Chapter 20
June 8th, 1992
Hannah stood beside her husband, tears falling freely down her cheeks, as she gazed at the tiny grave at her feet. Michael David Dobbs. Their beautiful son. Born too soon, taken home to be with the Lord after spending only two days in his mother's loving arms.
Hannah's second pregnancy had been an uneventful one, but at the beginning of her eighth month she began to have dull pains in what Hannah knew now were contractions. She hadn't thought much about them being the beginnings of labor as it wasn't time for the baby to be born, but soon the dull aches became sharp and distinct. David had rung the large bell that was on the porch in front of their cabin to notify Granny but it took time for the elderly woman to come across the holler and around the lake to their home. By then, the child had been born. He was very small, but they still had hope that maybe their little son would be all right. There had been no reason to think that anything was wrong…then. No way to anticipate the terrible grief and loss that would follow their son's birth.
He had been a beautiful baby. Very tiny…yes, but so perfect. Dark curls just like his father and the same deep blue eyes with thick dark lashes. A tiny rosebud mouth, but he had a weak little cry that tore at his parent's hearts. As soon as little Michael had cried, Hannah and David had known in their hearts that their little son wasn't destined to stay with them in this world for very long.
Sassy, just barely five years old, hugged her mother's legs on the hillside next to her brother's grave. Her own eyes were filled with tears, not so much from her own sadness, but because of her parent's tears and obvious grief. She had been excited about being a big sister to the new baby only to have that role taken away from her without warning.
David had built the tiny casket out of fragrant pine wood, painstakingly making it as beautiful as possible…simple and yet loving in its form.
"It will hold someone loved and very precious for all eternity," David had thought. It was something that he do for his son that was so wanted…so loved.
Hannah, too, had lovingly lined the casket as she would have Michael's cradle… with a quilt she had made for him. His final resting place was on the hill behind the cabin, his grave marked by a wooden cross that bore nothing but his name. Hannah's parents were buried nearby. Hannah didn't believe that Michael was in that cold grave…she knew that he was with the Maker of All, but she still felt better that he was with his grandparents.
"This is Michael David, Mamma, Papa…your grandson. Take good care of him until we're all together again. I love you all," Hannah thought as David filled in the tiny grave, crying silently as he covered the wooden casket with dirt.
Instinctively, Hannah reached out to pull her daughter closer to her side for her own comfort more than for Sassy's.
"Don't cry, Mama…" Sassy whispered, "I love you."
"Oh, Baby," Hannah said, stricken by her child's words, "I love you too…" She buried her face in Sassy's soft curls and cried softly.
Finished with his grim task, David turned to his wife and daughter, gathering them both in his arms and holding them tightly. The little family stood there for several minutes, drawing strength from each other, before slowly making their way back down the hill to the cabin.
Sassy ran to the barnyard to play with Angel while Hannah and David went into the cabin. That morning, Hannah had packed away all the baby clothes she had sewn, along with the tiny blankets and nappies. Later, David would take them to the midwife to be passed on to another family who could use them.
"It's gonna be okay," David said trying to reassure his wife as he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close.
"I know," Hannah whispered as she leaned her head against his strong, supportive shoulder. She breathed in the familiar scent that identified the man she loved and tried not to cry. Losing a child in infancy wasn't unheard of here in the mountains. Pre-natal care was unavailable and unseen dangers threatened every pregnancy. It was a fact of life in this place and accepted by the people who chose to live here. Knowing this didn't make the loss hurt any less, though.
United in their grief, Hannah and David leaned on each other over the next sorrow filled weeks. Their bond grew stronger as they joined together to face their loss as a couple and move on with their lives. Sometimes, they would cling to each other tightly as they remembered the child that had blessed their lives for such a short time.
They showered Sassy with love and attention. Their remaining child was a godsend for the grief stricken parents. With an unerring instinct Sassy seemed to know which of her parents needed her the most at any given time and she would spend more time with that parent.
David began venturing down the mountain occasionally to the town below to buy the supplies they could not grow in the mountains. Hannah worried constantly when he was gone, terrified that he would encounter one of the men who had tried to kill him so many years ago. Although he offered to take Hannah with him, she was too afraid to leave the security of the mountain. Time moved on and their life together continued as they faced the future together secure in their love and devotion to each other.