Subj: Beneath the Dark Shadows Part Six
Date: 9/30/00 1:28:28 AM Central Daylight Time
From: N.E. Collins

It had been a long and grueling ordeal. Betty was not having an easy time of it and there was the question in Elizabeth's mind of whether or not her friend would live through the birth. Elizabeth had tried to talk her aunt into moving Betty to a hospital early on, but Aunt Nora would hear none of it. "There is no reason to have a lot of silly doctors and nurses running around asking a lot of unnecessary questions." What she was really saying was they would want to know who the father was, Elizabeth said to herself. She was wondering that herself, but she had put it aside for now. There would be plenty of time to find that out later after the baby was born. She hoped.

Nora Collins was more alive than she had ever been in her whole life. Her head swam with visions of the babies future. Somehow she would incorporate him into the Collins family without the dreadful hint of scandal. She thought she might adopt the child herself. She thought about leaving him on the doorstep of the great house. She was so caught up in her schemes and fantasies that it never occurred to her that the child might be female. Oh, no, that would never do for she would have no use for a girl. Only a boy would fit into her plans.

Betty let out with a loud and painful shout! Jessica gave her no quarter as she demanded that this was no time to lay back and relax. It was time to push and push hard! Betty began to whimper and plead, "No more. I can't do anymore!" Nora Collins pushed the midwife angrily aside and slapped Betty full in the face hard! Elizabeth spoke out at her aunt's action, but all of Nora's attention were on the young girl in pain as she said, "Now you listen to me and listen well. You will DO as you are TOLD and you will do it NOW. After all I have done for you it is the very LEAST you can do in return. Finish this, now." She spoke with superior command in an even tone and she applied an uncomfortable pressure on Betty's right shoulder. Betty snapped back to the moment and PUSHED with all of her might and main.

"I can see the head!" Elizabeth looked around to where Jessica was indicating and, yes!, there was the top of a newborn infants head emerging with just the slightest sprinkling of dark hair on it's little crown. "Push again. Just once more. Once more and it will all be over." Jessica no sooner spoke the words than Betty more than eagerly obeyed, and with what appeared to be superhuman strength she managed to give that last and necessary movement that caused the child to slip safely into the midwife's waiting arms. Jessica wasted no time in giving the baby a smart smack on the behind, and the air was filled with the sound of a healthy hearty cry.

Nora was beaming as she said, "Let me see him! Let me hold the child." Jessica eyed the old woman carefully as she said, "It's a girl." She extended the babe toward Nora who pulled back in abject horror as she exclaimed, "A GIRL? But,but,...you said it was to be a boy! You swore it would be a BOY!" Jessica smiled serenely as she rocked the little girl in her arms. "I must have made a mistake. Mistakes do happen, Mistress Collins. They happen all the time."

Nora went coldly silent as her stunned gaze fell upon Elizabeth who was laughing and crying with her dear friend who lay exhausted on the sweat soaked sheets. She kept her thoughts to herself as they burned in her mind, "Mistakes? Oh, yes, Betty Hanscomb, you are getting quite good a making mistakes. First with my nephew, and now this. You made the mistake of not having a son. Well, my dear, this will be the last mistake you ever have the chance to make, I will see to it!"

Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis Production.