Hannah
When Reagan enters the kitchen, everyone grows silent; a pin could be heard dropping. Of course Hannah can hear a pin drop any time. And then she hears the baby, the sweet, sweet sound of a baby’s complaints.
“Here he is, everybody,” Reagan says softly. Her footsteps are light, her voice tender. It’s very unlike her sister who much prefers to blast her way into a room like a rocket.
Hannah is out of her seat in a heartbeat and leaves the men and Grams in her dust. Reagan grasps her outstretched hand in hers, and presses Hannah’s palm to the baby’s fat cheek.
“He’s a boy, Hannie,” Reagan tells her. Hannah reaches up to her sister’s cheek and feels a smile there. It makes her smile in return.
“Sue?” The worry in Grams’s voice almost scares Hannah.
“She’s doing just fine. Grandpa’s still with her. He sent me out to you, Grams, to help get him cleaned up. So we’d better make fast work of it before we make his mama mad at us,” Reagan says more firmly. She recovers quickly, Hannah remembers.
“What’s his name?” Hannah asks.
“Isaac Herbert Harrison,” Reagan tells them. There’s joy in Reagan’s voice, something nobody has heard since she’s come home.
“Oh, fooey, they shouldn’t use your grandfather’s name. He hates that name,” Grams says informatively.
“Grams, it’s just his middle name, and nobody uses their middle name. Anyways, it’s too damn bad ‘cuz that’s his name, and I think it’s perfect. And he’s perfect,” Reagan swears. Grams lets this one slide. “Here, Hannie, hold him while I get cleaned up, and then we’ll wash this little angel.”
As soon as Isaac’s in her arms, Hannah feels her eyes begin to pool. He gurgles and wiggles and coos and cries and then quiets. She runs her fingertips over the fine, delicate bone structure of his nose, his brow, his tiny chin, his little ears. Then she slides her fingers down to his cubby hand, and he grips her finger instinctively. She may be blind, but her ability to cry is still with her. And she doesn’t feel ashamed of her tears.
A large hand lands softly on Hannah’s shoulder, and she knows it is Kelly.
“Whoa, he’s... um... kinda’ small don’t ya’ think?” he asks nervously.
“He’s just a baby, Kelly. He’s supposed to be small, and I think he feels just right,” Hannah admonishes.
“Yeah, duh, moron,” this time Grams does swat Reagan on the back of the head because Hannah hears it. She swears again under her breath. She knows Grams can’t hear this one. “You didn’t expect him to come out your size did you?”
“Yeah, dude, give him a break. He’ll get as big as us someday I bet,” John says as he tips back the cottony material covering Isaac to get a better look. “Aww, man, he’s stinkin’ cute.”
“He’s not a puppy,” Reagan chastises John as usual. Hannah can hear that she and Grams are at the big, deep, kitchen sink running water. They’ve moved on to discussing the birth, Sue’s care and other medical things that have to do with birthing a baby. Everyone had known since Reagan had been just a kid that she’d go on to do great things in her life, but when they’d come to live with their grandparents it didn’t take long to figure out what that would be. In the past few months, Hannah couldn’t be more proud of her sister. This was the same girl who patiently rode Hannah around behind her on a horse because she knew Hannah couldn’t do it for herself but enjoyed riding just as much as her. This was the big sister who worked with her tirelessly on learning Braille. Her sister had always held her hand in public, taken her for long walks in the woods, helped her climb the ladder to the hay loft, played music with her and taught her to listen to the different sounds of bugs and which ones could be potential stingers. She’d also studied tolerantly with her during many of her homeschooling sessions because Hannah didn’t want to go to a blind school since it was too far away from her family. Sue was the sister Hannah would turn to for working out issues and discussing her feelings. But Reagan had been the one to explain boys, periods, sex and anything else personal that Grams must’ve just assumed the girls would figure out on their own. It had all been taught to Hannah from a purely scientific point of view, but at least she knew the gist of things before Reagan had left for college. And now here she is discussing Sue’s vital stats.
Hannah could care less about Isaac’s fontanel something or other and Sue’s placenta. She’s just in heaven holding her new nephew in her arms, cooing to him. Feeling his tiny little body squirm, smelling his foreign scent and touching the softness of his new skin are all she needs.
“Ok, we’re ready over here, Hannie,” Reagan calls to her. Kelly takes her elbow and leads her to where the other women are waiting. Reluctantly, Hannah gives over baby Isaac to Grams, and he immediately starts wailing.
They wash him with a warm, wet cloth which earns them all more wailing, and Reagan allows Hannah to help. With everything Reagan does, it’s quick, efficient and within moments Isaac is wrapped in a warm blanket.
“Hannah, can you take him back to Derek and Sue while I go upstairs to their room and get him some clothes and a diaper?” Reagan asks as she pushes him into Hannah’s arms.
“Sure, we’ll take him back, Reagan,” Kelly answers for her.
“I’ll go with you and help, boss,” John tells Reagan as they leave the room. Reagan is bickering with John as usual. She doesn’t want or need his help, the same old, tired argument that John seems oblivious of.
Together, Hannah and Kelly go with Grams back to her own bedroom where they find Sue resting. Kelly waits for her in the hallway, not wanting to enter, and his show of respect for Sue’s privacy is not lost on Hannah.
Her grandparents pair off in the hallway to discuss Sue and the delivery. Derek takes Isaac from Hannah’s arms and thanks them for their help.
“It’s the middle of the night. Why don’t you all get some rest? Reagan and I will keep watch on Sue and the baby throughout the night,” Grandpa tells everyone.
“I’ll stay here with her and Isaac if that’s ok, Herb,” Derek says.
“That’ll be just fine, Derek. You and the baby can just lie down beside her in the bed after we get the bedding switched out,” Grams answers.
“I’ll just sleep in this chair. I don’t want to crowd her and the baby,” Derek offers.
“Maryanne, you go on to bed. We’ll handle this in here. You need to get some sleep,” Grandpa tells Grams. Hannah can tell that she is reluctant to go, but when she hears them kiss, she knows that Grams has lost this particular debate.
“You call me if anything changes, Herb,” Grams orders him on a yawn. She just seems so tired lately.
“Will do, love. Now go on to bed. You, too, Hannah. You look dead on your feet, honey. The kids will need cared for tomorrow, and Sue will need the help of her sisters for a few days until she’s back on her feet,” Grandpa tells her.
Hannah reaches out and her grandpa pulls her in for a quick hug and a peck on the cheek. She crosses the room to collect a nightgown and a fresh dress for the morning so she doesn’t have to disturb her sister if she would still be sleeping.
“Come on, Hannah. I’ll help you get to your temporary room,” Kelly says softly and takes her arm again. He’s been standing outside the door the whole time.
“That was amazing, you know? I mean, here we are at the end of the world and Sue brought this life into it like nothing’s going on out there. It’s a miracle, you know? Crazy,” Kelly reflects as they walk together.
“It wasn’t like she had a whole lot of other choices,” Hannah taunts gently as he leads her to the back hall that will take them to the basement stairs. The excitement of the day has finally gotten to Hannah, and she yawns widely. “You forgot a light switch.”
“How did you... um, sorry,” Kelly apologizes. He turns back and takes two steps to click off the hall light. It’s one of the most important rules. Turn off all lights when not in use.
“It’s ok. You don’t have to be sorry. I can just tell things by sound and after a while those sounds become a habit. Kind of like you seeing the switch is your habit. I memorize a lot,” she explains.
They descend into the basement where the bunk rooms are located and pass the room that houses all the kids. A small bathroom separates the two rooms and is accessible by either. Sue and Derek’s kids have moved into the basement bedroom that houses Kelly’s “cool” siblings. They all four sleep in one of the double bunk bed rooms. They think it’s fun, like a camp out, and no-one has the heart to tell them any different. If they can find joy in anything it’s a good thing, a good sign that they haven’t completely lost their adolescence. If Cory feels any different, he hasn’t voiced his opinion about wanting to get the heck out of the kid room. He’s been very tolerant of the younger kids and has easily slid into the role of oldest brother. He is still withdrawn and morose most of the time, though. Hannah had overheard her grandparents talking about Cory the other day and how hard it must be for him to have lost his parents and thrust into a new family virtually overnight. But he seems to be adjusting to the farm and is well-mannered and courteous. However, Grandpa did tell Grams that he would find time to talk to Cory about what he’s feeling and offer him to help out with some of the more adult jobs around the farm. Having been the town doctor for so many years, Grandpa had learned to be a fantastic listener of people’s problems and an amateur therapist.
Temporarily, Hannah will also sleep in the basement. She doesn’t like it in the basement. It just feels dark to her, not that she can see anything in the first place. But it’s an indescribable feeling. The basement isn’t as familiar to her as the upstairs rooms of the farmhouse which is likely the reason for her reticence. She rarely goes into the older part of the basement where the main food storage is because of the uneven flooring and cramped passageways. Her grandparents had never forced the issue and neither had she. Although they don’t know it is because of her aversion to being in any underground space at all.
Kelly deposits her in her new bedroom, and Hannah feels a sense of dread settling in on her already stressed out and fatigued body. She’s never going to be able to sleep in here. When Derek was in her room last month, she’d slept most nights on the sofa in Grandpa’s study and one night upstairs with Reagan. Her fear is childish and unfounded, but it’s an apprehension she can’t shake. Reagan had not even questioned her. Her sister understands her because she wrestles her own demons daily.
Hannah can hear John and Kelly talking in the hall before their respective doors close with soft clinks. She can tell that Kelly is in the room next to hers. His movements are heavier, louder.
Feeling exasperated, Hannah removes her dress, apron and bra and flips her nightgown over her head, letting it fall to her knees. Sliding the rubber band off the tip of her braid, she twines her fingers through the long braid until it’s loose and free and hanging down her back. She sets the tie on a dresser just like she would do in her own room in an attempt at normalcy. Crossing the unfamiliar room again, she sits on the bed, not before bumping her head on the bunk above it. Then she moves back to the center of the room. This isn’t going to work. Hannah gives up and decides to do something rather unthinkable. She crosses to the door and sneaks into the hall, stealthily feeling her way to the doorknob of Kelly’s room.
She debates momentarily on knocking and decides against it so as not to awaken John or the children. As quietly as she can manage, she twists the knob and enters his room.
“Kelly?” she whispers. She’s unsure of whether he has gone to sleep or is standing directly in front of her. Her hand reaches out and collides with a bare chest. Hannah snatches it back as if it’s on fire. “Oh, um...”
“What’s wrong, Hannah? Is everything ok? Are you all right?” he asks quickly and takes her hand in his own. She snatches it back again for some odd reason that even she cannot explain.
“Uh... do you... uh... are you dressed?” she blurts uncomfortably. Her voice is suddenly very high in pitch.
“Am I dressed? Yeah, I’m dressed. Well, sort of. I’ve got... boxers on,” he says awkwardly.
“Oh, ok,” she whispers out with a long breath and smiles. She’s not entirely sure what a “boxer” is but at least he hadn’t said he was naked. “I couldn’t sleep. I actually didn’t even try. I don’t like it down here. I don’t know why. I know it probably doesn’t make sense, right? I’m just being a baby. I should go,” Hannah cries, spins and runs right into the door. Awkward plus more awkward followed by an ineloquent awkward speech followed by running into the door equals a massive amount of humiliation. She wishes at this moment that she could curse so fluently like Reagan. All she manages is a stymied, “crap!” At least she didn’t hit her head.
“Oh, Hannah, are you ok?” Kelly asks, his voice etched with concern as he puts his enormous hand on her shoulder. “Hey, come over here and sit.”
He leads Hannah to a bed, presses her down onto its soft mattress and backs away from her.
“Why don’t you like it down here?”
“I don’t know. I just never have. Claustrophobia maybe? I’m just a wimp,” Hannah says and curls her toes in the deep, plush carpeting.
When he speaks again, she can hear a smile touching his lips, “Nah, not a wimp. You’re one of the bravest people I know actually. Sometimes when I watch you around here I’m dumbfounded by the stuff you do. Using a knife? Seriously? It makes me cringe every time I see you pick one up. Walking around outside? You could get hurt out there- run into a tractor, get run over
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a tractor if Derek’s driving. No, you are definitely not a wimp, Hannah. And I used to work with some pretty big dudes, too, so I know tough, ok?”
“Sure, sure,” Hannah answers. She’s not great with flattery, but the thing she takes away from what he’s said is that he spends any amount of time watching her. Why would he bother watching her? There’s a whole lot of nothing interesting going on with her. “Oh, hey, there aren’t any bunks in here. Just two side by side beds, right?” Hannah remembers. It’s been a while since she’s been in this bedroom in the basement.
“Yeah, just two double beds and a dresser in between, ok? Do you want me to walk you around?” he offers kindly. How is it that she’s only known him a short time and he knows to do things like that for her? He’s so considerate.