War Girls Complete Collection Chapter 322

Chapter 41: Richard

Kleindorf, February 1946

A

t the Epstein farm, they had a lot more space than in the crowded farmhouse at Aunt Lydia’s. Ricahrd and Rachel had traveled to the convent in Kaufbeuren to fetch her brothers Aaron and Israel several weeks ago. It had been a very moving reunion and Richard had surreptitiously blinked away a few tears.

Israel was thirteen years old and Aaron ten. They were easy enough to handle, because the nuns had done stellar work in teaching them manners and obedience. At the moment, they were a bit too soft for his liking, but he was certain he – or better Katrina once she had the baby and was on her feet again – could teach them everything there was to know about running a farm. At least the older boy would be of great help.

Right now, as snow still kept the farmer’s hands idle, he’d taken to teaching them mathematics, literature, geography and anything else he could think of. He found the nuns had done a stellar job on their education too and the boys were exceptionally well versed in reading, writing and most of the other subjects.

What he worried about, though, was their Jewish heritage. Richard had no idea about Jewish culture or traditions and he feared he’d fail the children in this respect.

“Richard, you don’t have to shoulder all the burden. This is something Rachel can do. She’s their sister and she knows all about Jewish traditions,” Katrina said, intent on soothing his worries.

“But the boys need an older male to look up to for guidance. And I might teach them things the wrong way, because I don’t know how it’s different in their religion.”

Katrina laughed. “Aaron and Israel have withstood three years of living in a Catholic convent, run by nuns.”

“Exactly!” A shudder ran down his spine. One of his mother’s favorite threats had been, “If you don’t behave, I’ll send you to a convent.” Any child knew it wasn’t fun to be raised by nuns.

“Darling,” she put a hand on his shoulder, “you worry too much. You’re doing a great job and those boys adore you.”

“It’s just so hard. When I signed up to run this farm, I had no idea what I was in for. The responsibility for five people now rests on my shoulders. I’m already feeling overwhelmed and we’re still in winter and…” He didn’t say that the nearer the due date for their baby came, the more inadequate he felt. If they’d been back in Aunt Lydia’s house, he could rely on Lydia and Frau Hansen to support Katrina with the new baby. But now, she would have only Rachel to help. And in addition to not having children of her own, Rachel was still incredibly frail. “You should move in with Aunt Lydia, at least for the first weeks after the baby is born.”

“You’ll be a great father and I will be alright here with you,” Katrina insisted.

“But what if something goes wrong?” Awful images crossed his mind.

“I can always send you for your aunt, it’s less than fifteen minutes—ouch.” Katrina doubled over in pain.

“What’s wrong, sweetheart?” One look at her distorted face and he thought the worst.

“Nothing.” She breathed heavily and then said, “The baby is coming.”

“What? Now?” Panic roared through him and he hastily glanced in all directions, unable to move or think a clear thought.

Katrina, though, seemed to have recovered quickly and she smiled at him. “Go and get the midwife.”

“But what if the baby is born while I’m away?” Richard was out of his mind. The midwife lived halfway to Mindelheim and it would take him at least an hour to walk there and back.

“Nothing will happen. The first baby usually takes twelve or even more hours to come out. Now go.”

Richard paled. “Twelve hours? Oh my God. I’d better go.”

He put on his coat and his boots, which were strangely uncomfortable today. He didn’t have the time or inclination to give it further thought, not until Katrina called him, “Richard. You put your boots on the wrong feet.”

He glanced down. She was right.

“Look, darling, there’s no need to worry. Promise.” She observed how he changed the boots onto the correct feet.

“I still don’t feel good leaving you alone in the house.” Rachel and her siblings had walked into town that morning to file some paperwork.

“If it makes you feel better, why don’t you run over to Aunt Lydia first and tell her to visit with me before you get the midwife?”

“That’s a great idea. I will do that.” He pressed a kiss on her lips, but even as she was in his arms, she recoiled again. “Oh no. Oh no. What is it this time?”

“Just another contraction. You go and get me the midwife and then you disappear from my sight until the baby is born or you’ll make everyone crazy with your worry.” She laughed and sent him away.

Richard, though, couldn’t understand her cavalier attitude and trudged through the snow as fast as his legs would carry him. He reached Aunt Lydia’s house in record time and barged into the kitchen yelling, “Aunt Lydia! Aunt Lydia!”

His aunt came rushing and at the sight of his reddened, heated face filled with panic she asked, “What happened?”

“The baby is coming!” he pressed out between frantic breaths.

“Just this morning I thought it was about time,” Lydia answered. “What did the midwife say?”

“Nothing! I’m on my way to get her. I came here first, because Katrina is alone in the house and she’s in pain.”

Lydia, who’d borne nine children in her life, cast an indulgent gaze at this aggravated first-time father. “I’ll go right away to see her, but you stop worrying and leave this job to us women.”

Richard nodded, feeling slightly better now that his aunt was taking control into her hands and he was just a runner tasked with getting the midwife.