He Heard My Cry

 by Emma A. 

Melinda Carter Wilson sighed then glanced up to see if anyone else had noticed. Her siblings were listening to Andi tell everyone once again of how she had loved Jared from the first time she laid eyes on him.

Melinda blinked back tears. It isn't fair! Everyone else has children except for me. And I’ve been married for five years. But look at Andi and Riley. They’ve only been married for a year and a half and already have a child in their arms. Oh, God! Why have I not had any children? You know my heart and how I long for a babe to cuddle and rock. Just to hear once, ‘Mama.’ Just to see those eyes look up to me in perfect trust. Just to feel those tiny arms around my neck.

Melinda choked back a sob and excused herself. She trudged up to her old room and breathed in its familiar scent. She peered out the window and saw some ranch hands lying in the shade of the trees napping, taking good use of their Sunday afternoon.

Melinda sighed again and seated herself on her old bed. She lovingly fingered the quilt placed over the white, crisp sheets. It seemed to be calling out to her, “Come Melinda! Come snuggle down with us just once more.” She looked away and her eyes fell on a picture taken of her when she was a baby. Mother was holding her and looking down with such love and pride in her eyes.

You know, Lord, how much I wish to be like Mother, with my brood of children around me. But no. I’m twenty five; an old woman in the eyes of society. Women gossip about me, calling me childless and barren. Oh, God! Is that true? Please let it not be so!

Tears ran down her cheeks at the thought of having no children the rest of her life. Melinda threw herself down on her pillow and cried herself to sleep.

An hour later she awoke at the sound of a squeak. Yawning and rubbing her swollen eyes, she saw Ellianna, Chad’s wife, with baby Susie in her arms.

Melinda turned away so Ellie would not see her red cheeks and puffy eyes. But Ellie’s sharp, school ma'am's eyes had caught it before the flushed face had buried itself in the pillow.

Ellie laid a cool hand on Melinda’s hand. “We were worried about you when you didn't come down. Peter was so anxious. But I knew you had gone to your old room. I’ve told them where you are but nobody has seen you yet besides Peter.”

Melinda rubbed her throbbing temples and sat up. Her eyes blurred when she remembered the reason she had come upstairs. She breathed in and out, hoping to not show her distress in front of Ellie.

“Melinda, something has been bothering you?” Ellie’s eyes were filled with compassion. “Would you care to tell me?”

Melinda couldn’t control her feelings any longer. She sobbed out, “Oh Ellie! Everyone else has a baby. You, Andi, Lucy and Kate all have children of your own. But look at me; no children. Why, Ellie? Why? I’ve wanted children my whole entire life, but God hasn't blessed me with one. Is it something I’ve done wrong?”

Ellie’s heart went out to her sister-in-law. She let Melinda calm down then said softly, “You’ve done nothing wrong. God has a plan for you and a purpose. You just have to be patient and wait. God always hears us. He never turns a blind eye to our affliction. You just have to trust that He knows what’s best for you, Melinda.”

Melinda whispered, “Please pray for me, Ellie. I'm fighting a battle with God over this.”

Ellie hugged Melinda and slipped out of the room. Melinda rose and looked at the mirror. She looked ghastly. Her golden hair was everywhere and along with her swollen face, her usually smiling blue eyes were a dull gray.

Melinda was determined to fix herself up. She fixed her hair and washed her face. But she couldn’t change the way her eyes looked no matter what she tried to do.

 ~Seven Months Later~

 “You’ll never be good enough. You're without any children. Your husband pretends he loves you but really he must want some children. And what have you to give him? Nobody. You’ll never be a mother. Never… Never… Never.” The chant grew louder as a swarm of strange creatures took menacing steps towards her, their growls and hideous laughs echoing in her ears. She backed up against the wall.

A voice called out, “You're a good for nothing, wretched woman. Everyone hates you! Everyone hates you!” She broke down sobbing and screaming as the figures advanced. One reached out a hand-- 

Melinda woke up to her husband shaking her and saying soothingly, “Melinda, darling, it’s okay. Wake up, sweetheart. You're just having a bad dream.”

“Peter! They… said I wasn't… good enough! That… everyone… hated… me!” Melinda clutched at her husband, her sobs racking her whole body. Peter held her close, his hand stroking her hair.

“Who said that?” Peter demanded.

“Those creatures in my dream. And… and Mrs. King.”

Peter mumbled something under his breath that she couldn't quite catch.

“But, Peter. You do love me even though I haven’t given you any children, right?” Melinda lifted her pale face up to her husband.

Peter cupped it in his hands and said with astonishment, “Of course I love you! Children or no children. You are my wife, Melinda. God brought us together. Nothing can separate us, do you understand?”

“Yes. Yes.” Melinda nestled closer to him as a wave of sleepiness ran throughout her body.  Her eyelids closed and soon she dropped into a dreamless sleep.

 The next morning, Melinda, after eating a banana and sipping a cup of tea, was up and making breakfast for Peter. As she flipped his favorite blueberry pancakes into the air, she gasped and closed her eyes.

Waves of nausea washed over her in big waves. She glanced at Peter, reading the morning’s paper. Clutching at her stomach she dashed for the bathroom and emptied her stomach. She sank down onto the floor, her head pounding. She closed her eyes and leaned against the wall. Please! Don’t let me be sick! It has to be the grief or maybe… maybe that stomach bug Susie Carter had last Sunday.

Melinda stayed there for a while. She completely forgot about the pancakes. Footsteps stopped by the door and Peter poked his head in. On seeing his wife on the floor he rushed to her side. “What happened? Are you alright?”

Melinda nodded slowly then winced as the hammering in her head continued. Peter lifted Melinda into his arms and with worry in his voice said, “I’ll go call a doctor.”

“No Peter! Please don’t! I feel fine. I think I got Susie’s cold, that's all.”

Peter raised his eyebrows and laid Melinda on the bed. “Something must be wrong with you because this is definitely the first time you have burnt my pancakes.” He chuckled.

Melinda clapped her hands over her mouth in horror. “Oh no! I didn’t mean to stay away that long! But my stomach kept me there.”

Peter laughed, his fingers caressing her golden tresses. She watched his face, just content to have him by her side. They stayed that way until Melinda asked timidly, “Am I allowed to get up or do I have to stay in bed?”

They both laughed.

 ************

For two weeks afterward, Melinda felt horrible all the time with frequent trips to the bathroom and much bedrest. Finally Peter had had it. “Alright Melinda. I’m getting the doctor. It’s been two weeks. This is definitely not Susie’s cold. Melinda, I don’t want us to find out that it is  something worse.”

Peter ran out and got the doctor, while Melinda promptly made a desperate run for the bathroom. She rubbed her temples and grimaced. Peter is right. I don’t want this to be something deadly.

Melinda’s stomach felt a little better so she made her way gingerly to her room. Changing into a loose gown, she curled up under the covers and stared up at the ceiling.

Footsteps came up the stairs and Dr. Weaver entered the room, with Peter behind him. The doctor laid his bag on the bed and after a brief examination smiled at the couple. The old doctor held Melinda’s hand and in a gentle voice told her, “My dear, around October you shall have a baby in your arms.”

Melinda stared in shock. After so many years was her dream coming true? She put her hand to her mouth and tears filled her eyes. Peter knelt beside her, the old doctor slipping from the room.

Peter hugged her tightly and whispered, “Aren’t you happy? Finally--the baby you’ve dreamed and prayed for.”

Melinda wiped tears from her eyes and said in a daze, “I… I can’t…say… how happy…I am.”

Peter kissed her tenderly and held her tight as they both thought about how blessed they were. Melinda sent up many thankful prayers those following days, repenting of her horrible behavior towards her Father in heaven.

  ~October 1888~

 “Melinda Jane Wilson! What on earth are you doing out of bed? Didn't the doctor tell you to stay still?”

Melinda spun around guiltily. “I was only trying to make breakfast for us.”

“You know the doctor gave firm orders.” Peter shook his head. A frown played on his lips but Melinda caught a twinkle in his eyes.

She embraced him, careful of the bulge between them. Peter massaged her belly, tight from being stretched so much more than the slim form it was used to.

Melinda giggled when the baby started kicking wherever Peter’s hand was. It played with them for a while then quieted down.

Peter smiled and looked into his wife’s eyes. “I’ve decided we’ll not go to the Circle C tomorrow because you're so close to your due date. I wouldn’t want you to have the baby an hour from town and no doctor to assist you.”

Melinda opened her mouth to protest then snapped it shut as a streak of pain rippled across her stomach. She grimaced and held her breath until it subsided.

Peter caught the discomfort in her eyes and exclaimed, “Melinda! Are you okay?”

She nodded slowly. Peter eyed her carefully throughout the rest of the day. By supper, Melinda said she was going to lie down. Peter was nervous asking her numerous times if he should get the Dr. Weaver. Each time Melinda pleaded with him to wait a little longer.

By 10:00 it was clear the doctor was needed. Melinda was sweating and groaning, tossing and turning.

Peter grabbed his coat and hat and ran for the doctor. Melinda wiped the perspiration from her forehead. She measured her breathing like her mother had told her. The pains were coming faster and harder. She called out for Peter but no friendly voice answered back.

Then like a hero coming to save the princess, the doctor and Peter came into the room.

A night long, Melinda battled against giving in to the horrible pain. But when the sun was peeking over the horizon, a little boy was handed to his exhausted but beaming mother.

Melinda cradled her son, tears spilling from her tired eyes. Peter placed a loving arm around her shoulder as they admired their son.

Melinda dressed him in a white gown and ran a gentle finger over the downy fuzz that covered his precious head.

Peter whispered, “What shall we name him?”

“William John Wilson.” Melinda glanced up at him for approval. To her surprise his eyes were filled with unshed tears.

“Yes, that shall be his name.”

The baby let out a cry which told the two parents he was hungry. Melinda fed him then laid him down to sleep.

~A year later~

 “Mama! Mama!” Heart-wrenching sobs followed this outburst.

Melinda rubbed her eyes and sat up slowly. She caught sight of William standing up in his cradle, screaming at the top of his lungs.

Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, she plodded silently to his cradle. Picking him up she whispered, “Do you want to sleep with Mama and Daddy?”

William choked back his sobs and nodded. He rested his head on her chest. Melinda laid him down next to the warm body of his father.

But William wanted to cuddle with his mama. He scooted closer to her and said, “Mama. Rub me.”

Melinda’s heart melted and she tucked a blanket around him, rubbing his head in soft, gentle strokes. Soon, mother and son were asleep.

Next Sunday, Melinda and her family headed out to Circle C for dinner. As the conversation swirled around the table, Melinda watched her sister Katherine who was reunited with her husband, Troy. Kate was beaming and so were her girls. Their father was out of jail at last and they were reunited. Levi was bouncing William on his knees and the baby was gurgling and jabbering.

Melinda looked around the table and thought back to that one Sunday, almost two years ago when she had cried her heart out over not having a child. She smiled and whispered, “You heard my cry and You answered me.”

 For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when they cried unto him, he heard. Psalms 22:24