Chapter 88: Chapter 88

Chapter 86: The nascency

She had always had slight pain here and there. She thought nothing of it. It was something that she was beginning to get accustomed to. When gush of yellow fluid suddenly released in between her thighs. She was confused, there was no warning at all. Still a tad bit okay, she informed Miriam that she'd be visiting Mrs. Cunningham. Merrigold was afraid, nothing like this had ever occurred. She needed to tell someone with experience. Mrs Cunningham herself had twins. She'd know better. The walk to the house was beginning to become more and more excruciating. Her back was aching but the pain on her lower abdomen proved to be more dominant. It was freezing cold, that time of the year, winter fully vivid. She had always hated the February weather in Liverpool. Soon enough it would be gone absorbed by the rainy weather. Everyone loved this weather, it meant no harsh summer days work, with nothing to harvest. It always proved to be a restful time for workers around any plantation unless they lived with heartless cruel owners. In all honesty even if they wanted to keep their workers busy, there was nothing for them to do; by them the slaves.

It was so sudden when Merri started feeling an achy feeling as strong as cramping in the abdomen, groin and back. She felt excruciating pain in her sides going onto her thighs. Walking proved to be difficult as she fell to her knees, she was almost there, almost. Looking up, she was horrified to see Walter roughly pushing Austin. He held his son's collar as if he were a dog. Austin did not retaliate just as violently as his father was treating him. Instead, he allowed his father to do whatever he pleased. Walter roughly pushed Austin farther and farther off their porch. It was what she least expected to see. It distracted her for a while from her pain. Excitement for Austin jolted within every ache in her bones.

"The nerve of you to treat your own father in such a disrespectful manner, return wherever you were; you Neanderthal!!"

"I'm not leaving, I will only leave with my Merri and my kids."

"...walter please..."

"You're being unfair father!" Henry added after his mother.

"I'm going to fetch my rifle by the time I return and count up to five you better be off my property!" The old man marched inside with haste and anger visible in his tone. He was merciless. They all knew he was serious as could be. Austin had only been arrived a few minutes ago and this was his welcome? His father still hysterical and psychotic. Had Austin assumed by the time he returned his cold father would have a change of heart? Perhaps maybe yes. He was disappointed mostly in himself for expecting such a change in someone so dead set in his own ideologies. Walter seemed stone cold, even the softest spot he had for his own kids had disappeared.

With brief silence, it took a while before Mrs Cunningham's eyes went past Austin and behind him a bit further from the porch was Merrigold, struggling with breath. Her hands dig into into the grass from the excruciating pain she was feeling. It was so harrowing, she lost her voice. She could not yell or scream. Each attempt caused more tenseness on every muscle in her body; muscles contracting from and to her uterus by pressure caused by the cervix. She had expected this to happen anytime soon but never had she assumed it would be today.

It did not take long before Austin and Henry's eyes followed their mother's. Having not seen her for months and months on end. Something in him lit up, that glimmer that this was the woman he wanted to be with. It was worth it, he had been beginning to lose all faith but looking at Merrigold kneeling torturously possibly from the coming of their children made him feel something he had never felt. It was a different adrenaline mostly filled with pride and adoration. His eyes threatened to water, surprised at how big she was than when he had left her. Austin only felt happy to be home. She was his home. He always wanted to be near her, close to her, inside her, beside her, with her. Caught in a trance when his eyes and hers finally met, he felt himself lose it. Lose any ability to think, to act. Henry and Mrs. Cunningham were the first to act and help Merri. Austin was still absorbed in everything.

He only snapped out of it when he heard Merri shriek. "No no no, I can not..."

"One step at a time Merri..." Mrs Cunningham told her. The pain was so vivid she couldn't take a few stairs up the porch. With Henry supporting her on the other side and his mother on the other. Austin was quick, not bothering to attempt anything. He lifted her off the ground, she was much heavier than back when they had not been expecting and simply fooling around. The cologne she once claimed to hate filled her nostrils and she found comfort in it. Even then the pain would not go away, it was getting worse as if accumulating into a horrible frenzy of torture.

"Please mother tell me she is not in labor, William is not even here..."

"I know all there is." Mrs Cunningham told him. "Take her upstairs to the guest room. I will bring the necessities."

"No, mother... she needs a doctor. I do not want anything to occur."

"Stop doubting mother knows what she is doing." Henry told him.

"I'm no ready...no...I'm...not ready...i-thought-i-was-but-I'm-not..." Merri bemoaned holding onto Austin as if her life depended on it. Even then he wouldn't let her go. He held her tight in his arms. It was then Walter walked in utterly confused with his hunting gun instead.

"What is the meaning of this?"

"It's exactly what you think it is." His wife told him.

"Not in my home, not in here. She will not give birth in this house, at the commune or in the stable but I refuse to let it be here. I'd be damned, you hear?!"

"Then everyone will know. News will spread like wildfire once they see that they're mulattos. How will you pretend they passed on if the people at the commune witness the birth?" Henry replied.

"You have a point son." He sighed. "Take her up, let's see what we ought to do. Rosie, what do you need?"

"I'm-afraid-I'm-i-do-not-think-i-can..." Merri weeped. She felt like death. Her mind went back to when she assumed her period cramps were any horror. That was clearly nothing.

"You ought to be ashamed being afraid when you knew exactly what would come off your deeds with my son. This is your punishment, from the lord!"

"Father, is this your attempt to scare her to death, shut your bloody mouth if you have nothing assuring to say. Go recite verses before I shoot you with your own rifle. My children might be born any second and here you're talking about punishments. If anyone is getting any punishment you ought to be the one standing first inline. You disgust me!"

Walter gasped, Austin had never cursed at him. He stood appalled as Austin walked up the stairs with Merri in his arms. Laying a soft kiss, he whispered assuring affirmations. "It will be alright, I'm here for you. Anything you need, I'm here. I'm glad I was on time..."

Merrigold was not taking it well not even his attempts to being nice could conjure her from the pain she was feeling. Once he laid her on the bed, Merri was quick to stand up. Walking around like a mad woman, she weeped helplessly. She kneeled onto the carpeted floor. She laid on her back. She attempted to bring her thighs forward. Even with the cold weather, she felt as if her whole body was on fire. Removing each article of clothing, leaving her bare. Anyone would have assumed she was a mad woman. Merri did not know how to deal with the pain, every woman dealt with it differently. Perhaps this was her way. When Austin's mother came in the room with a bowel of warm water...

"Leave her be, you will only worsen her mood by trying to approach her. Unless she calls for you do not. She is in distress."

"...what should I do? I-i want to be of help to her...mother? I can not simply stand and watch her go bullocks. I feel helpless."

"Father is searching for the alcohol..." Henry said joining them. "Why is she—"

"OUT, Out Henry!"

"But I'm trying to help..."

"He is right, there shouldn't be too many people."

"Oh... ofcourse, I will send William then!"

"Great, out out!"

"Fine! I am. I'd never lust over a pregnant woman. I'm not deranged."

"AUSTIN AUSTIN—" Merrigold yelled tears running down each cheek.

"I'm here, I'm here love!" He joined her on the bed that she had raveled into a mess.

"...I hate you so much, I hate you. Y-you did this to me. THIS-IS-YOUR-FAULT...no I can't. Oh God no, help me. What is this torture! DO-NOT-TOUCH-ME..." sobbing loudly. "Please hold me..."

"But you said..."

"Hold her dammit." Walter entered the room. "Is this enough alcohol? It's all I could find in the basement?" He questioned his wife.

She nodded.

"Cotton balls, bath towel—"

"Thank you Walter." His wife told him.

"Alright Merri, it's all on you. When you feel you're ready to let go and push..."

"No no no please..."

"You have to Merri, soon it will be over alright?"

Closing her eyes, her sweat soaking Austin's bare chest. His mother had advised him to remove most of his clothes to bring comfort to Merri in her distress.

"You can do this Merri...do this for us..."

Walter immediately found himself rolling his eyes to the back of his head.

"Will she have to be on all fours...like you were?"

"Assuming that's best..." his wife replied.

After an hour long of Merrigold weeping sorrowfully and not know what to do. Be it she stands or sits and lays back or squeezes Austin's hands or— it was all overwhelmingly too much. She had never in her life experienced anything more excruciating. In the midst of it all, she crossed her heart and regretted every second she indulged in the cause of this. She vowed she'd never have sex again, if that proved to be true. She was frustrated by Austin, none of this was affecting him. It was unfair, she felt horrendous. She wished if only she could share her pain with another person.

"I love you." Austin told her out of the blue as she weeped, her eyes bloodshot red. "You can do this, Merrigold. You're the strongest woman I've ever met. I'm already the happiest there is to simply be here with you. This is the last step, we've come too far to simply give up. You can do this love, you my love are a fighter. This shouldn't be anything compared to everything you've been—"

"Stop talking please, Austin." Merri whispered agitated. She had not meant to come off as rude but nothing was helping the frustration was draining.

Going into the second hour, with much needed motivation. It seemed her vagina stretched out to a good enough size to push. Squatting on all fours, holding onto Austin's hands. Squeezing them lifeless, he seemed not to mind as long as he felt he was being helpful. Walter decided to leave the room as soon as he saw the bloody head with hair peaking out. Losing his appetite for the day, week— he could never go through this again.

"Last push Merri, almost there..."

Within the next seconds, the rooms was filled with cries. "It's a boy..." Austin felt a shiver down his spine. He never thought he'd be one to cry but he did, and this was only the first one. Walter returned to help as he did he was appalled by how white it was. Walter wrapped the first in a clean towel and tried to calm him down. Austin could not move as he was Merrigold's main support. He watched his father's movement, he watched his son so delicate and small. His fingers balled in a fist. He cried like a broken siren, it brought tears of joy. He had never experienced anything so beautiful.

"I can't, I think I'm done. Please—"

"Just one more Merri, be strong. The first twin has already paved the road for the second. Trust me, I know the second should be a walk in the park..."

Looking up, Merri saw how Austin was smiling. It brought so much warmth within her, so much that she eased the second one out. She told herself, she loved this man and to see him smile evermore with teary grey glossy eyes, it was a beautiful sight.

"Another boy!" His mother announced cutting the umbilical cord. Being content with the delivery of her children made her forget about pushing the placenta out. Nonetheless it wasn't a big job as it decided to slowly ease itself out of her with no complaints. Austin and Merrigold had given her the go ahead for her to cut both the boys

"Your nun was right!" Austin grinned giving her a kiss on forehead. "Thank you...for making me a father." He then laid back with her as his parents held the two bundles of joys. Their cries sounded like heaven to them atleast. Even Walter found himself singing a lullaby. As he was holding the first, he came to whisper to his wife who was holding the second as if he was sharing a big secret.

"...they're so white...!"

Rosie shook her head in disbelief.

"... look look look—he opened his eyes—they're a replica of Austin." Walter said in such an excited tone it surprised everyone in the room. "...heyo heyo young man...it's grandpa..." Walter said huskily at the infant who only blinked at the old man. After covering up and feeling at a much better state. Merri day up and held her son for the first time. Austin held the second, making sure not to have them mixed up as they were similarly identical.

Walter wouldn't leave the room even when Rosie suggested that they give the new parents privacy. Overwhelmed by their innocence and dainty beauty. Walter could not wait to hold them again either.

"So which one are you naming after me?" He asked, a banter behind it.

With no warning everyone in the room laughed. "You wish." Austin muttered. Merri could only nod her head but then again she was in his home and did not want to disrespect him in any way. Distracted, she turned to look at Austin with one of the twins, a full blown smile arched on his lips. Nothing mattered in that moment except them and what they had made together.

"Austin?" She whispered.

"Yes?" He grinned, as their child held onto his pointing finger. So tiny and dainty. He seemed distracted but nonetheless turned to look at her.

"I love you..." she said. "...so much..."

Speechless, he laughed; a bit teary eyed. "Well today must be my lucky day. I feel undeserving of all this."

"Your birthday gift actually..." she murmured.

It was then he realized, his birthday was only two days away from his boys. For someone who never celebrated it, this year he would. If he had told his old self that he would be a father someday. Even he would have laughed. She looked exhausted, but to him he only admired her. Admired her for everything she has done for him. She changed him.

For the good.

Walter again. "Rosie...?"

"Yes?"

"They're so white..."

"It will probably change as they grow..."

"But did you see? They're whiter paler than a Russian lad. Even the hair—"

His wife only shook her head at him. He seemed so dumbfounded as to how that could have been possible. She was only happy that they were both born healthy and that they were with their parents.