No Distance Too Far (26 page)

In an effort to conquer the fear, she started with the second verse in James.
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers
temptations . . .
and continued to the end of the chapter and on to the next. She had memorized all of James and right now was grateful for that. As the miles passed, she moved into First John to be reminded how much God loves His children.

When the steward came through announcing the meal was ready in the dining car, she shook her head. The thought of eating made her stomach roil, let alone the actual doing. But she knew she needed strength, so she nibbled on an apple Mrs. Abercrombie had thoughtfully included in a small basket for her.

Reaching Chicago, she made her way to the ticket counter and purchased her ticket to Blessing, then crossed the black-and-white diamond marble floor to the telephones. Who would have believed there would be public telephones in a train station? Now just to figure out how to use one. She read the instructions, placed her nickel in the slot, and asked for the Alfred Morganstein Hospital for Women and Children. When a voice answered, she identified herself and asked to speak to Dr. Morganstein.

“Oh yes, Dr. Bjorklund, I’ll get her. Where are you?”

“At the train station. I have a couple of hours until my train leaves for Blessing.”

In a few moments Dr. Morganstein came on the line. “Astrid, dear girl, what is happening?”

“Thorliff telephoned me and said to come home because Elizabeth might be losing her baby, and all the doctoring needed is too much for my mother. The dean gave me permission to go home.”

“Oh, I am so sorry to hear all this. What can I do for you?”

“Do you have any knowledge of what I can do for her?”

“This is an area we know so little about yet. Bed rest, eating beef, drinking milk with an egg mixed up in it, anything to get enough blood builders in her. She will get weak lying in bed, so make sure she moves her arms and legs while she is lying down. Deep breathing is also important. If she can get out in the sun, that can help make her stronger too. Perhaps Mr. Bjorklund can carry her outside. I know she wanted another child so badly, but I thought she understood how dangerous this was for her.”

“She has lost two since Inga was born.”

“There are some studies being done in New York. I will look into those and see if there is anything to help us. The main thing is to build up her strength and yet keep her down. Do you know how far along she is?”

“No. I wasn’t even aware she was with child until this morning,” Astrid answered with some degree of frustration.
How many other
things have gone on in Blessing that I’ve not been told?
The thought clamped on her chest.
And how many other things will be happening
while I am in Africa that I won’t know anything about until a letter
reaches me weeks, no, probably months, later?

“Please insert another nickel,” said the operator’s voice, breaking into the conversation.

Astrid did as instructed, hearing the clinking of the coin as it fell into the slot.

“Sorry.”

“That is all right. I will find out whatever I can. Now, about you. What has happened?”

“I have been accepted for a two-year mission term. The first part will be at a major hospital and the latter with Rev. Schuman in the bush, if the powers that be deem this possible. They are terribly concerned about my age, my gender, and my lack of a husband.”

Dr. Morganstein chuckled softly. “It must be hard for them to accept you.”

“They have struggled, but I have dug in my heels. God has done whatever needed doing, as I have been approved. But now this. The hardest part has been no medical work for me these months until the other day when Rev. Thompkins collapsed in class. They say I saved his life by getting him to the hospital so quickly.”

“His heart?”

“Yes. But he is getting stronger again. I doubt they will let him return to Africa now. He is a wonderful teacher, knows his Bible so well. I feel privileged that I could be in his classes.”

“Well, I’d like to chat longer, but the operator is going to ask you for more money. I will telephone you in Blessing if I can find out more. Keep me apprised, please.”

“I will, and thank you.” Astrid hung up the receiver and leaned her head against the walnut paneling. How did one go about studying and researching women and pregnancies? Why did some women have trouble carrying a baby to term and others sailed right through?

She sent a telegram to Thorliff, giving her arrival time, and then wandered over to the counter, where she bought a sandwich and cookies and then found a bench where she could sit and eat. When she checked the tiny clock she had pinned to her traveling suit, she still had an hour to wait. Only by repeating the Scriptures she’d committed to memory could she keep the worry and fear at bay. One didn’t have to be in Africa to need strength to control one’s thoughts.

When she boarded the train for St. Paul, she breathed a sigh of relief. At least now she was heading in the right direction—north and west toward Blessing.

Due to an emergency at one station, the train was delayed an hour, and no matter how hard he tried, the engineer could not make it up. The train from St. Paul to Fargo and then on to Grand Forks and Blessing had already departed by the time they arrived.

“So now what do I do?” she asked the ticket agent.

“Sorry, miss, but you have to wait for the next train, like everyone else.”

“And when will that be? Can I send a telegram?”

“Tomorrow morning and no need to telegraph. All the stations along the way know.” The agent fought to cover a yawn. “I’m sorry, but it is time to close this window.”

“Where will I stay?”

“Most people sleep on the benches. You are relatively safe here. There are guards walking the premises all night long.”

Astrid heaved a sigh. “Thank you.” “For nothing,” she wanted to say, but it wasn’t the man’s fault. At least she had a warm coat along so she wouldn’t get cold. She finally found an empty bench near a family with three children, one of which was whimpering. She felt safe near them and knew she could sleep through about anything now, since her residency.
Lord, please keep Elizabeth safe. I have to
keep reminding myself that you know all that is happening. While it
is a surprise to me, it is not to you. And you have promised to keep me
safe.
She mentally snorted. Here she was supposed to be going to the wilds of Africa, and she was worried about sleeping in a train station in a city. She glanced up to see one of the guards talking with the father of the family. The men nodded and talked a bit before the guard moved on.

The man walked over to where she sat and touched his hat. “I’m sorry to bother you, miss, but the guard suggested that you move a bit closer to us. There is safety in numbers.”

“Thank you very much. I will do that.”

“Here, let me help you.” He picked up her two bags and set them under the long seat where the smaller of the children already lay sleeping. “If you take that end, we will look more like a family.”

“Thank you.” Astrid put out her hand. “I am Dr. Bjorklund and on my way home to Blessing, North Dakota.”

“We are the Sommerseths, on our way to Grand Forks.”

“Are you moving there or visiting?”

“Visiting to see if we do want to move there. Let me introduce my wife, Maureen.”

“Did you really say Blessing?” the woman asked, her smile on the shy side.

“That is the name of the town where I have lived all of my life. We are northwest of Grand Forks. This train will continue on through the Red River Valley.”

“And you did say doctor?” Mr. Sommerseth asked.

“Yes.” Astrid thought about explaining, but a wave of weariness washed away the thought before it could take root.

“Is Blessing a big town?”

“No, but it really is growing. We are hoping to build a hospital there soon, and last I heard, there were not enough people there to fill all the jobs that need help.”

“Really?” The husband and wife exchanged glances.

“Are you looking for work?”

“I am at that. My brother invited us to come out and look for work in Grand Forks.”

“If you decide to take a look at Blessing, my brother Thorliff Bjorklund—he owns the local newspaper—is the one to talk to. Just tell him his sister talked with you. I’ll tell him the same if you’d like.”

Mr. Sommerseth nodded slowly. “I will keep this in mind.”

Mrs. Sommerseth smiled at her again and hugged her daughter close. “I hope to see you again.”

“That would be my pleasure.” Astrid settled herself on the wooden seat and, leaning against one bag, brought her feet up on the seat and tucked her coat around her. Since her hat tilted at a strange angle, she removed the hatpins and set her hat on the bag under the bench. Closing her eyes, her ears seemed sharper. She could hear someone snoring an aisle or two over, a baby cried, and a mother shushed it. The guard’s boots slapped the marble flooring, someone was humming, most likely to put a child to sleep. And her.

WHEN THE TRAIN left in the morning, they were all aboard and talking as if they’d been friends for months, rather than acquaintances due to missing a train. She said good-bye to the Sommerseths when they got off at their stop and leaned her head against the cool window. She had slept, but her body was reminding her that wooden benches were not the most accommodating to bones and muscles.

Thorliff greeted her when she stepped off the train. After a hug he took her bags and started off for the surgery. “Mor is with Elizabeth. Inga is out with Emmy at Ellie’s. I cannot tell you how grateful I am that you came.”

She tried to keep pace with him, but her travel skirt and boots slowed her down. “Thorliff, please.”

He looked over his shoulder. “Oh, sorry.”

As they passed the boardinghouse, Sophie came charging out the door and down the steps to throw her arms around Astrid. “I am so glad you are home. Now everything will be all right. I just know it will.”

Astrid hugged her back and then pulled away. “We can talk later. I need to see Elizabeth right away.”

“I know that. I’ll come over before I head home. Tell her we are all praying for her and the baby.”

“I will.” Astrid took off after Thorliff again, this time picking up the front of her skirt so she could walk faster. “I talked with Dr. Morganstein, and perhaps some of her wisdom will help here.”

“Why isn’t she down here in the lying-in room?”

“I hope so.” He set her bags just inside the door. “Come on, she’s upstairs.”

“She wants her own bed. Besides, it’s quieter upstairs.” He mounted the stairs as if the weight of the entire universe were pressing down on his shoulders.

And you, my brother, look like you’ve aged ten years. Is that silver
I see around your face?
Tears blurred her vision. “I need to wash my hands first.”

“There is a basin inside.” He opened the door carefully and stepped in when he saw Elizabeth was sleeping. Ingeborg crossed the room and drew her daughter into her motherly arms.

“Thank God you are here,” she whispered.

“Oh, Mor, I . . .” Astrid hugged her answers. When she pulled back, she stripped off her gloves and removed her hat, then turned to the basin, letting the familiar action turn on the doctor in her. She soaped her hands, scrubbing them while she listened to her mother’s whispered comments about the patient.

“Nothing we do seems to help.” She shrugged, her eyes wearing the same sadness that Thorliff’s did.

Astrid rinsed her hands before wiping them on a clean linen towel. She drew her stethoscope out of her black bag and crossed the room to stand by the side of the bed.
Oh, Elizabeth. God, help her.
Give her your strength, for she looks to have none of her own. What is
happening with her?
She lifted the bony hand and located the pulse on the inside of the wrist.

“Astrid, is it really you or am I dreaming?” Elizabeth’s voice was as weak as her body appeared.

“I am here. I’m going to check you over now. Is there anything you’d like to tell me?”

“I want this baby to live.” Her answer came fiercely.

“I know.”
And I want you to live. Please, Lord, both of them, please.
Astrid set the stethoscope to listen to Elizabeth’s heart and lungs, nodding as she did so. “Good,” she said with a slight smile. But when she placed the stethoscope on the mound of baby, she had to move it several times to get a heartbeat. She could feel Elizabeth’s eyes drilling into her.

Astrid heaved a sigh. “The baby’s heartbeat is weak and erratic.” She peered into Elizabeth’s wide eyes. “Have you listened lately?”

“Two days ago. It was steady then.”

Astrid turned to her mother.

“I found it that way this morning. Yesterday was slower than the day before.”

Elizabeth clenched Thorliff’s hand. “This baby will live.”

Dear God, I hope so. I pray so.
Astrid felt her mother’s strength behind her. If only they could share their strength with the woman in the bed.