The Scientist's Courtship: Chapter 18 by Porter-Bailey, literature
Literature
The Scientist's Courtship: Chapter 18
Zeke’s head knocked against the wall of the carriage as the vehicle jolted over a bump in the road. He grumbled a swear to himself and rubbed the sore spot on his skull. “Alright, Papa?” Aggie said. She sat next to him in the hansom cab, and looked worriedly at her father. “Just a bump,” he muttered. The truth was, he’d been nodding off right as the carriage decided to throw his head against the door. He hadn’t been getting as much sleep lately. Given that the baby was more active, and every other night he was on a late shift, it was only natural he’d have less energy. But he needed to fake it today. He’d consumed three cups of coffee this morning -something he somewhat regretted given the rough roads- but the drink did little aside from make him anxious for a water closet. But he needed to try everything to stay awake during Elizabeth’s wedding. He and his niece Elizabeth weren’t especially close, but given that she was family, and the wedding was taking place in Middlesport, as
The Scientist's Courtship: Chapter 17 by Porter-Bailey, literature
Literature
The Scientist's Courtship: Chapter 17
Carla was busying herself in the attic. She felt restless on her days off from the hospital, so she often did chores around the house or went out on errands to pass the time. Free time would soon be limited, if everything went as planned with Zeke’s pregnancy. So she decided to spend this particular day going through her old things, seeing what could be given away, or what could potentially be passed on to her and Frieda’s baby. And while she found neither, Carla smiled just thinking about their unborn child. It gave her butterflies to know that, in just a few more months, she’d be a mother. Carla had never wanted a husband, even as a young girl, but always imagined herself as a mother. But in recent years, she’d more or less relented to the likelihood she would never be one. Still, she loved children dearly, to the point that treating them was sometimes hard because she felt so deeply for their predicaments. It hurt to see them hurting in any way. And if she ever lost a child patient
December 7th, 188- It seems I am planning a trip to my brother’s home in Washington D.C. for the season. Montgomery has been scrutinizing me a little too closely these past few weeks. I don’t want him figuring out what I’ve been working on. I must keep the babe safe at all costs. Even if it means making amends with my brother to do so. I’ve remained cold towards him since his absence at Emily’s funeral. I do not, at this moment, plan to tell him about the baby. Though if we do renew our relationship, I will eventually have to let him meet my offspring after her birth. I do not wish him to judge my fatherhood techniques, simply because he’s reared three children of his own. But I do look forward to seeing my nibling. Even if it means tolerating Mary for the holidays. But I’m sure the resentment is mutual. December 25th, 188- Merry Christmas to my little one. For better or worse, my brother and sister-in-law now know about my future offspring. I can imagine the baby’s existence might
The Scientist's Courtship: Chapter 16 by Porter-Bailey, literature
Literature
The Scientist's Courtship: Chapter 16
Zeke opened his eyes and found himself looking down at a large crowd of people. He sat on a stool atop a plain stage. The audience, at first, showed only neutral expressions, almost bored. But their countenances changed to that of marvel, awe, and even disgust. Lights beamed down on him, hot and painfully bright. Zeke looked down at himself. He was clothed in a well-fitting tuxedo, but he was further along in his pregnancy than he thought, his gravid belly pressing firmly against the button down shirt. What in Sam hill-? he thought. Something caught his eye and he looked over. A large sign was propped nearby. “The Amazing Seahorse Man,” it said in a fanciful font. He paled; he was in a freak show. He looked up, searching the audience for anyone he knew, any familiar face. God forbid Aggie was here. She wasn’t. Neither were Frieda and Carla. In fact, the whole audience seemed to be filled with complete strangers. Gawking, horrible strangers. But to his surprise, Penelope was there,
The Scientist's Courtship: Chapter 15 by Porter-Bailey, literature
Literature
The Scientist's Courtship: Chapter 15
Aggie had to admit, her new school wasn’t as dreadful as she’d anticipated. Her mood had still been fluctuating, never quite as melancholy as she’d been during the summer, but never quite as talkative as she’d been before her stay with William and Mary. But, loathe as she was to tell her father, her new all-girls school wasn't terrible. She’d expected more of a finishing program, but most of these classes were reserved for the older girls. Girls that were about to graduate and, most likely, get married soon after. Aggie still had recognizable subjects like math and literature, yet occasionally her class would be taught life skills like cross stitching, which she hated, or cooking, which she surprisingly enjoyed. While some of the girls were more on the cruel side, many of them just simply existed. Her teacher was relatively boring compared to her previous marm. She was thankful she didn’t seem to be attracted to her, like in Aunt Frieda’s story, so at first she thought the feelings
June 19th, 188- The day is here. A full thirty-one days since the implantation of my artificial womb. Insemination day. My heart rate hasn’t calmed since I awoke, and my hands are shaking dreadfully. I am most thankful that I have Frieda to perform this delicate operation, as my hands will surely be of little use to me today. To more proper facts of this experiment, I will ingest 30 cc's of my specialized formula a few times a day, starting today. The precious egg of my late wife was fertilized earlier this morning, and at this time has entered the cleaving stage. I know not if this little embryo will even survive, and yet…yet I am so anxious to meet him. Were it only that I had the technology to gestate him in a bell jar, so I could watch his development. Of course, I am merely using “him” as a placemaker pronoun, as the sex of the embryo cannot be determined at this early on. I will be equally happy if the babe is born female. I pray that my next entry in this journal is me
The Scientist's Courtship: Chapter 13 by Porter-Bailey, literature
Literature
The Scientist's Courtship: Chapter 13
“You may pick one.” “Papa…” “I mean it. One book.” Aggie kicked the ground, idling with her father outside the bookstore. He wanted to make sure he had her assent before turning her loose. Agatha started school the next day, and they still needed her lesson books. But, being her mother’s child, Agatha was already begging for some pleasure reads as well. And Zeke knew he’d have to reign her in or face serious financial consequences. Papa was folding his arms, an eyebrow raised. She finally nodded, “One book. I promise.” “Alright then, off you go,” he said, holding the door for her. Zeke stood aside as Agatha sped past him, heading for the fiction section. He shuffled in after her, being sure to take his time. A trip to the bookshop with his daughter was never a short visit. She’d probably whittle it down to two choices, and he’d let her get both; the only person that made Zeke a pushover was Agatha. Aggie found herself in between two towering shelves. It hadn’t taken her long to
The Scientists Courtship: Chapter 11 by Porter-Bailey, literature
Literature
The Scientists Courtship: Chapter 11
Zeke shifted from foot to foot under the café awning. He eyed his watch nervously, then returned it to his jacket pocket. He was surprised to discover he’d only been standing there for ten minutes, but it had felt longer.
‘Nerves,’ Zeke thought to himself.
He knew that if he kept worrying like this, he might become nauseated again. God forbid. The week since he’d found out about the pregnancy was not a good one. He couldn’t keep anything down and seemed to live exclusively on a diet of saltines and ginger beer. It had certainly made shifts at the hospital more difficult. Not only was he repulsed by every s
The Scientist's Courtship: Chapter 10 by Porter-Bailey, literature
Literature
The Scientist's Courtship: Chapter 10
Zeke slowly lifted his head from his arm and tried to stand. But the horrible feeling returned, and his head was in the bowl again. He retched, his arms hugging the sides of the ceramic basin. Despite managing to get a few hours of sleep, Zeke still felt almost as miserable as he’d felt that morning. Time moved at an agonizingly slow pace. He’d promised Frieda and Carla that he’d make a grocery run that afternoon, but every time he’d walked to the front door, he’d become sick again. ‘And now I remember why I vowed to never do this again,’ he thought. His hand grappled for the toilet chain and watched the horrifying mess swirl away as he pulled it. Using his arm as a pillow again, he remained on the floor. Zeke was too dizzy from the straining to move. He heard the lock of the front door clack but chose to ignore it. Was it six already? “Zeke?” Frieda’s footsteps echoed down the front hall. “I thought you were making supper, tonight.” Overhead, another set of footsteps marched up the