Chapter 17

  The Waterfall

  Peeking around the midwife’s door, Daniel smiled at Rosemary as she turned her head on the white down pillow to face him. “May I come in?”

  She motioned with her hand and nodded with her sweet face. “Please. She was just starting.”

  Daniel eased back in the chair beside Rosemary’s bed, then placed her hand in his as the old midwife smiled at them. The kindly, plump matron clicked her tongue while she measured Rosemary’s abdomen with the long, metered ribbon. “Now, Rosemary, you’re far too thin for someone at your term.”

  Blowing stray hair from her face, Rosemary nodded in agreement. “I know that. The morning sickness is just brutal; I can barely eat now.”

  The midwife took her hand from Daniel, then pinched the skin on its back and twisted her lips as she shook her head with thick disapproval. “This won’t do, Rosemary. You must force yourself to drink at least, or I will confine you to bed right where you lay for the rest of your pregnancy.”