Whisperings... Part Four (25 years later)

 Whisperings 

By Rian

* the final chapter... (Part Four)

  25  years later

    Looking out, Noah noticed the first shoots of green emerging from the bare soil beneath their bedroom window. Spring was struggling to give birth after the long hard months of winter. And Ada, their precious Ada, was due to do the same at any time.

    She had grown into a lovely young woman, tall and slender like her mother, with the same golden glow and loving disposition.  Only Ada was different than Zoe in many unseen ways. Growing up in an open atmosphere of love and acceptance, knowing her birthright as a child of both 'human' and (for want of a better word) 'celestial' beings, she had no fears or illusions of inadequacy.  She knew who she was and what she was - and was happy with it. 

     Noah no longer worried about the strange birthright of his wife and daughter for as the years had passed, it became apparent that many claimed this odd beginning. Some still scoffed at such things.  Others accepted it.  But on the whole, the world was changing... and if the "new ones" were to be believed, it was changing for the better.

     Ada, having found an equally confident and loving young man, had married him about 18 months ago and was almost at the end of her ninth month of pregnancy.  Carrying the baby to term has posed no problem and Zoe was as excited as Ada at the prospect of their first grandchild.  What made it even more exciting was the fact that Brad was also of the same biological background as Ada. Their child would be one of another generation of firsts. 

     The Watchers were still about, but found the necessity for making direct contact less and less.  There were no rules regulating the choices in life available to their progeny.  Some married into the human world as Zoe had, while others chose to marry their own. Ada and Brad were examples of this. The results were always documented and noted, and certainly there were those of the scientific persuasion that studied the results. But freedom of choice and free will were never infringed upon.

     "Noah!" Zoe called from downstairs.  Apparently, Zoe was already up and moving Noah realized as the aroma of fresh brewed coffee came floating up the stairs and sweetly assaulted his groggy senses. "Noah, I'm taking Toby out with me for my morning walk.  The coffee is ready and if you're hungry, there are some home-made cinnamon rolls in the frig.  Just warm them up in the oven. OK?" 

    Toby was their beautiful red Irish Setter who was as much a part of the family as was Chester, Zoe's cat, years ago. Noah, taking his eyes and mind off the new spring growth, dragged his hands through his now graying hair and looked at the clock.  It was barely 7 a.m. "OK, that's fine," he replied, "I'll be down in a minute."  

    As the back door slammed, Noah's thoughts were sparring back and forth between climbing back under the sheets for a few more minutes of precious sleep or slipping downstairs for that first taste of fresh brew.  Since he had retired last year, he found that he was becoming less and less interested in sleeping late, so he let the enticing aroma of the coffee beans lead him down the old wooden stairs and into the warm country kitchen. Pouring, tasting, and then taking his mug outside on the screen porch that ran across the length and depth of the old farmhouse, Noah leaned on the railing and smiled.  He and Zoe did good buying this place.  It was exactly what they had wanted - a quiet comfy place to spend the rest of their days together after years of working and raising a family.  

    The property was only a few acres. But the house itself was large and rambling.  Three stories!...  although some might not consider the large cupola at the top an actual story.  It was only about 10x10 and glassed in on four sides, but Zoe had become enchanted with it the moment she saw it - and it may well have been the selling point of the house for her.  She thought it the perfect place to paint or just retire to when the mood struck. In the morning, the sun shone in through those windows encasing the entire room in early morning light.  In the evening, as the sun set, the shadows crept mysteriously round the small room...  late at night, the stars and planets twinkled through in heavenly abandon...  and during a storm!...  well, you had to be quite stout of heart to remain up there during a thunderstorm!

    There were a number of rooms of various sizes with little extras like window seats and stained-glass windows. There was an under-the-stairs closet, and even a mudroom off the kitchen.  One of the bedrooms on the 2nd floor had been converted to a sewing/quilting room by former owners and he and Zoe had kept it empty thinking it might make a great playroom for grandchildren one day - and now that day was fast approaching!  Also, dear to his own heart, there was a small library/study downstairs on the first floor which he now used as his consulting Veterinary Office.  Yes, thought Noah, sipping the last of his coffee, in this past year since his retirement and buying this farmhouse, life had been especially good. 

     The house sat on 15 acres and bordered on the river - a criteria that Zoe had longed for - and was nicely covered with shade trees. To their delight it also had an orchard - a lovely fruit orchard that they both considered lagniappe (a little something extra). For with the orchard, they were blessed not only with the available fruit for pies and produce, but with an abundance of birds and wildlife. 

     For even though Noah no longer worked at his own Veterinary Practice, he still loved being around animals. Besides their Setter, Toby, 2 cats, and a stray parrot that they just flown into the yard one day and stayed, neighbors were always bringing over or calling about sick or injured pets.  It didn't bother Noah.  In fact, he enjoyed it. Now retired and in his fifties, he refused to take money for his veterinary advice or care - but was glad to accept a home-made pie or fresh chicken eggs when they were pressed upon him.

     As he headed for the kitchen to refill his mug, he could hear the phone ringing in the hall. Too early for most callers, it was more than likely a neighbor with a sick critter. "Hello, Noah Holmes here," he answered.

    "Dad!", the voice coming through sounded strained and anxious, "Dad,... it's Ada!  She went into labor just a few minutes ago.  We're at the hospital...."   Brad, still hesitant and new about calling his wife's father, "Dad", sounded fumbling and unsure.

    "Brad, is everything OK?  Has the doctor seen her yet?" 

    "Yes, she's been taken to a 'birthing' room and is being made comfortable.  I just came down the hall to phone you as I know she wanted you both to be here when the time came."

    "We're on our way, lad.  Don't you worry.  Everything's going to be fine." Hanging up the phone, Noah turned to see Zoe had returned from her walk and was standing in the doorway, her face pale.  She and Ada were very close and something had told her to cut her walk short. 

    "What's wrong?", she asked. 

    "Nothing's wrong, darling.  Our baby is having a baby.  So get a move on.  We need to get to the hospital".

 

   Hours later Ada lay moaning in pain as her contractions increased in ferocity, but nothing more. "It's been such an easy 9 months", Brad was saying, "that we're just surprised that she's having such a hard time."

   "The doctor says it's normal for the first birth to be difficult.  She says that everything is progressing normally", Zoe said soothingly.  She was worried, but didn't want it to show.  Never having birthed a child herself, she felt foolish giving advice, but gave it none-the- less to calm Brad's fear.  The two of them were standing in the hall drinking coffee while Noah remained in the birthing room with Ada. 

    Zoe and Noah had tried over the years for a second child but it was not to be.  Both had been examined and declared fit, but had come to the conclusion that Ada was their blessing and were content to let it go at that. Now Ada's child meant more to them than they had realized possible and they prayed that all would be well.  And secretly, in Zoe's heart, she wondered what miracle could be wrought with the coming together of Ada and Brad - both children of light and shadow, of 'human' and 'celestial' backgrounds. Would this child bring more "blessings" to pass...?  

    "Zoe!  Brad!  You'd both better get in here.  Ada needs you."  Noah's strained voice boomed at them. Rushing to her side, they both intuitively grabbed her hands... with Zoe on one side, Brad on the other. 

    "Oh, Mom!"... Ada cried. " The pains are getting so-oo bad...  I….”  Then she stopped. 

    They all looked at her questioningly, and then Zoe said, "Baby, what's wrong?  Shall I call the doctor?"

     Looking rather puzzled and amazed, a slow smile formed on Ada's lips. "No... no, I'm fine.  The funniest thing just happened.  I was in such pain... then you both came in, and the minute you touched me - it was gone."  Silence filled the room as the four of them gazed fixedly on their tightly 'joined hands'. 

     Within the next hour, the child was born, hale and hearty and without a doubt the most beautiful baby girl that Ada and Zoe had ever seen.  The nurses whisked her off to be bathed and weighed and were in the process of doing so, when one turned to the other and said, "Do you notice anything about this child?"

    "What do you mean? asked the other nurse hesitantly... "She's a beautiful little girl... with all those dark golden curls."

     "No, not her looks.  Can't you feel it?  When you touch her, here hold her...   Can't you feel the warmth, the strength, the.... I don't know... something powerful?" As she handed the wet slippery child over to the other nurse, the female doctor that had just delivered the baby walked in. 

    "Here, let me have her, ladies.  I want to check a few things before the Pediatrician gets here." 

    "You feel it too, don't you?"

     Looking slightly furtive, the doctor answered, "... Not sure what you mean... but yes, I felt something when this child was momentarily in my hands.  But I can't explain what.  I wanted to hold her again and see if it was my imagination."

    "It's not your imagination. It's too strong.  Can I ask something personal, Doctor?"

    Holding the small new life close to her heart, and knowing with certainty now that this child was special, the doctor looked up, smiled, and said, "What do you want to know?"

     "Is this child one of the "new ones"?

     Feeling as if the weight of the world had been lifted off her shoulders, the doctor answered, "Yes... she is."

    "... then maybe the Myth is true?" the young nurse asked.

    The Myth she spoke of was that one day the eventual result of the integration of the two life forms, human and celestial would result in children who had special powers - powers produced by pure love... powers that would bring the world back to the way it was meant to be.

   The doctor answered slowly   "Possibly... I guess we shall see."  Serenely she laid the child back in the incubator. 

   The two nurses and the doctor stood looking at the tiny babe  and the Watcher's whisper echoed their words...  

"Oh yes, we shall see..."

 

                                            

The End...

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