These Awkward Moments

Part 65 Home

Delilah's POV

Carol had somehow managed the impossible and arranged for the kids to spend time after school with some of their friends. I had been trying hard not to be impatient with them, but between the worry over Daryl, the lack of sleep, the pregnancy hormones, the boredom of bedrest, and the general anxiety over the health of the twins, I had been short-tempered with almost everyone in the house at some point.

As good as our friends and neighbors had been about coming by to visit, it just wasn't doing enough to occupy my mind. I missed the time I had been spending at the infirmary. Our little clinic wasn't much, but it offered me something to occupy my brain as well as busying my hands.

The good news was that Dr. Carson had completed another ultrasound, and my cervix had actually thickened slightly with the bedrest. As I drew closer to 36 weeks his anxiety over the possibility of preterm labor was beginning to decrease. "Do you think it would be too stressful for me ta go to the infirmary for a couple a hours this afternoon? I promise I would sit on the sofa with my feet elevated just like I been doin' at home. I swear I won't do anythin' more stressful than cataloging herbs and reviewin' lessons with Gavin. You would be there to keep an eye on me too, so you know I wouldn't do anything I'm not supposed to. Please?"

Dr. Carson smiled at my eagerness. "Well I suppose it would be ok for you to go for just a couple of hours. But then it's right back home again, ok?"

I smiled and clapped my hands. "Yes! Oh thank you so very much! I promise I'll behave. I bet the fresh air and change of scenery will make my cervix cooperate even more."

He laughed at me again and went into the kitchen to speak with Carol. I suspected that they were most likely discussing me and what to do in the event the search team didn't return soon or didn't return with Daryl. My mind had gone that direction several times, but at this point I really couldn't let myself dwell on those thoughts for long. The type of despondency that would lead to was something I couldn't imagine myself coming back from.

A few hours later I ambled slowly over to the infirmary, enjoying the fresh air and sunlight as much as possible. Several neighbors waved and greeted me along the way. I giggled to myself at the way their eyes wandered across the expanse of my belly as if I was going to explode any second, while assuring me of how wonderful I was looking.

I spent the next couple of hours reviewing lessons with Gavin and discussing recent cases with Dr. Carson. We also began to formulate a plan for the upcoming flu season, including encouraging use of our special oregano and orange oil blend as a hand sanitizer and elderberry syrup as an immune booster.

I realized how easily de-conditioned I had become. The combination of the recent bedrest and the pressure of my growing uterus pushing up against my lungs made me easily fatigued. I was much more ready to go home to rest than I had anticipated when the time came.

As I stepped out onto the sidewalk to begin my journey back home I found myself straining my ears once more for the sound of the returning search party, their horses, the wagon, or the truck. Several times my ears had played tricks on me and I had almost thought I heard sounds in the distance, only to realize that it was only my wishful heart. It was the same way today as I thought my ears were hearing the sound of an engine drawing closer to the gate. As always, I paused to listen closely and convince myself that it was only my imagination. But this time the engine noise really did seem to be getting louder, and as I looked toward the gate I realized that there was a flurry of activity and excitement coming from the watch.