A Churchgoing Woman

CHAPTER 2 – LIFE AND DEATH ON SUNDAY EVENING-2

AT A QUARTER TO TEN, Dan Hanson knocked on the Logans’ door. He knew that Margaret Logan was supposed to come from work at around that time.

He had come to bring some apples and pears from his garden to Margaret and Emily. Dan Hanson nurtured several fruit-trees and was very generous with the fruit he gathered. The man thought mostly of Emily. The girl reminded him of his daughter, and he couldn’t look upon her without tenderness.

Dan knocked on the door again, but no one answered. He called out, “Emily, Margaret? Are you there, in the back? It’s me, Dan.”

No answer came, so he went around the house to the garden. Dan was sure that he would find Emily there. The garden had become her oasis of peace for the last few months.

Dan reached the garden and suddenly stopped. His eyes fell on the tomatoes scattered on the ground, and the pool of water Emily had left behind. Dan needed a moment, but he understood what had happened soon enough. Yet, he still called once more, “Emily? Are you all right, girl?”

His question met with silence. The man went to the back door, which was open, and peered inside. He noticed Emily’s handbag wasn’t where she used to leave it. He must have seen that bag on that corner table a hundred times.

Dan scratched his head, trying to bring light over the situation. He knew that Margaret couldn’t have come in time to drive Emily to the hospital, and Emily didn’t have a car. The Logans didn’t afford too many luxuries, and a second car was a luxury. He also knew that their phone wasn’t working. He had tried to call before coming to visit, but the robot informed him about the suspension of the service.

He didn’t think that Emily had gone to any of their neighbors. They hadn’t been in close relations with them lately, and most of them, if not all, were afraid of that woman, Carter. They wouldn’t have helped Emily.

Dan looked out of the back door suddenly. There was only one possibility left. Emily had decided to go to the hospital on foot. His best guess was that she had probably thought of crossing the field to reach the road.

He didn’t waste time but broke into a run. Despite his age, Dan was still agile and in good physical shape. He still farmed by himself, and farming was back-breaking work.

Dan ran down the stairs and then across the field. He didn’t stop until he had heard the whimpering of a child.

Somewhat less worried, Dan started looking for Emily. He found her lying on the ground, drenched in sweat, her eyes closed, and strain lines in the corner of her mouth and eyes. His heart ached for her. He had seen his wife giving birth, and that event had marked him for a long time.

Dan looked over Emily attentively and noticed that she had wiped the child with her underwear and taken the baby in her arms. Of course, the baby still had the umbilical cord attached, and Dan didn’t know if that was good or bad.

The man hunched near Emily. He stroked her face with his roughened hand. “Emily... Emily, wake up,” Dan insisted when it became clear that she wasn’t aware of his presence.

Emily’s lashes fluttered, and her tired eyes laid on him.

“Mr. Hanson,” Emily murmured when she recognized the blurry figure.

“Yes, muffin. It’s me,” Dan said. He smiled at her and brushed her drenched blond hair off her face. Then he explained to her, “I will take you up in my arms, Emily, and carry you to my car. We have to go to the hospital, all right? Can you hold onto the baby?” Dan asked Emily and then stroked the side of her face encouragingly.

She tried to answer but couldn’t. Her mouth and throat were parched. Her lips felt dry, and she had the skin in the corner of her mouth cracked. Emily realized that she couldn’t utter a sound, so she only nodded.

Dan panted a little and staggered under her weight, but he managed to rise with her in his arms. Then, he started back to the car he had left in the Logans’ drive. His stride was long, even though labored. He needed to take the two to the hospital and with maximum haste.

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