A True Southern Belle

    With an aching body and tired, strained eyes, Charlie softly came down the stairs with a cloud of  joy and relief hanging over her.
   Jason startled when he saw her. He feared the worst when he saw her red, blotchy arms and wet, crimsons speckled skirt. However, when she smiled, he no longer wanted to wring her neck.
"Bella has a girl and you have a niece. A fine, strong, healthy little niece who took her time coming. Mrs. Benton and I were getting worried after the sixth hour too. But we bathed her and now she's sleeping with her mother, thr glowing angel of all mothers. Mrs. Benton is cleaning up for me - stop boiling water Jason," she added, eyeing the kettle over the fire.
"May I see them?" Jason Asher was as neat and tidy as Charlie was exhausted - though neither of them could hold a candle to Bella.
  With his shirt untucked, his hair an utter mess, and anxiety oozing off of him, Charlie was unwilling to take him to the new mother and child. Stress dripped off him in hail sized droplets. Then again, the poor man beeded proof or he would never be able to rest.
"Of course, but be quiet."
  They softly marched up the creaking stairs, meeting Mrs. Benton on the way.
The woman had decided to despise Charlie for her courseness and vulgar behaviour. Mrs. Benton said goodnight and claimed to be going home. She was thinking that no girl should have the similarities and familiarities that Charlie had to Jason when the girl wasn't married to the man. And even with a husband, they shouldnt be that friendly. But she coulf wrongly guess what Charlie must be to him.
  Charlie and Jason peered into the little room where Bella slept soundly with her small, pink-cheeked baby in her arms. They both deserved rest. Jason's heart was relieved and thrilled at the sight.
The minute the door gently closed, Jason grabbed Charlie and swung her around, whispering, "Thank you so much, thank you. I cannot believe I'm and uncle and Bella's okay!"
When he was no longer squeezing the air from her lungs, Charlie smiled and agreed. "You are more than welcome. But I did it for Bella because I like her too."
  If the thought of ever assisting in a human birth ever scared her, that fear was gone. But she did decide that though she loved children, she would never have any.
  Charlie was suffering from exhaustion abd post birth relief, stress, and shock. This might have influenced her decision. Her hands shook and she was pale. Despite the infectious and energetic air filling the house, her eyelids drooped and her shoulders slumped. Jason, who was still wide awake, noticed. He led her to the room next to Bella's and opened the door. She had done so much for them, he could do this for her. "You can spend the night in her."
"I can't. I need to get back home." She irrationally yawned and was annoyed with her body for admiting what her mind didn't want to.
"Well I won't drive you back in the dark." No one gave a though to propriety or decency, of course. They were unimportant.
"I can't impose," she said, but zhw leaned against the wall. She knew Jason knew that if he pushed one more time, she'd stay. She didn't need words to communicate that.
"You just helped my sister have a baby. You are not imposing. If Bella were awake, she would insist that you stay. I insist. You can't go anywhere st night anyway." It was past nine...
  "Okay. Thank you Jason."
"You're welcome Charlie. If you need anything let me know."
"I will."

  Without a thought, when her head hit the pillow, she allowed sleep to deal with the worry and shock that had come at lat for her. But she was still very proud. What other fifteen year old in Bamberg could say she had delivered a baby? What girl in South Carolina for thst matter? Well, there were probably some.
Before her head hit the pillow, it occured to her that Jason wasn't as awful as she thought. He actually was not bad. Kind of kind, really. Nice man. But then she was out.
She didn't even realize it was his room.