She sat.
“I'm pregnant.”
The plate in his hand fell.
It did not break.
He stared.
Adelaide expected joy.
Instead fear drained color from face.
No.
She knew that expression.
Abigail.
Death.
Loss.
Gideon sat slowly.
“Doctor?”
“Says risk.”
“How much?”
“He doesn't know.”
Gideon stood.
“We need Denver.”
“For?”
“Better doctor.”
“Gideon.”
“We can move until—”
“No.”
He froze.
Adelaide’s voice remained calm.
“Do not turn this child into Abigail.”
His eyes filled instantly.
“I’m afraid.”
“I know.”
“I cannot lose you.”
“I know.”
“What if—”
“You do not get to control every hour because fear exists.”
Gideon sat.
Adelaide took his hands.
“We will listen to physicians.”
“We will prepare.”
“I will rest when needed.”
“You will help.”
“But we are not spending nine months pretending I am already dying.”
Gideon cried.
Quietly.
She held him.
Their daughter arrived after difficult labor in March.
A healthy girl.
Nine pounds.
Strong lungs.
Adelaide nearly laughed when midwife said.
“What will you call her?”
Gideon looked at Adelaide.
They had discussed names but not settled.
Adelaide stared at tiny face.
Then at Gideon.
“Abigail Rose.”
He stopped breathing.
“Adelaide…”
“She was part of your life.”
“I don't want our daughter carrying guilt.”
“She won't.”
“Names don't only carry tragedy.”
“They carry love too.”
Gideon cried openly.
The baby became Abigail Rose Cole.
At three, she was wild.
At five, she climbed everything.
At seven, she asked too many questions.
At eight, she demanded to know woman buried among cedars.
Gideon told truth.
Not all details.
Enough.
“She was my first wife.”
“Did you love her?”
“Yes.”
“Do you love Mama?”
“Yes.”
“More?”
Gideon looked toward Adelaide.
She waited.
He smiled.
“Different.”
Abigail frowned.
“That's not answer.”
“It is.”
Adelaide sat beside her daughter.
“Love isn't flour.”
“What?”
“You don't run out because you used some before.”
Abigail considered.
“Can we bake?”
The conversation ended.
Their son Samuel came three years after Abigail.
Pregnancy again difficult.
Adelaide decided afterward no more.
Gideon agreed.
Family of four became enough.
Samuel was quiet where Abigail loud.
He followed Gideon.
Loved animals.
Hated arithmetic.
Adelaide suffered.