Rebecca became pregnant again in December 1949 at the age of 37 just two months after Susan had become pregnant for the first time. Rebecca was due in August of 1950 and Susan was due in June. Both women kept each other company and became even closer friends in the process. In April of 1950, Rebecca learned of yet another complicated pregnancy and was confined to bed rest for the remainder of her pregnancy. Susan kept her company as much as she could when Bill couldn't.
"The doctor says he's hopeful about this pregnancy as long as I take it easy," Rebecca said.
"That's great," Susan said, holding her friend's hand.
"Bill won't let me do anything. He pays the doctor extra to make house calls," Rebecca said.
"Sounds like Bill," she said. "Wade comes home from work and picks up the house and rinses the dishes and then just wants to sit with me on the couch all night."
"That's adorable," Rebecca said.
"Yeah. It's been especially adorable watching a macho man act that way," Susan said, and they both laughed.
"Do you miss working?" Rebecca asked.
"Not really. I'm going to have more than enough work on my hands when the baby arrives," Susan replied.
"True."
"Wade said that since he made more than enough money, that I didn't have to work. He didn't tell me I couldn't, but I decided I would just quit since I had no real aspirations for a lifelong career," Susan said.
"Are you nervous about being a mother?" Rebecca asked.
"I'm pretty nervous, yes. I don't know how good I'll be at all. I think I learned quite a bit from my aunt about being a good mother, but I didn't grow up with her at first," Susan said.
"You'll be great," Rebecca said.
"Thanks," she said. "What about you? Are you nervous?"
"Honestly, I haven't given it much thought this time, because all I can concentrate on is making it to delivery," Rebecca said. "If it happens again, I don't know what I'll do."
"What do you mean?"
"Bill and I have talked about it a little. He thinks we should just stop trying if it happens again and consider adoption," she said.
"What do you think?"
"I hope I don't have another miscarriage. I think I'll be too devastated to even think about adoption," Rebecca replied.
"Maybe. You may be more resilient than you think, though," Susan said.
"Maybe. Right now, I can't even think about the possibility for very long. It's too mortifying to imagine and I'm trying to be calm and happy right now."
"Let's talk about something else, then," Susan said.
In the middle of May of 1950, one morning, Bill had dropped by the Matlock household on his way to work to talk about some business matters with Wade, and Susan was getting ready for her next visit with Rebecca.
"Thank you so much, for keeping Rebecca company, Susan," Bill said.
"I know it's helping to keep her in good spirits. She's never made it this far in a pregnancy and she's quite hopeful now," Bill said.
"You're welcome, Bill. I've enjoyed our time together. It's been great going through this with another woman in the same situation," she said. "I have to finish getting ready, if you'll excuse me."
"Of course," said Bill and Susan walked back into their bedroom.
Wade and Bill talked business for a few minutes and just when Bill was getting ready to leave, Susan called from the bedroom, "Wade!" in obvious distress. Her lumbering husband stopped talking to Bill and ran back into the bedroom.
"Is everything alright?" Bill asked in a concerned tone, but his question was met by silence.
Wade emerged from their bedroom escorting his wife by the shoulders, "Bill, can you drive us to the hospital? I think she's in labor."
"Of course," Bills said, and they all went out to the car.
Minutes later, they arrived at Hermann Hospital on the Texas Medical Center campus. They approached the nurses' station and explained the situation. A Dr. Jameson, the on-call obstetrician was standing nearby.
"What's your due date?" he asked.
"Another month," Susan said. Susan grabbed her abdomen and cried out in pain.
"Okay, ma'am. We're going to move you to delivery right now," he said. He then turned to the nurses and said, "Move her to delivery. We have a premature birth and it's about to happen," he urged.
Wade and Bill both headed toward delivery to follow Susan in and were stopped by a nurse who said, "This is as far as you two go. We have a waiting room over there for fathers and family."
"C'mon Wade," Bill said as he patted Wade on the back and escorted him to the waiting room. The two men passed a female and a male doctor on the way to the waiting room.
A few minutes later, a nurse came out of the delivery room door. She said, "Dr. Parsons, Dr. Samuels, and you two nurses….Dr. Jameson needs some more help." The men stood up and watched, noticing the urgency and concern on the nurse's face.
"Should we call Rebecca and let her know what's going on with Susan," Wade asked.
"No. We don't need to cause her concern just yet. She can't leave the house anyway."
"Okay," Wade said.
"Let's sit down again and wait," Bill said, putting his arm around his friend's waist. The two men sat and waited for about 40 minutes, most of it in silence.
Dr. Jameson and a female doctor walked up to the two men who stood up to greet them. "Have a seat, gentlemen," said Dr. Jameson.
"How's my wife?" Wade asked.
"Well sir, first of all, you have a beautiful, healthy baby boy. The nurses have taken him to the neonatal ward and you'll be able to see him soon," Dr. Jameson said.
"And my wife?" Wade asked again. Bill waited to hear his response as well.
"You see, Mr.?"
"Matlock," Wade replied.
"Mr. Matlock, your wife had a complication. It's unfortunately, a very common one," Dr. Jameson said.
"Complication?" Wade replied while the realization of what was going to be said emerged on his face.
"Let's sit down, Wade," Bill said.
The woman doctor sat down next to Wade and put her hand on his. "Mr. Matlock, your wife started bleeding severely after the baby was born. Three of us doctors and some nurses worked for a long time to save her, but she did not make it."
"Susan?" Wade asked with tears welling in his eyes. "My Susan is dead?"
"Yes, Mr. Matlock," she said. Bill put his arm around Wade's shoulders while Wade stared at her blankly. He hunched over and broke down crying and she kept her hand on Wade's while Dr. Jameson stood up to leave.
"I'm really sorry, Mr. Matlock. I'll send a nurse out in a few minutes to come get you so you can see her." Dr. Jameson walked back into the delivery room. The female doctor and Bill continued to keep him company.
Several minutes later, a nurse approached. "Mr. Matlock, you can come see your wife now." Wade stood up slowly and crossed his arms over his stomach and with his head bowed, walked with the nurse to say goodbye to his wife.
"Hello, my name is Bill," Bill said to the female doctor, extending his hand.
She took his hand and shook. "Cynthia. Cynthia Parsons."
"Nice to meet you. I just wish it was under better circumstances," he said.
"Me too," she replied.
"This can't be easy for you….having to do this all the time," he said.
"I haven't done it much, but it is not pleasant, no," she replied.
"I can't imagine it would be," he replied.
"What makes it hard in this particular instance is that I happen to be pregnant myself," she said.
"Oh, really? Well, yes, then, I imagine that this hits pretty close to home," he said.
"Yes, it does."
"My wife Rebecca is pregnant too. She's due in August."
"Congratulations," she said.
"You women really are stronger and braver than us men. If men were responsible for bringing life into the world with the frequent and sometimes fatal dangers involved, no one would ever get pregnant and the species would disappear."
"Maybe," she replied.
"It's hard enough to worry about our wives as they go through this process. I can't imagine losing my Rebecca like Wade has lost Susan. It can also be hard on a child to learn his or her mother died giving birth to him or her. I don't know how Wade is going to pull through this tragedy."
"Have you been friends long?"
"Yes. Many years. We were friends before World War II. He used to work for me before that, and then after he came back a war hero, he came back to Texas to become a wildcatter. We've mainly known each other socially after the war. I have a cabin in the Sabine National Forest and we take fishing and hunting trips there often with some other friends."
"What do you do?" Cynthia asked.
"I started out in oil and now I have a variety of investments," he said vaguely. He continued, changing the subject, "I'm impressed that you are a doctor. I don't think I've ever met a woman doctor before. That had to be a challenge for you…becoming a doctor, I mean. Probably a lot of obstacles in your way," he said.
"Yes, but here I am. Of course they don't give you grief classes in college or medical school," she said.
"You did fine. What does your husband do?" he asked.
"He's a lawyer. Actually, he works for this hospital too," she replied.
"Oh? What's his name?"
"Roger Parsons. He works for the legal department."
"A doctor and a lawyer? Your baby is going to be very fortunate indeed. And smart…"
"We'll do our best," she replied.
"I have no doubt with such smart parents and such a compassionate mother, that your child will go far," he said.
"Thank you," she said. "I better get back to work." She continued, "I didn't catch your last name. Bill?"
He stood up and shook her hand again, "Oh. My name's Bill Houston."
"Well, nice to meet you, Mr. Houston. Please give my condolences again to Mr. Matlock," she said.
"I will. Take care, Dr. Parsons." He then sat down in the waiting area after she left and waited for about 30 more minutes when Wade came out with a nurse who took them both to the neonatal ward to see Wade's new baby.