Chapter 3 : Edited!
Chapter 3
“You’re . . . You’re leaving me? I’ll be left here, alone?”
Noah repressed a sigh. He had known this would be hard, telling Cole he was leaving. Since he’d walked in on him and Alvin two years ago, Cole had become his shadow. The boy worshipped Noah but he didn’t mind. He was glad. For the first time of his life, he had a best friend. And now, also for the first time, he was being adopted. He hadn’t believed it when Mr. Price had told him. But Noah had met Miranda and Nelson Myer and he thought them a nice couple. They were unable to have children and so they had turned to adoption. But it was a trial period. For now, they would foster him and give them all time to get adjusted. If all went well, they would begin the motions for adoption. If not, Mr. Price assured Noah that his orphanage doors would always be open for the boy.
“Maybe we will be able to visit one another, Cole. We can ask Mr. Price.”
The boy’s eyes lit up like little suns. “Could we?”
Noah shrugged. “I can’t see why not. I’m told the Myers don’t live far from here.”
“When are you leaving?”
“Tomorrow.”
“So soon?” Cole whispered, his shoulders sagging.
Noah wrapped his arm around the boy’s shoulders. “We still have today, Cole, let’s do something special.”
“I would like that,” he said softly.
* * *
The next month went by quickly. Noah had adjusted to his new life and he thought his foster parents had also. He had his own room; it had been painted blue, at his request, and his bedspread matched the colour. Miranda and Nelson bought him some new clothes and shoes also. He was happy to not be at the orphanage, happy to have his own things but he missed Cole and Mr. Price and his other friends. The adults had decided to give everyone time to get accustomed to their new way of life before permitting Cole and Noah to see each other.
As for Miranda and Nelson . . . They were nice, that was a certainty. But Noah couldn’t help the feeling that he was definitely not their first choice. He knew they could not have children of their own and, somehow, he felt that they had wanted to adopt a baby, not an eleven year old child. It wasn’t anything they said or mentioned, only a feeling. And, stupidly, he was angry at their hair colour. Both of them had pale blond hair while his was dark brown. Both had brown eyes but he had blue. They looked nothing alike, how could he ever pass for their child? When these thoughts would enter his head, he’d mentally slap himself. He should be grateful they were willing to take a chance on an eleven-year old child.
One night, as Miranda was setting the table for supper, Noah knew something was different when she broke out the good, expensive dishes. The one he was told never to touch. When he asked his foster mom if she’d gotten any important news, she told him in a sing-song voice that he’d find out at the same time as Nelson. And so he waited.
His foster father quickly realised something was up. But he knew his wife and he patiently waited for her to tell him. She did so, during supper.
“I’m pregnant!” She beamed.
“Are you sure?” There was a hesitant smile playing on Nelson’s lips.
“Yes, yes! The doctor confirmed today!”
“That’s wonderful news!”
Nelson quickly rose from his chair and met Miranda half-way. They hugged and kissed passionately. Noah averted his gaze, loath to be an intruder to their special moment. When they finally sat back down, matching smiles on their face, Nelson asked, “How many months in are you?”
“Three!” She said excitedly.
“That means we only have six months to go!”
“But . . . but I don’t understand. You knew you were pregnant when you came to adopt me? Why say you were unable to have children?” Noah stammered. He had never been educated by women and men did not speak of such things as pregnancies.
“We didn’t think we could have children, Noah.” Miranda said gently. “Do you know a little of women?” When he shook his head, she explained, “Once a month, women should have their monthlies. Regular women, that is.” She didn’t explain what a monthly was and Noah was too embarrassed to ask. “But I’m not regular. Instead of every month, I get them every few months and conceiving a child in those circumstances is extremely difficult.”
Noah nodded in understanding even though he didn’t understand anything at all. She continued, “When women who are married don’t get their monthlies, that’s how they know they’re pregnant. Because I’m not regular, I didn’t know. But I suspected because of the occasional morning sickness.”
Again, Noah nodded. He began trembling. He was afraid of what her pregnancy meant for him. “Does that mean you’ll be sending me back to the orphanage?”
The couples’ eyes widened in shock. “No, Noah, no! We have more than enough room for you and the baby. We are still trying out this whole foster parenting, but so far it’s going good, yes? Don’t you enjoy yourself here?”
This time, Noah fully understood the question and he nodded energetically. “Yes, I do. I just thought that . . .”
“Banish those thoughts from your head, understood?”
Noah smiled.
The next few months were uneventful for Noah. The Myer’s were delighted with the miraculous pregnancy and they devoted every single minute to the unborn baby. Understandably, Noah felt left out but he didn’t resent his foster parents or their unborn child for it. After all, even he could see how beautiful and happy Miranda was and how proud Nelson was.
The weeks and months seemed to have sped by and suddenly, Miranda was having contractions. Nelson sent Noah to get the midwife who lived a few houses away. He ran fast, practically dragged the woman back to his home. The real labour hadn’t started yet and Miranda was pacing the kitchen, the study, the baby’s room. She needed to walk. Between two contractions, she bid Noah to her. He anxiously followed her every step. From the moment her breath hitched the first time, Noah had felt a deep anxiety in the pit of his tummy. He didn’t understand why but as the minutes, then hours, ticked by, his anxiety grew until his whole body was quivering with fear. He’d always followed his instincts. But this one was confusing. He didn’t know if something was going to happen – or if something had happened a long time ago. So he dogged Miranda’s every step. He realised she had spoken to him and was awaiting his answer but he had not heard what she said.
“I’m sorry, could you repeat?”
Her patient smile turned to a grimace and she doubled over from the contraction. Noah hesitated to touch her but he was quickly shoved out of the way by Nelson. “Miranda, are you alright?”
She eventually straightened and breathed in deeply. Nelson watched her warily as he headed out of the room. She resumed her pacing. “Noah, I realise we have not been paying much attention to you these past few months. I –we- apologise.”
The boy remained silent. It was useless to protest and they both knew it.
“We will make it up to you, we promise. In fact, we want to go to the orphanage as soon as I am back on my feet and to sign the adoption papers. Would you like that?”
Noah’s smile was wide and grateful. He had begun to think they really didn’t want him around anymore. But instead of sending him back, they wanted to sign the papers to have him permanently. His smile grew wider at the thought. Miranda spread her arms wide, a silent demand for a hug. Noah took a step in her direction but stopped when she let out a scream and curled her arms around her middle. He blocked his ears when her screaming wouldn’t stop.
Unknowingly, he was also screaming, while watching his foster mother cry out her pain. Her husband and the midwife hurried into the bedroom where they had been pacing. The older woman shoved the boy firmly out of the bedroom and closed the door. Noah slumped to the floor, ears still covered but his screaming had ended. Not hers. His heart was thudding painfully, ready to spring out of his chest and fly away. Why was the sound of her screams so painful? Why was he reacting so strongly? Because he had finally found a home? Because he sensed something was wrong?
Could you die while giving birth? Noah didn’t know. He hoped not. He would have to ask Miranda when she was done screaming. Would she resume her pacing? Had the real labour started?
The little boy sat in the dark hallway for hours, his wide blue eyes fixed on the closed door, trying to convince his thundering heart that everything would be fine.
* * *
Tyanina cried out when Noah’s scream of pain and denial reached out to her, echoed through her body and resonated in her heart. She had run to her mirror of souls just as Miranda’s midwife had told Noah in a harsh tone that Miranda had died. There had been complications, the umbilical cord had wrapped around the baby’s neck and it had died while still in the womb. Miranda did not support the shock of her still born baby, and she had also passed. Tya was furious with the woman’s harsh words but the empath in her felt the woman’s pain and sorrow at having lost the young woman. The words were a way for her to deal with the pain.
Nevertheless, Noah should not have had the words from her. But Nelson was still in the room, cradling his wife and dead baby in his arms. Only Tya could see Miranda’s ghost cradling her baby in her arms, hovering over her husband, desperately trying to reach out for him. But, obviously, the man could not see her. Finally understanding she would not reach him, Miranda allowed the pull that whisked her away from the room. She left without even glancing at Noah who was still in the hallway, his eyes wide and panicked. Only this time, the door wasn’t closed.
Tya was furious all over again. The midwife left without shielding the boy from the vision of blood soaked sheets, and a dead woman and baby in a sobbing man’s arms. And Miranda’s ghost hadn’t even lingered to look over her soon-to-be-son one last time. Tya had half a mind to let the woman stew for some time before putting her soul to rest but she mustn’t be petty. She knew what her responsibilities were; she couldn’t shirk them.
She placed her hand gently on her mirror and asked to see Miranda and her baby. Immediately, they walked out of the glass, looked around the room. Then the woman’s gaze settled on Tya.
“We are dead, aren’t we?”
“Yes, you are Miranda. You and your baby.”
The woman nodded, looked down into the bundle in her arms. Now Tya could see the baby was a girl. “She’s beautiful,” She whispered. Although to the world, these two were dead, Tya saw their souls which were very much alive.
Miranda raised her head and smiled through her tears. “Yes she is. Nelson would have loved her. And Noah . . .” Her face was suddenly stricken with grief. “I didn’t say goodbye to him!” She whipped around, ready to return from where she’d come from but Tya stopped her.
“You cannot go back, Miranda.”
“But Noah...”
“I will find a way to make him feel peace over your departure. Please, we must be on our way.”
The woman hesitated, then nodded. Tya closed her eyes for a heartbeat, for that was all she needed to feel the woman’s very essence. In the space of that heartbeat, she saw everything and anything Miranda had ever done, every thought she’d had, every consequence to her actions.
Her decision made, she reached her hand and settled it on Miranda’s shoulder and they immediately reappeared in the Skies. An awed expression on her face, Miranda looked around.
“Am I in Heaven?”
“Yes, this will be your new home.”
“And my baby?”
Tya smiled softly. “She will remain with you. Babies are the purest of souls and they always deserve a place in Heaven.” Tya smiled to a light-haired woman approaching them. “Miranda, this is Lyssa, she will guide you from now on.”
“Wait! Don’t go! Who are you?”
“My name is Tya and I . . . am Death.” She stated simply, watching the woman’s reaction.
“Lady Death,” she murmured while studying Tya. “I wouldn’t have expected you to be so . . . Beautiful. Thank you. And thank you for Noah.”
Tya bowed her head and reappeared in her mirror room. She touched the mirror and replayed Miranda’s last hours, from the moment she began her contractions. As usual, she lost focus of her intended subject when Noah came into view. She slipped into his mind and relived his escalating terror at Miranda’s labour. She knew why he was so terrified, even if he didn’t. His mother had died in childbirth, birthing him. And now, again, he had lost a second mother to a baby. Only this time, the baby didn’t survive.
* * *
“Noah! Mr. Price didn’t tell me you were coming to visit me!”
Noah looked down into Cole’s bright eyes. “I’m not here to visit, Cole, I’m moving back in.”
The brightness of the boy’s eyes dimmed. “What . . . happened? I heard they were going to adopt you, Mr. Price told me.”
“They were.” Noah’s voice was tight with emotion. “But Miranda . . . she . . .”
“She died giving birth.” A soft voice answered.
The boys looked up to find Courtney Price standing over them. She was smiling sadly at Noah. “I am glad to see you again, Noah, although I would have preferred it be under different circumstances. I’m sorry for your loss.”
Striving to keep his tears at bay, he mumbled, “Thank you.”
“Your old room is waiting for you; you’ll have it to yourself, your old roommate was adopted a few weeks ago.
Noah bowed his head and headed up to the second floor with Cole following him every step of the way. He took his clothes from his suitcase to his drawer while his friend watched him silently. He finally dropped on his bed and closed his eyes. He had been so close to belonging to a family. So close! And he never got to say goodbye to Miranda...
“What happened, Noah?” Cole whispered anxiously. He had never seen his friend so quiet before.
“Like Mrs. Price said, Miranda died giving birth. It was too much for Nelson, he went half-mad from losing his wife and the baby they’ve prayed for. He told me to leave, told me it brought back too many memories of happier times.” Noah swallowed painfully. “And so here I am.”
“Maybe I can ask Mr. and Mrs. Price if I could become your new roommate, would you like that?” He chewed his lower lip. “Or would you prefer staying alone?”
“I don’t know if I’ll be good company, Cole, but I definitely don’t want to be alone.”
The boy smiled. “I’ll go ask them right away!” And he rushed off.
Noah sighed and draped an arm over his eyes. He was so weary. Miranda had died yesterday. He hadn’t eaten or slept since. Nelson spent the day in the bedroom. At some point, the midwife had come back with a doctor and they had left with the two bodies. Nelson had screamed and pleaded with them to leave the bodies or to kill him also but they refused on both accounts. He had spent the rest of the day in the bloody room, crying. Noah had been left on his own. He had sat in his bedroom and cried silently. He had tried sleeping but his eyes remained open, staring at the door as if he hoped there was a misunderstanding and Miranda would come in and tuck him in.
When morning came, Nelson had walked into Noah’s bedroom, after thankfully having washed the blood off, and silently started packing Noah’s things. The confused boy had tried to stop him, asked him what he was doing, but all Nelson had said was, “I informed the orphanage or your return. I’m sorry but I cannot bear to look at you, you will remind me too much of . . . what I’ve lost.”
The midwife had come to get Noah and delivered him safely at the orphanage. Nelson never said goodbye.
Noah wished Nelson would have let him stay. Maybe in the long run, he could have helped the older man. He could have become his reason for being. He had lost everyone else, why did he have to turn him away?
“Everything happens for a reason, Noah.”
A soft feminine voice sounded in his head. He was not startled by this. Her presence, if not her voice, was familiar to him. He had felt her, all his life, or so it seemed. “What reason was there for Miranda and the baby’s deaths?”
“I do not understand the way Life works, only that Miranda’s death was not in vain.”
“But I did not even get to tell her goodbye,” he whispered.
“She left too quickly, Noah, but she’s in peace now, she sends her love, she is sorry she did not get to say goodbye. She loved you very much, don’t doubt that.”
“I don’t. Thank you.”
He felt her presence pull back as another voice spoke to him excitedly. “Noah! They agreed! They said I . . . Oh! You were sleeping? I’m sorry!”
Noah blinked. Apparently he had fallen asleep. Had the voice been only a dream? Something his mind conjured to ease his pain? He shook his head, both in denial and to wake up. The woman may have waited for him to be asleep, but she wasn’t a figment of his imagination. This he knew. Just like he knew when something was happening with Cole three years ago. He was simply . . . gifted that way.
“It’s okay, Cole, I’m awake. What did they say?”
“They said it isn’t a problem! Are you sure it isn’t a problem with you?”
“No, not at all. I told you; I don’t want to be alone.”
Cole smiled. “I’ll go get my things, I’ll be right back.”
Sleep forgotten, Noah sat up in his bed and cradled his head in his hands. Who was the woman? Woman . . . was a strong word. He somehow had the feeling she wasn’t much older than he. Wasn’t that odd? But...Her presence was familiar to him. Almost like a guardian Angel perched on his shoulder throughout his whole life.
Again, he shook his head. Was he making too much out of this . . . dream? “Who are you?” Noah whispered into the silent room. “What are you?”
The tears welled up in my eyes. I have no mistakes to point out so.... good job. 
You have another sentence somewhere in there that says "why say you" which is very odd and unrealistic coming from an eleven year old's mouth. Remember that your character is eleven-- a lot of his dialogue seems very formal and educated for him, no matter how intelligent a boy he might be.
Besides the dialogue stuff, this was a good chapter. Your pace was very steady and easy, and I like the way the plot's unfolding. This kind of relationship between Tya and Noah is better, I think, at least for now-- a mentor ship, not a romance as you implicated in the last chapter. 