Bible Belt

Wynette carefully closed the Bible and put it on the night stand next to the bed. She wasn't sure if Reverend Sweeney had been giving it to her or only loaning it, so she wanted to be sure to take care of it. Then she looked for the TV control, but it was out of her reach. She didn't think Duke had put it there on purpose, because it would have been easier for him to not rent the TV for her in the first place. Besides, he was always nice to her when she was in the hospital.
She thought about calling a nurse to get her the control, but the nurses must have more important things to worry about than her. The hospital was filled with sick people, and Wynette wasn't really sick. The doctor had said she'd be able to try and have another baby. Only next time she'd make sure Duke was ready to start a family.
Wynette had expected her husband to be as excited as she was about the news. She'd been in the bedroom putting on makeup when Duke got home from work, because it was Friday night and she'd thought sure he'd want to go out to celebrate. But before she could tell him, he started in on her because she'd forgotten to get more beer. He'd hit her once or maybe twice before she could say anything, and then she'd blurted it out, not at all the way she'd planned, just to make him stop. Only it didn't make him stop. Hearing about the baby just made him madder. By the time Duke had stopped hurting her, their baby was dead.
Now Wynette knew that she was going to have to make sure she didn't get pregnant again until Duke said it was okay. The thing was, he wouldn't use a rubber. Birth control pills cost money, and Duke wasn't the type to pay attention to a calendar when he was in the mood. Maybe she could get a diaphragm. Her sister, Lynn, didn't use hers anymore, so Wynette could borrow it and it wouldn't cost Duke anything.
There was a tap at the door, and Wynette looked up and saw Belva Tucker.
"Hey, Wynette," Belva said.
"Hey, Belva."
Belva came in, and pulled one of the chairs over close to the bed so they could talk without Wynette having to hold her head up. Belva was always thoughtful that way. Some people thought Belva wasn't gentle the way a woman should be because of her being one of Rocky Shoals' deputies, but Wynette knew better. She always came to see Wynette when she was in the hospital or sick. Most times she brought candy or a magazine or even flowers.
Belva must have remembered that, too, because she said, "I'm sorry I don't have anything for you. I came to see Dr. Patel, and I didn't even know you were here until he mentioned it." She hesitated a minute. "I'm awfully sorry about the baby."
"That's all right, Belva. It's probably for the best."
"You mean because of Duke?" Belva asked, and Wynette could tell that her friend was mad.
"Of course not," Wynette said quickly, not wanting Belva mad with her. "I just mean that there must have been something wrong with the baby or God wouldn't have taken him. Reverend Sweeney said God was being merciful."
Belva didn't look as if she believed Wynette or Reverend Sweeney, but she nodded anyway. "Is there anything I can get you?"
"You don't have to bring me anything, Belva. They're taking good care of me."
"They ought to. They see you enough." Before Wynette had a chance to answer that, Belva added, "I bet you wouldn't turn down a bag of Hershey's kisses."
Wynette grinned, and managed to keep from wincing, even though her mouth still hurt from where Duke had slapped her. "Belva, have you ever known me to turn down Hershey's kisses?"
"Then I'll be sure and bring you some tomorrow after church."
"Aren't you sweet? But I might not be here that long. Dr. Patel says I might can go home in the morning."
"That's all right--I'll find you," she said with a grin. But she got that mad look again before she said, "Are you going to be needing a place to stay when you get out of here?"
Wynette tried to pretend she didn't know what Belva meant. "Of course not. Duke will be here to take me home."