Chapter 5: The first newborn in our valley

Twice a day since last week I drove with Priya and Esther to Olivia’s flat in the Casa. Hopefully, we were expecting the joyful event at any time, the first newborn. Our little Peruvian had a hard time. She had grown a lot, despite the pregnancy. For her height of 1.67 meters, she was, in Ramona’s opinion, just in the right proportion for a highly pregnant woman at 58 kilograms. Esther was preparing everything for a birth. Room ‘1’ right next to the entrance of the guesthouse was well equipped. In the kitchen Priya and Alejandra had even already thoroughly disinfected pots and bowls for the preparation of hot water and covered them with cloths.

In recent days, I had to say a powerful word that the girls left our expectant mother more in peace, nearly every day very girl tried to visit Olivia. The four friends working in the village had always called when they went to work or came back in the evening. Zarina and Fahsai, often together with Ananda, visited Olivia almost daily. Babette and Sula had taken every opportunity to enter the Casa under some pretext. I also saw Florence and Leonie far too often at or in the Casa. From today only Priya and Esther were allowed to visit her. Olivia needed a little more rest. In the evening, however, Lenya came to me. She asked on behalf of all the girls to be allowed to sing two or three songs in front of the Casa to cheer Olivia up. Esther had told them that our pregnant woman was a little melancholic and pessimistic today.

It was once again a cool evening. Nevertheless, we went with all the inhabitants of the palazzo to the entrance of the Casa. Ramona had the saxophone with her and Lenya had her guitar. Olivia, along with Alejandra, looked out the window in a daze when the girls in the choir shouted “Olivia – Olivia”. Without agreement, the girls sang the song of Paradise. Several women approached from the village. The unaccustomed noise had astonished and attracted them. Then Lenya played the melody from the mountains in the Andean country. The girls had put their arms over each other’s shoulders and were humming the tune. The singing then roared through the valley. The birds were almost silent, only a few parrots grumbled in the distance. Ramona performed a verse of her song from the house in New Orleans. Lenya and Esther had learned the text and sang to it. Actually, we wanted to say goodbye now, but Luisa, already in the sixth month, sang a song of her ancestors in a strong voice. Some women from the village joined in the singing.

Finally, Olivia waved to us and thanked us in three languages. Then she came to the entrance of her house and showed us her plump body. Ramona was the only one allowed to visit her and kissed the brave be-a-mom-soon. When the girls with Luisa and Ramona had taken the way home, I stood a little more with the village women. Leonie had grabbed me by the hands and wanted to show everyone her happiness. Of course, I squeezed her and Florence very tightly. Completely unusual for an Indio, Leonie kissed me left and right in front of all the women and smacked me on the lips. Her eyes showed me her feelings. Embarrassed, some women looked away, but Florence repeated the ceremony. With her I could already feel a little tummy. I shook hands with the other four older women and kissed their foreheads.

When the women had started their way home, Olivia called out to me from the window, “Thank you, Michael. It was beautiful. Thanks.” We threw air kisses to each other. Alejandra and Olivia were still waving when I had already covered half of the way.

In the palazzo the women and girls sat warmly dressed at the big table. I saw a certain tension in the faces, but also joy. Priya helped Cara to provide cups. Soon there was hot tea with a little sugar and squeezed lemon. Babette asked me when they would be allowed to repeat the singing evening if the child were there. We decided together that this should be no earlier than the second day after birth. Sula knew an English lullaby. She sang it to us uncertainly. The slow, worn melody was difficult for her to keep, but everyone looked delighted.

Moon, Sun, shiny and silver
Moon, Sun, shiny and gold
Moon, Sun, shine on the young ones
Shine until they grow old
Shine, shine, shine, shine
Shine until they grow old

Soon Ramona invented her own, slightly modified melody. All the girls sang along inwardly. Still on the stairs they sang “shine - shine - shine – shine”. Everyone was looking forward to the event of the first birth in our valley, but they were also excited and worried.

We had to wait another four days until Priya excitedly informed us by radio that it had started. Our Vietnamese girl slept in the next room of Olivia for 3 days, supported as much as possible her girlfriend. I immediately took Ramona and Esther to the Casa. When I experienced the first contractions, I left the delivery room. I was extremely afraid for my dear Peruvian sweetheart. Her pain was too intense; it exceeded my strength. Esther, on the other hand, held her head and dabbed off individual drops of sweat from her face. Ramona took care of the body and the hopefully soon coming child. Priya also stood in the corridor and cried because she could not help. Alejandra took her in her arms. We were so helpless.

That’s why I decided to inform the villagers and Carmen. In two cottages I carried out small repairs to distract myself. Finally I had a glass of wine with Nuria and Pauline. Carmen helped with the conversation. Nuria told me about a precious treasure of her ancestors, which she kept, but no one, except one person, knew where it was hidden in the mountains. Of course, I was curious, but first of all I thanked the old woman for giving Olivia so much help to put together the collection of plants and natural remedies. She called for Leonie and let me give a glass of powder from her. That’s what I should give Olivia to drink with cold Coca tea. I looked at her uncertainly. Could this help and what will Ramona say about it? Nevertheless, I thanked her and hurried to the casa. Already in front of the house I heard the screams of Olivia. I had to act. The little woman agonized immensely.

Alejandra had slightly warm tea in the kitchen. I dissolved a knife tip of the powder. Nuria had shown me the necessary amount. Ramona should not know about it until after the birth. Alejandra poured her granddaughter the drink in small sips. Soon Olivia was breathing more calmly between contractions. I stood at the door with concern and watched what was happening. The next contraction brought the breakthrough. The body opened properly. Once again Olivia gathered strength, a very strong labour, then a bloody bundle in the hands of Ramona screamed vigorously into the unknown world. Alejandra was crying on my chest. I had to hold Priya back. She wanted to rush into the room. Although, it was done. Olivia had given birth to a baby son.

Esther came to us in the hallway, but kept her distance. “Olivia has already decided. Her son’s name is Michael.” I was expecting a Peruvian or Indio name. Somehow I must have looked incredulous, because Esther said, “His name is like yours, Michael. My son should also be named Michael. It’s a pity, but Olivia loves you as much as we all do.”

The next few hours, better the next few days, there was soon no other topic. The following morning I was allowed to hold the tiny something in my hands for the first time. The boy seemed so fragile. I was afraid to hurt him, but Olivia cuddled up to me and kissed my cheek, while I awkwardly held my namesake. Suddenly I thought of Luisa and Ramona. Soon it would be time and I would have my own children. I also remembered Carmen, Florence, and Leonie. Obviously, my subconscious preferred the women in the Palazzo, but I was unspeakably looking forward to my first child.

In the evening, Ramona talked to me about the birth and its consequences. Olivia was bleeding profusely. A surgical scar from the rape had to be removed by Ramona. Olivia would have major problems with intercourse or even childbirth in the future. Our doctor advised me not to tie Olivia to me too much. It would be better if she did not give birth to a child anymore.

Understanding, I nodded. It was a great success, a big joy that she had carried her child. Then I confessed to my dear fellow wife that I had given Olivia an Inca remedy. Ramona looked at me in disbelief. “You didn’t have a chance to do that.” I showed her the glass of powder and explained how Alejandra had given it to her.

“I don’t know if I should be angry with you, but you’re right. After the tea, everything went very quickly, and Olivia was much calmer. This, apparently, helped her a lot.” She gave me a kiss and a blow at the same time. “As a doctor, I am angry with you, as a person and expectant mother, I am very grateful.” We were still debating whether to reuse it. Ramona agreed that I could keep it in reserve. Olivia should have the recipe given to her and write it down comprehensively for scientific purposes. A tender kiss underlined our agreement.

Ramona led my hand to her plump body. There someone was struggling with his future life. We happily held each other in our arms.

I almost forgot about Luisa’s birthday. Three days after the first birth in the valley, our cook, my dear Luisa, turned 36 years old. I didn’t have a real gift at my disposal, but I lovingly packaged a particularly wonderful tea set made of the finest porcelain with hand-painted Chinese motifs. Esther and Cara collected a beautiful bouquet of wildflowers. The girls crept down the stairs in front of the gong as agreed.

When Cara opened the door to the kitchen, the girls simply sang “Happy birthday” in the world-famous English version. Then followed the Indian Bollywood version, while I was already kissing and loving Luisa. Esther had made a birthday card in English and in Quechua together with Olivia. In it they had inserted a photo, whereupon our entire team including Olivia, Carmen, and Alejandra stood in front of the palazzo and waved. Cara, together with the girls who worked in the village, had made a valuable cloth from dyed alpaca hair.

Luisa was deeply amazed at the gift, alpaca had she not expected. Cara kissed Luisa warmly on the left and right cheeks. The special relationship between the two women became visible to everyone and made me happy and satisfied.

In the evening we all moved back to the guesthouse, this time behind the house on the terrace. Olivia, carrying her newborn son on her bosoms, was standing inside in front of the closed door of the small kitchen. Olivia had recovered well. Although freshly operated on the abdomen, she looked full of joy and optimism at her friends, who presented a short program starting with “Shine-shine”. Five minutes later it was like being in a zoo. The girls knocked on the window, shouted and waved. Unmoved, little Michael slept in Olivia’s arms.

It just got too much, the young mom had to go back to bed. I ordered the excited girls back to the main house, heard them clapping, singing and shouting for minutes. Olivia’s grandma opened the door a crack because her granddaughter wanted to give me a kiss as a ‘thank you!’ Olivia’s lips were dry and full of minor bite wounds; the birth had also marked her face and eye areas. I gently brushed her hair and kissed her forehead. I stammered something out of embarrassment “Good night. Sleep well, my sweetheart. I love you.”

A day later, for the first time in my life, I saw how a mother fed her child with her bosom. The little one sucked, got out of breath and smacked. Olivia put her baby back on. My eyes literally burned holes in the pair. It made me happy how a little new life flourished and the mother openly showed all her love for her child.

Very tenderly, the nursing mother whispered sweet words in her baby’s ear, and finally sang an old Inca song to her Michael, stroking his dark, still sparse hair. After his baby burp, the little one got a kiss and was wrapped up again for the bed.

Now I was even more looking forward to my first child. Luisa did not understand my intense outbursts of emotion when, back in the Palazzo, I took her in my arms again and again, caressed her fertile body and kissed and warmed my first wife. I nearly couldn’t wait any longer.

Unfortunately, the sport was cancelled today. It was raining twine. Esther had gone with Priya to Olivia to help her with the baby, to solve the lesson tasks together and just to chat. Since Priya had been with Olivia, the friendship with Esther had also been renewed. Priya’s search for sexual partnership had disgusted our Hungarian nurse. Sula and Babette had told me that there had even been loud arguments several times up to the beautiful Vietnamese woman’s birthday.

Esther was literally infatuated with little Michael. She liked to bathe the little one and drove him out with a stroller. She sang most of her time with Michael cheerfully. Priya was happy about this, as she had Olivia to herself for a while. Initially, the two girls had still quarrelled over who was allowed to clean the diapers or who was allowed to hold the little one to the pillow after breastfeeding. Since Esther was not with our young mother as often as Priya, it turned out as if by itself that Esther took full responsibility for the child during the few hours.

Today I felt a certain tension in the air before dinner. Esther chatted with Ramona repeatedly, then helped in the kitchen of dear Cara, because Luisa usually just sat in the kitchen in the eighth month and helped with words in a somewhat advisory way. At the table Cara and Esther exchanged glances, Ramona did not look at me, even twitched away once when I felt her suddenly lingering gaze on me, and Luisa smiled at me in her natural way much more often than usual.

After dinner, Esther got up, knocked on her glass with a knife and waited for silence. Ramona had gone to her room, came back with the camera and filmed Esther’s speech. It was not usually the way of our assistant doctor to speak in front of everyone, but now it became a long speech. “Dear friends, I felt so much happiness and love with Olivia today. Her son Michael is my sunshine. Our dearest Peruvian sister is doing so well after giving birth, although she had not fulfilled our conditions for a partnership for a long time before her pregnancy. Her son, who is called my dearest, is in perfect health and is developing splendidly. We ... have such ... joy ... our little Michael. I have fully experienced the birth and ... helped with all his might ... Mmm.” I was already wondering what was coming now.

“You probably know why I’m saying this...” She looked around the table. Most of the girls nodded. Then she looked at me resolutely. “Michael ... Please allow me, ... I wanted to ask ... would you join me ... partners. I’ve wanted a child for so long ... Please, say yes, please.”

At first I looked at Luisa, who nodded to me approvingly. Ramona hid behind the camera. I was not at all comfortable. Nevertheless, I got up. “My dear Esther, you are a wonderful, dear being. I like you very much. What you did during the birth, my highest respect, but I’m afraid for you. No, I’m not ready for that yet. Please give us some more time, me to think, you to become a woman.”

“I am a woman and I will be the best mother you can think of,” she cried defiantly. When I shook my head, she ran out of the house crying. Lenya got up, waited for my approval and went after her.