Scarlett Rose's Arc

Chapter 47 of 57

By Friday morning word had spread. Scarlett sat on the couch with her feet up when the first truck rolled in. A woman from the church left a casserole on the porch and asked to pray with her. Scarlett let her in. Twenty minutes later two more cars pulled up. By noon she had counted nine visitors and eaten none of the food they brought. Clayton came in from the barn between guests. He saw her gray face and closed the door behind the last one. "You need to be flat. Not upright on a couch smiling." "They mean well." "They're wearing you out." He was right. Her back ached. Her hands shook when she lifted the water glass. The doctor had said rest. She had done the opposite all morning. Another truck pulled up the drive. Clayton looked out the window and swore under his breath. "I'll handle it." "No. Let them in." He turned. "Scarlett." "One more time. Then we shut the door." She had an idea. She called Rose. She called Maya. She asked them to bring everyone who was coming to the porch at three, all at once, and to bring the pastor. By three the yard was full. Trucks lined the fence. Women held pies. Men held their hats. Rose stood on the top step and told them Scarlett couldn't take one more visit alone, but she could take one prayer together. The pastor stepped up. Scarlett came out on Clayton's arm. She sat in a chair he'd carried from the kitchen. The bloodhound settled at her boots. A pink butterfly landed on the porch rail and stayed. The pastor prayed for the babies. For her iron. For a safe delivery. Heads bowed across the yard. When he said amen, Scarlett thanked them and asked them to go home and let her sleep. They went. Every one of them. The casseroles stayed. The people did not. Clayton carried her inside and put her on the bed. She slept fourteen hours. Friday she went to the clinic. The nurse drew blood. Scarlett waited in the chair with Clayton's hand in hers. The doctor came in with the chart and read it twice before he spoke. "Your hemoglobin is normal." Scarlett stared. "Normal." "Better than normal. I'd like to run it again in a week, but I'm canceling Thursday's infusion. Both babies are measuring ahead. Everything looks clean." Clayton did not speak. He pressed her knuckles to his mouth. In the truck on the way home Scarlett watched the fence posts go by and did not count them. She rested her hand on her belly. The porch was quiet when they pulled in. The casseroles were still stacked by the door. She left them for tomorrow and went inside to lie down beside her husband while the light was still good.