Grace's Forgiveness Read Online Free PDF Page B

room.”
    Grace dashed out after Mark and stood behind him.
    “Madam, my name is Mark King. I would like to help you inside. Grace Blauch is behind me. She’s a midwife.”
    The distressed woman held her arms out to him. “I’m Annabelle Watson. Yes, please help me.”
    He reached inside and lifted the Englischer out of the open doorway of the buggy and carried her inside. “Where should I take her?”
    “Lay her on the cot in the back room.” Grace darted ahead and opened the entry door, and then she led him across the shop, where the small room’s door was already open for him. She smiled at the woman’s friend. “Make yourself comfortable. I’ll fetch you after the boppli is born.”
    Mark lowered Mrs. Watson on the cot and backed out of the room. He closed the door behind him.
    The distressed woman groaned and pressed her hands against her swollen belly. Her eyes rolled with fear.
    Grace brushed sweat-dampened hair off the woman’s cheek and tucked a pillow under her head. “Take a deep breath and relax.” Grace washed and dried her hands then untied her medical bag. On a small table close to the bed, she arranged clean towels, a stethoscope, a syringe bulb, scissors, a needle and thread, and saline solution.
    Mark knocked on the door. “May I do anything for you?”
    “If Sarah is busy, please warm two pots of water on the stove. I’d appreciate it.”
    Grace positioned herself at the end of the cot. “How are you doing?”
    The woman trembled. She held a hand to her stomach. “Ack! My baby is coming.”
    Grace pushed Mrs. Watson’s dress to her chest and removed the woman’s undergarments. She eyed the boppli’s head. “I’m going to count to three. On three, push hard. One, two, and three.”
    Mrs. Watson grunted and pushed. “Ack!”
    Grace caught the slippery tiny maedel. “You have a dochder.”
    The newborn wailed.
    After cutting and tying off the umbilical cord, Grace suctioned the newborn’s nose and mouth. She grabbed her stethoscope and stuck the tips in her ears with one hand and checked the boppli’s heartbeat. She wiped the infant with a dry cloth. “She didn’t waste any time coming into this world.” Grace placed the infant on Mrs. Watson’s chest. She washed her hands again. “You rest while I clean your dochder. I’ll remove your afterbirth and wash you in a few minutes.” She placed a lightweight blanket over the mamm’s legs and took the newborn.
    Sarah cracked the door open and peeked in. “Mark warmed water. Do you need it?”
    “Yes. I would appreciate it.” She accepted the water. “Boppli and Mamm are doing fine.”
    “I’m Sarah Helmuth, and I understand from your friend, Mrs. Opal Fox, you are Annabelle Watson. In addition to being a midwife, Grace is also my business partner. We manage this shop together.” Sarah joined Grace and put her finger in the newborn’s hand. “She’s so tiny.” She glanced over her shoulder. “What did you name her?”
    “Her name is Julia Watson.”
    “Grace, I’ll fetch anything you need. I’ll be out front. Mark left for a bit, but he’s back. I suspect he was uncomfortable. He’s filled another pot of water and put it on the stove to warm while I assisted a patron. He’ll knock on the door when it’s ready.” Sarah nodded at the mamm and dashed out of the room.
    Grace suspected Sarah wanted to escape the bloodstained sheets. Her friend couldn’t stand the sight of blood. She washed the infant and checked her from head to toe. The wrinkled red-skinned maedel kicked her long legs, fisted her hands, and cried. Grace found no visible signs of anything abnormal. What a beauty. She had coal black fuzzy hair, a button nose, and fat cheeks.
    A soft knock on the door caught her attention. “Yes?”
    Mark’s voice startled her. “I have more warm water. Would you like me to leave it by the door?”
    “Yes. Danki.”
    Sarah returned with a pot of warm water and set it on the floor next to Grace. “Here’s the