Read Ten Thousand Charms for Free Online Page B

off.”
    The fabric was tugged off her shoulders and she felt it fall at her feet. She convulsed a bit at the sudden chill, but the warm, strong hands guided her to lie down. Soon she was engulfed in the warmth of her quilt pile.
    “You warm yourself up, Liebling.” The hair was brushed off Gloria's face with the softest caress she could remember. “I need to get some help.”
    Gloria reached up and gripped the hand that stroked her cheek.
    “Don't leave me, please. Not again.”
    “It's all right, Gloria. I'll be back. Right back. I won't leave you.”
    The haze dissipated, and Gloria felt the clear, strong presence of love. This wasn't her mother. This was her friend.
    “Sadie. You're here.”
    “Yes.” Her voice was deep and warm and full of promise.
    “Sadie, 1 killed the baby”
    “Darling, relax. You are fine. The baby's fine.”
    “I don't want it to die. I don't want to die.”
    “Nobody is going to die tonight,” Sadie said, her voice strong and authoritative. “But 1 need another set of hands in here.”
    “You'll be back?”
    “Of course.”
    “Sadie?”
    “Yes, honey.”
    “How did you know to come here?”
    Sadie laughed. “Biddy made a spice cake, and you didn't show up. We knew something had to be wrong.”
    Gloria's body embraced her laughter.
    “Now stay put,” Sadie said. “I'll go get one of the girls.”
    Sadie stood up and crossed the room.
    “Sadie?”
    A sigh. “Yes, Gloria.” She kept a hand on the door's latch while turning to face her friend.
    “I never laughed until I met you.”
    “Of course you did.”
    “No, 1 didn't. I really don't think 1 did.”
    “You just don't remember. Now, I've got to go get some help.”
    “All right. Sadie?”
    Another sigh. This time she let go of the latch, walked back to the bed, and knelt beside Gloria.
    “What?”
    “Could you bring me a piece of that spice cake?”
    “Not until you're through,” Sadie said.
    Gloria started to voice her disappointment, but it turned into a moan. Right away, Sadie was at the foot of the bed, lifting the quilt from Gloria's legs and repositioning her body
    “On second thought,” Sadie said, “the girls will figure it out. I am staying right here.”
    Gloria wanted to say “thank you,” but the haze was back. She felt Sadie's hand between her thighs.
    “1 can feel the head. It won't be long now.”
    “It has a head?”
    “Of course it has a head. No creature runs around on this earth without a head. Except maybe you sometimes.” More laughter…
    “Sadie?”
    “Yes, Gloria.”
    “It doesn't hurt anymore. Why doesn't it hurt?”
    “Because I am here. I'm helping you.”
    “I don't feel anything.”
    “You will. It is almost time to push.”
    “Push?”
    “You'll know. Your body will tell you when to push the baby out.”
    “I don't want to push it out. It's safe with me.”
    “It will still be with you. It will always be safe.”
    “But I don't know…”
    Faces appeared in the doorway. Voices popped into the room. Mae brought fresh water for Gloria to sip and coffee for Sadie. Biddy brought fresh linens and firewood. Jewell wondered when it would all be over. So did Gloria. Sadie knew…
“Deserted by the waning moon,
When skies proclaimed night's cheerless noon,
On Tower Fon or tended ground,
The Sentry walks his lowly round
The Sentry walks his lowly round…”
    “Sadie?"
    “Yes, honey”
    “You're singing?”
    “Yes.”
    “I've never heard you sing before.”
    “1 don't do it very often.”
    “You should. It's beautiful. What is it?”
    “Just a song I remember growing up. Sailors sang it.”
    “Where did you grow up?”
    “New York.”
    “How did you get here?”
    “Long story.”
    “Will you sing some more?”
“And should a footstep haply stray
Where caution marks the guarded way
Stranger quickly tell, a Friend
The Word good night all's well
All's well, all's well…”
    “It's time, Gloria. Now. It's time to push.”
    “I don't know