17
EVELYN – MARCH 1941
Evelyn felt like she had been in this labor ward for days. It had only been hours, but they were the longest and most painful hours she'd ever experienced. Each contraction that tore through her felt like someone was ripping her insides out with a garden rake. Evelyn tried to be brave, to hold back the screams, but they erupted despite her best efforts. A nurse stepped up to the bedside and put a soothing hand on Evelyn's forehead. "There, there. It will all be over soon."
"Not nearly soon enough." Evelyn forced the words out between teeth clenched against the agony. Then the intensity of the contraction slowly ebbed and the nurse wiped the warm puddle of perspiration from Evelyn's face.
"Just think," the nurse said, "when this is over, you will have a lovely bab
