The Stranger

"Knock knock", Stacy answered the door while questioning who could it be? It's not like the community they lived in was close to each other and they really kept to themselves. They didn't want to be know as the family that can't have children as gossip is powerful in these times. Women had one job, create children and be mothers. As she peeked through the door with hesitation there stood a teenaged girl... she stood maybe five feet tall with a stern face, she was determined looking. Stacy thought girls this age shouldn't look this wise but that thought dissipated as soon as she saw the belly, what a perfect pregnant belly...

"Please let me in quickly!" Demanded the young lady so Stacy stepped aside to welcome her into their little cottage. It was a modest little home that families lived in when their husbands worked in the chemical plant. They were lucky as Henry was manager they got a cottage not a apartment stacked on top of others. There was some privacy. "How can I help you miss?..". The young lady looked her over but just walked to the couch without saying a word. "Is your husband home?" The young miss inquired only leaving Stacy with questions. "No he's at work, why do you need him?" Stacy felt her face get red in hopes that this in not what it looks like...he wouldn't would he? Was he desperate to have a child that he would lay with this young girl??? She just stared blankly at the young miss.

"Oh I hope you don't think this is his? Maybe you can call him home so we can talk he needs to be here for this discussion!" Her face so stern that it felt like this was direction coming from one of the royals so Stacy agreed and made the call.

"Hello the is Stacy, Henry's wife. Is he available to come home for lunch I need him for only a few minutes..." she waited for the reply as the company was strict and that men there worked hard and took no time off. "He has a thirty minute break coming up, we will send him home but he needs to be back within his time!" The phone went dead.

"Stacy! Stacy where are you? Are you okay?" Henry came running in panicked as she never called him home even when she was not well. All he saw was her and a young miss sitting on the couch looking very uncomfortable. What is going on was all he could think and he made sure not to let that slip as he was trying to be polite with a stranger here.

"Good you are here. Please sit with us so we can talk business." The young miss looked stern but too young to be stern. She made it clear by her demeanor that she was to be taken seriously. " I cannot tell you who I am. I have been dealing with this situation for almost nine months alone and I need help. I talked with a doctor who you use because of you're issues and he said you are the perfect candidate... He said you work hard and love each other, he said you are modest people who are also very strong willed and have kept your issues to yourselves, is he wrong?" She just glared at the couple who had their mouths slightly hung open. Henry finally spoke up, "that is correct but I thought doctors cannot give patient information away? How did you find out about us?" He just stared at her waiting for the answer. "That's not important, what is is this thing inside me, you must make it yours!" What just happened? They can have a baby! Their own baby to love and spoil, to stay up with when sick and to make strong. "One condition, no one can know it's not yours, you will take her home tomorrow as if you gave birth yourself, since the miss hides away in here no one would question that she wasn't pregnant. This child can't know it's adopted and my doctor friend will write the birth certificate as it was born from you. Do you agree with the terms?" Stacy sat there crying in disbelief, she was going to have a child all hers and no one wanted the poor child. She struggled for years trying, hoping and praying, just anything to make it happen".

"I will call your work so you won't be returning today, they will believe your wife called because she is in labor, you will take a taxi after I leave and meet me at your doctors, please stuff something under your shirt, we don't want questions about this and if anyone asks I was a friend from birthing class that came to confirm your labor. Are we clear?" Before they could say a word the young miss stood up and walked to the door, " you are to never look for me or ask my name this never happened!" and just like that she was out the door.

This was happening... thank goodness they had everything set up for a baby, they believed if they were prepared it would happen but it never did...They decided to use a belly band with thawed out ice packs to make a fake belly, not a big one as the young miss looked small and when Stacy returns she won't look like she just had a baby so why no make her look like she carried small to help this cover up. Henry didn't think twice or ask his wife what she wanted, he knew without talking about it like they talk about everything. This will be their only lie to the world but it was a big lie so they decided no to talk about it ever again. They departed in the taxi to their doctors to wait for a child they wanted but couldn't bear.