“You… you hit me!”
“You got a problem with that?”
The noise had attracted a crowd.
く
They were pointing, saying things like:
“Look at Claire. Shane brought his mother to
help her with the baby, and she treats them like
trash.”
“Yeah, Shane’s a good guy. Heard he comes from a big family. He doesn’t care that she’s got a bad reputation. He’s helping her out!”
I grabbed a bowl and smashed it.
“Of course Shane wants to take care of the baby.”
“Because he and Shelly are the parents.”
That was like a drop of water in a fryer.
Everyone exploded.
“What are you saying? You can’t blame that on
Shane.”
<
“They’re brother and sister. It’s on file with the
village. You can’t just say stuff like that!”
Shane and Shelly had come to the village together.
They had the same last name, and their relationship was on record.
Even if they were too close for comfort, everyone just thought it was nothing.
Everyone was taking their side, but Shane and Shelly looked guilty.
“Claire’s telling the truth. I can vouch for her.”
An older woman pushed her way through the crowd.
The bickering fell silent.
They might not believe me, but they had to
<
believe Maude.
68
In those days, medicine was scarce, and most
women had babies at home.
The midwife could mean life or death.
Maude was good, so everyone wanted her.
What she said mattered.
“Months ago, Shelly came to my house, pregnant, with lots of gifts. Shane visited a lot too. They didn’t act like brother and sister.”
“I delivered that baby. Shelly barely had her clothes on when Shane rushed in. Normal siblings don’t act like that!”
“Claire’s dad saved Shane from drowning, or
he’d be dead! And they’re turning on her? You people are blind!”
Some things couldn’t be explained away.
<
The villagers started to see things in a different
light.
