She came nine months after they had married, but she never drew a breath. Now her mother was lying in the next room fighting for her life.
2 Clarence Westlake paced back and forth in the
hallway outside of her bedroom. “This can’t be happening,” he thought. But it
was. He had been happily anticipating the birth of his first child with his
young bride one day and staring oblivion in the face the next.
3 Sarah was holding her daughter’s hand and praying to
herself. Hank stood at the foot of the bed watching her breathing become
shallower with each passing minute. Then, suddenly, she wasn’t breathing
anymore.
4 “Oh no, Emma, my sweet girl!” Sarah cried out.
Clarence burst into the room and rushed to the bedside. He stood there for a
moment, staring at the still form on the bed before him. “She’s gone,” Hank
said flatly. “She’s gone,” he repeated.
5 “I’m so sorry, Mr. Westlake,” the funeral director
began. Clarence, however, was unresponsive. His and Emma’s parents had to make
all of the arrangements for the funeral and burial.
6 Months passed. Henry and Providence Westlake were
beginning to worry about their son. He hadn’t cried yet, and he’d barely spoken
to anyone in the days following the tragedy. Clarence was never one for
displaying much emotion, but this was unusual even for him.
7 Months turned into years, and Clarence acted as if
nothing had happened. It was as if Emma and the baby had never existed. He
returned to work and never talked about it again. Even so, his father and
mother were determined to try to help mend their son’s broken heart.
8 Their friends, Caleb and Margaret Haines, had a kind
and beautiful young daughter who was raising a small son by herself.
Josephine’s husband had treated her horribly and had finally abandoned her and
Leland altogether.
9 Although divorce was rare and frowned upon by almost
everyone, Caleb and Margaret had supported her through all of it. “You have
nothing to be ashamed of,” they told her. Even so, like the Westlakes, they
wanted to see their child find some happiness.
10 The matchmaking commenced at a dinner at the
Westlake’s home in Marysville. “Hello, Clarence,” Josephine began with a smile
and a polite handshake. “This is my son, Leland,” she continued with her hand
resting gently on the shy little boy’s head. Leland waved at Clarence. And, for
the first time in forever, Clarence cracked a brief smile and waved back.
11 When they were seated around the large dining room
table, the conversation was dominated by their parents at first. “I understand
that you work with cattle,” Josephine said as she turned toward Clarence.
“That’s right,” he said as he looked up from his plate a little startled.
12 “Are you interested in cattle?” He asked. “Not
particularly,” she smiled. “But my family has always had a few head.”
13 That broke the ice and led to an extensive
conversation about bovine husbandry for the next hour, with Clarence doing most
of the talking. Providence was hopeful. She hadn’t seen her son so animated
about anything for a long time. It was like someone had turned on a water
faucet.
14 “I suppose I’m boring you to tears, Miss Haines,”
Clarence finally stopped. “Not at all,” she responded with a smile.
15 It had worked. The unlikely pair began dating and
were married in June of 1904. Moreover, Clarence decided to share his name with
Leland as well. The little boy who had waved at him before dinner would be his
son.
16 A little less than five months later, Clarence’s
father died of cancer. “I want Leland to have the Westlake name,” he told
Josephine. “I think that my father would be pleased to have him bear the name
of his family,” he explained. “I think you’re right,” his wife agreed.
17 Now these are the generations of Clarence Otto
Westlake:
18 Clarence married Josephine Haines, and they had
children: Leland, Caleb Otto, Donald and Clarice.
19 Caleb Otto Westlake married Eunice Reynolds, and
they had children: Robert, Linda and Lois.
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