I’d hire someone to help in the bakery, so I could take proper care of it. And when I’m gone, well, there’s the business. That child would never want for
anything, that’s one thing I can promise you.”
Olivia burst into sobs. At that moment she was incapable of caring what
would be good or bad for the baby. She felt like shouting, “What about me?
None of those choices are any good for me.”
Chapter Forty-Five
They rode aimlessly through the countryside. When they entered the next
town Jettie nodded at a long storefront with a sign that said “Eating House.”
“Guess we best stop.”
“If you want,” Olivia said. “I’m not hungry.”
“You just haven’t gotten around to noticing that you are. Pregnant women are
always hungry. Look, there’s a livery right up the street.”
Olivia silently got out of the buggy and followed Jettie back towards the
restaurant.
“I can’t force you to eat,” Jettie said, “but I ain’t driving home with my belly
howling like a banshee.”
“You can beat a dead horse, but you can’t make it drink,” Olivia mumbled for
no reason.
Their eyes met and both women gave a half-hearted laugh.
“See, I knew you was stronger than you been making out to be,” Jettie said,
putting an arm around Olivia’s shoulder. “You’re gonna be all right. You’ll see.
You ain’t the type to fall apart. It ain’t in your nature.”
Suddenly calm – and hungry – Olivia followed her inside. They were seated
at a table by the window and ordered the special: all the fried fish you can eat and a baked potato. Jettie also ordered beer for both of them.
When the waiter was gone, Olivia leaned forward and asked, “What would I
have to do, to get rid of it?”
“Don’t rightly know. Drink something I think.”
“Like poison, you mean?”
“If it’s gonna kill the seed growing inside you, it ain’t medicine. But it’s done
every day. I ain’t saying there ain’t no danger in it, but it’s not like there ain’t no
danger in birthing a baby.”
“How do you get the poison?”
“Go to a doctor and ask for it.”
“Just like that? I always thought they aren’t allowed. I mean, you never hear
anyone talk about it. Like it’s a big secret.”
“You gonna advertise in the newspaper if you do it? Most everyone wantin’ it
done are girls like you, in trouble. Even if they’re married, doing it for their own
health reasons, or cause they got no money, or cause they just don’t want another
child, who wants the whole world to know they done that? And ain’t no doctor
wants a reputation for bein’ an abortion doctor, cause then tongues start flapping
