Chapter Ten

The past few days, Cotton, it's been such a comfort being with you. ~ Anne Hale

The days after our wedding night were filled with extreme joy. We spent every minute we could together and made love many times and in various positions. I took satisfaction in even the simple things, such as going to the market together to purchase food for our meals. We were so happy and so full of love. It was such bliss. I thought nothing could ever come between us now that we were married and Cotton had declared his love for me. All I could think about was our future and we spoke of it often - about our life together, the children we'd have, and all the joys that we were soon to know.

One such day, I carried a large basket filled with foodstuffs we had purchased from the vendors at the market. We were going home so I could prepare a delicious dinner. Cotton was grinning as we talked about Hope, the little girl I had envisioned on the night of our marriage. "I can almost feel it now, Cotton. I might be carrying our child."

"So soon?" he asked with surprise.

"Yes. I just have this sensation... a quickening. It's difficult to describe."

"You're so certain we'll have a daughter. What if our child is a boy?"

"No, it can't be a boy," I replied firmly. "It has to be a girl."

At the mere thought of the child being a boy, a creepy sensation slid up my back. The baby HAD to be a girl!

"It will be a girl... and her name will be Hope," I insisted.

"I hope you get your wish, my love. To be honest, I'd love to have a child with you," Cotton said with sincerity as we approached our home.

As we arrived in our front yard, I realized we had guests. Mary and John were waiting outside our door. "Hello, John and Mary. What brings you by?" Cotton asked with surprise. "You're taking a big risk... coming out of hiding. There is still talk in Salem that Mary may be a witch."

We hurried into our home with John and Mary, because Cotton was right. Salem was still seeking witches and Mary was a definite target. "It must be something important for you to have come all this way," Cotton said to John.

"It is," John replied. "Mary needs to speak to Anne... alone."

I looked at Mary as a sudden feeling of great unease overtook me. My husband looked confused. "It's a womanly thing," Mary said quietly. "A quite delicate matter."

"I see. Well, John and I can chat in the parlor then while you ladies..." Cotton was saying.

He didn't even get all the words out before Mary drug me off down the hallway, toward the kitchen. "What in the world are you doing?" I asked as I tugged my arm away from her in annoyance.

"You know EXACTLY why I am here! Have you told Cotton yet... that you are a witch?"

"No. NO! And do not say that. He cannot know!"

"He's going to know, Anne. You're with child, aren't you?"

I shook my head in denial as my eyes grew shiny with unshed tears. "You are!" Mary said knowingly.

"You're carrying a child... just as I did," Mary said in warning. "Chances are, the child you're carrying isn't Cotton's... Chances are, it belongs to the Beast."

"No. No! I WILL NOT birthe a vile creature as you did. If I am with child, it is Cotton's."

"Anne, I wanted to believe that, just like you, but then I saw IT... and it wasn't a baby at all. It was... an abomination."

"What-what did John and Cotton do with it? Your baby?"

"John didn't have the heart to kill it. It was Cotton - Cotton took care of everything. I did not want to know the grisly details. I just wanted IT gone."

"You feel no remorse at all? Wasn't he your child; your son?"

"Why should I? Anne, it was a monster. That horrible beast RAPED me, just as it did to you!"

I placed my hand on my stomach. It was still flat, but as we talked, I could feel my womb begin to swell. I knew. Deep down I knew and I was filled with a fierce, gripping horror. I could not birthe a disgusting creature. I wanted a beautiful baby girl, the child of Cotton Mather; a little girl born out of our love.

"Anne, you need to tell Cotton you're a witch. You need to tell him what happened to you that night in the woods. You must tell him the truth."

I shook my head. "I can never tell him. I quickened his love for me with my spell. If he knew, it could destroy everything!"

"Don't be a fool," Mary said with annoyance. "You're going to regret it when you give birth and it's the spawn of Satan-."

"Stop it, Mary. When and IF I tell Cotton, it's up to me. It's none of your concern."

Mary and I glared are each other. I set the basket of food down on the counter, busying myself in the kitchen as I began to prepare the meal. I ignored Mary, but I could feel her eyes upon me, watching my every movement. I worked quickly, kneading the bread and preparing a hearty stew. Soon delicious scents filled the kitchen. I had many skills as I had always helped my mother with the cooking, the household tasks, and the laundry. Being a witch was just one of my life's accomplishments.

"Anne, I care about Cotton. He's John's best friend. I want you to think long and hard about what you're keeping from him. He deserves to know the truth.'

I turned to look at her as I let out a heavy sigh. "I can't lose him, Mary. I love him, with all my heart and soul. You cannot understand."

"Ohhh but I do, my dear. I love John just as you love Cotton, but my lies kept us apart. It almost destroyed our love. The only way I could save what we had was to tell him the truth. It's just a matter of time. One way or another, Cotton is going to find out what you are - that you're a witch. Don't you want him to hear it from you?"

"Alright. I will tell him, Mary. But in my own time."

She stared at me, just shaking her head. "What you don't have now is time. He's going to know as soon as your belly swells up and you give birth in a matter of weeks, not months!"

My anger grew as I was slowly losing control of my powers. A steaming pot of water shot across the room and almost splashed onto Mary. She raised a hand, sending the pot flying toward the cupboards as hot water sizzled upon the polished wood.

"Enough!" I cried. "I told you- I will tell Cotton. I need to find a way to break it to him gently. I cannot break his heart."