Chapter 2The Mother We Lost and Found

Two months later, Momma missed her period. Then she started throwing up in the mornings.

Grandma Hazel was beside herself with joy. She doubled the stew – two pots a day now.

Momma’s belly swelled up fast. By six months, she was so big and weak she couldn't even get out of bed.

Grandma was so sure it was finally a boy, she paid Miss Ida to come up to the house and check. But Miss Ida took one look, maybe felt Momma’s belly, and shook her head. Said it was another girl.

Grandma Hazel’s face turned thunderous. She grabbed the old broom from the corner and started whaling on Momma right there in the bed.

Momma couldn't even move, just curled up, trying to protect her stomach, taking the blows. I saw blood starting to seep through the back of her thin nightgown. I couldn't stand it. I burst out crying and ran, throwing myself over Momma.

"Grandma, stop! Please! You'll hurt Momma and the baby!"

"You worthless thing!" Grandma shrieked, turning on me. "Protecting her? I'll beat you both!"

"Feedin' you good food every day, treatin' you like gold, and this is what I get? Another useless girl! You little tramp! Who knows if that brat is even Frank's!"

She kept yelling, swinging the broom wildly. I tried to shield Momma, feeling the sharp thwacks land on my own back and arms.

My dad, Frank, had just been standing there watching, like usual when Grandma went off. But when she yelled that maybe the baby wasn't his, his face changed. It went hard and ugly.

He grabbed Miss Ida’s arm. "Miss Ida," he pleaded, his voice low and urgent. "You gotta… you gotta get rid of it. For us."

"That's right!" Grandma chimed in, eyes gleaming. "Get that girl outta there! Make room for my grandson!"

Hearing that, Momma suddenly went wild. She started screaming, trying to scramble out of bed, clawing towards the door.

But Miss Ida was quick. She barked orders at Dad and Grandma, and between the three of them, they overpowered Momma, tying her wrists and ankles to the bedposts with old rope.

They haggled over the price for getting rid of the baby right there in the room. Miss Ida leaned in and whispered something in Grandma's ear, making Grandma nod eagerly.

Dad kicked me out of the room, slamming the door shut. I could hear Momma’s terrible, desperate screams from inside. I pounded on the door, begging them to stop, to let her go.

Grandma’s voice came through the wood, sharp and cruel. "Hush up out there, girl! Ain't your place to talk! After we deal with this… problem… inside your momma, I'm sellin' you off to old man Hemlock down the hollow! Get you off my hands, stop you eatin' our food and sidin' with that tramp!"

I just sank to my knees on the rough wooden porch, staring at the closed door, at the angry shadow of my father moving inside. I couldn't make a sound.

Then, suddenly, Momma’s screaming stopped.