"What fer?" Merle said taking a bite.
"For helping Beth in the barn last week, with Ben." Meredith shook her head. "Sick son - " She paused closing her eyes. "Thank you, for helping her."
Merle nodded, unsure what to say. He looked down, and kept quiet for a second.
"Whatever you need. Let me know." Meredith smiled slightly, and got up and walked back to the house.
Merle smiled slightly to himself, "I'll keep that in mind." He continued eating.
Meredith went inside and continued working on her list of thing she had to do. She stopped working on something and held onto the counter for a minute. She breathed and kept working. She was known to keep herself busy throughout her contractions it kept her busy and made them easier to get through. She finished inside and went outside and sat in the chair peeling a bucket of apples. Daniel came over and helped for a bit. A big one caught her off guard and stopped laying her head back.
"Mama okay?" Daniel asked looking at her.
Meredith nodded, not saying anything. "Just some contractions, sweetie."
"Baby soon?" He smiled, looking at her stomach. He put a hand on it and rubbed. "Helping mama?"
"Oh yes." Meredith smiled, and sat up a bit. She was keeping track of them. They were really close together and getting really unbearable and painful. During the next one she put down the bucket, and rubbed her side and felt her water break. She had a good poker face though and smiled when it was over. "Can you go find your daddy? Tell him my water broke. They are really close." She held up 4 fingers, laid her head back and started humming softly.
Daniel nodded and ran off to go find his dad. He was in the barn with the men talking. "Daddy." Daniel said going into the middle were Hershel was. Daniel was nervous.
Hershel was talking to the men about expanding the house and putting up a fence. He glanced down seeing Daniel, he kneeled. "What's wrong bud?"
"I...Uhm.." Daniel looked around at everyone else, and frowned. "Mama said, her water heater broke." He bit his lip, knowing that didn't sound right.
Hershel laughed and ruffled his hair. "One more time. What happened?"
Daniel frowned, and grabbed his dad's hand. "Mama in pain." He said more firmly. He gave his dad's hand a tug.
Hershel realized what he meant, and got up. "Meeting is over." He said walking out of the barn.
Meredith was breathing more, standing up beside the porch railing, holding onto it, slowly dancing. She was humming a song, and singing to it with the contractions. "how beautiful is the body of Christ. How beautiful the heart that bled...that took all my sin ...and bore it insteadā¦.How beautiful the...tender eyes..that chose to forgive...and never despiseā¦.How beautiful..how beautiful.."
The girls came out of the camper, and saw her. Hershel came over.
"Why didn't you get me sooner?" He asked rubbing her back.
Meredith shook her head. "Knew you were busy." She smiled slightly. "Nothing could of been done."
Hershel smiled and shook his head. "Still could have helped you.."
"Mhmm." Meredith sighed. She started humming again and breathing. She was still singing how beautiful through the contractions.
Maggie and Beth came up to the house. "Do..you need help?"
Meredith smiled at the end of one. "I'm okay. Keep your brothers busy." She moved her hair up into a messy bun.
Beth nodded and took Joel and Daniel. Maggie stayed put..
Hershel looked at everyone else. "She'll be alright. Not her first time." he laughed. "Go keep busy." He was addressing Maggie and everyone else. "I'll holler if I need you."
Meredith looked at him. "Not your first time either." She laughed slightly, and walked into the house.
Maggie sighed and turned around. "Alright.. Lets go." she said as they all started working on a fence. Maggie and Glenn were working closer together. Beth was keeping the boys busy, along with helping in between.
They could faintly hear pained singing from Meredith.
