The House of Eve (91)
Eleanor watched as the scenery passed, nodding her head as the blues streamed from the radio. She had missed being out, and a peace came over her. They circled the city, passing the Capitol Building, the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial before easing the car into a parking space on the same side street in Northwest just off MacArthur Blvd where they had parked during their first appointment. Eleanor walked slowly, her hand tucked inside William’s, as they crossed the street to the whitewashed building.
“You ready for this?” He held the door open for her.
Eleanor simply nodded her head. She felt like she was going to meet President Truman for the first time and couldn’t think of one intelligent thing to say to him. They rode the elevator up to the fifth floor, and William gave a light knock before pushing open the door.
Inside, the carpet still smelled dank and the wooden cross that hung on the wall was askew. Sitting on the desk was a Moses basket, and Eleanor’s heart leaped at the sight of it. There in front of them was their son, waiting for Eleanor and William to take him home.
“Mr. and Mrs. Pride, welcome.” Mother Margaret beamed at them, her hands clasped around the basket.
William removed his hat.
“Please, meet your new baby girl.”
“Girl?” Eleanor stopped in her tracks. “Over the telephone you said it was a boy.”
Mother Margaret stammered. “Did I? I must be getting feeble in my old age. Deary me, my apologies. I should have called you back to clarify. You have a girl.” She pasted on a thin smile, touching the cross that hung around her neck.
Eleanor rubbed her hand over her face, not sure what to think. “That’s a big mistake,” she said pointedly.
“A girl is perfect,” William interrupted, taking a step toward the basket. “Daddy’s little girl.”
They both peeked down into the basket, and Eleanor gasped. All her disappointment vanished at the sight of the tiny person balled up in the basket. She was beautiful. When she reached for her, the baby stretched her body long and then nestled herself in Eleanor’s arms. She smelled so good, and already Eleanor could feel a tug and pull that made her woozy. William took her by the elbow and guided her into the office chair.
“She is lovely.” William pulled his chair closer to her and moved the blanket down to the baby’s chest. Perfect patches of curls sat atop her crown, and her lips puckered in her sleep.
The baby settled against Eleanor like it was the most natural thing in the world.
“Where is the lavatory?” William asked, trying to hide the emotion from his voice.
“Right down the hall.” Mother Margaret gestured.
When they were alone, Eleanor whispered, “I didn’t expect her to be so tiny.”
“At birth she was six pounds even, and nineteen inches long.”
Her sweet face was so pale that Eleanor turned her miniature ears over between her fingers to check for more pigmentation. They were a half shade darker, but not by much. Her mother would wonder why she was so fair, and Eleanor hoped that in the days to come she would flush with more color. But no matter what, she was their miracle. Eleanor closed her eyes and mumbled a thank you to Eve, for she wouldn’t have this darling child without her.
Mother Margaret pushed a stack of forms across the desk toward Eleanor. “I’m so glad that Rose Pride contacted me about you two.”
Eleanor opened her eyes, not sure she heard her correctly. “Excuse me?”
“When I met Rose and William for the first time, I knew that you’d be the perfect family to match with a child. And I was right. You are a lovely couple and will make the most wonderful parents. God bless you.”
Eleanor tried to hide the shock from showing in her eyes. Rose and William had met with Mother Margaret? Without her?
“Oh, I need her name. Have you decided?”
Just then, William returned, drying his hands on a paper towel. “How about Wilhelmina?” He smiled down at Eleanor, and she was so taken aback that all she could do was nod.
“Fitting, strong name.” Mother Margaret scribbled on the page.
William scanned the birth certificate and other documents while Eleanor rocked Wilhelmina in her arms, trying to make sense of it all. They went through the process of signing all the papers, but Eleanor couldn’t do more than scribble her name while holding the sleeping baby.
“As I mentioned before, we close the birth records, which precludes the possibility of birth relatives seeking out the child. No information will be shared; she is yours free and clear.” Mother Margaret stood and extended her hand. “May God keep you and your daughter. Go in peace.”
Eleanor had walked into the building with only her and William to think of and now she was a mother. She had a daughter, someone who would depend on her for the rest of her life. The moment should have been picture-perfect, but the question that kept nagging at the back of her mind was: Why had William and Rose met with Mother Margaret? And why would they have kept this secret from her? Something didn’t add up, but she decided not to ruin the moment with her questions. She would get to the bottom of it soon enough. Right now, she needed to concentrate on getting Wilhelmina home safely.
The distance from the building to the car seemed to have grown and Eleanor held Wilhelmina protectively in her arms, walking slowly so as not to stumble and drop her. When they reached the car, William opened the passenger door for her, but she decided to climb into the back seat with the baby. The two of them belonged together.