Patty went through a spell of depression, during which she cried every day. She'd go into the room that had been Sammy's, look at the empty crib, and start sobbing, hard. At last Anton closed the door to the room and told his wife to leave it shut.

One Saturday in August, Anton and Patty went strawberry picking with Paul and Elizabeth. Patty had been looking forward to the outing and dreading it at the same time. She was afraid the sight of Laura would bring back the pain of Sammy's loss, but when she saw the little girl toddling around in her red checkered dress, all she felt was a strong desire to pick her up and cuddle her.

"Come here, sweetie!" she called. Laura toddled over to her, and she picked the child up and held her close, drinking in the fresh scent of her warmed-by-the-sun blonde hair.

"You are precious!" whispered Patty, but just then, a wave of dizziness overtook her, so she had to set Laura right back down to avoid dropping her. "Oh!"

Anton saw what was happening and rushed to support his wife. "Are you all right, PR?"

"I guess so," Patty replied. "Suddenly, I just felt so dizzy!"

"Perhaps you should sit and rest awhile." He helped her to a spot in the shade where she could sit and watch the others. After awhile she tried to stand up, but when she did, the ground seemed to rock back and forth like the deck of a ship during a storm.

"I think I should take you home now," said Anton.

"But we only just got here!" she protested. "You go ahead and join the others. I'll be all right."

Max walked over to her. "Are you sick?"

"Oh, no. Just a little tired," she told him.

He sat beside her and held his hand out to her. "Want a strawberry?"

"Thank you." She took the strawberry from him and ate it.

"Mama makes me take a nap every day so I don't get too tired," Max continued. "But grownups don't have to take naps, do they?"

Patty laughed. "Sometimes we do!"

A short time later, Anton wiped the sweat from his brow and glanced over at her. "I think I should take Patty home," he told Paul and Elizabeth.

"Oh, no. You don't have to leave early because of me," she insisted.

"It is not a problem," said Anton. "I can pick strawberries any time. Your comfort is more important to me than that."

"I love you, Anton," said Patty.

"And I love you." He helped her to her feet and took her home.

As soon as she was inside the house, she went to bed and fell asleep right away. She awakened several hours later to see the setting sun making shadows on the wall.

"I didn't know it was this late!" she said to herself. "I'd better get started on dinner!"

She took the lamb chops she'd set down to thaw the previous night out of the freezer. While they were sizzling on the stove, the aroma seemed very strong, and she began to feel nauseated.

"That's so weird!" she said to herself. "I've always loved lamb chops!"

Somehow, she was able to finish cooking the lamb chops and made green beans and rice to go with them. She was putting the meal on the table when Anton arrived home with a huge basket of strawberries.

"Something sure smells good!" he said after kissing his wife hello.

"Dinner's ready and on the table," she replied.

Anton dug into his meal with gusto. Patty ate the green beans and rice but barely touched the meat.

"You should try to eat a little more," Anton gently coaxed his wife. "You need to keep up your strength."

To her surprise, Patty felt tears burning her eyes. "I don't know what's wrong with me!" she sniffled. "I always loved lamp chops before!"

Anton reached for her and pulled her into his arms. "It is all right. Perhaps you will be hungry again later on."

The next morning, Patty awoke feeling sick to her stomach. She ran to the bathroom, where she dry heaved over the toilet. When she turned around, Anton was standing there. His fingers brushed the hair back from her face.

"Are you all right?"

"I don't know," she replied. "Can you make your own breakfast this morning? I don't think I can do it."

"Of course I can, but PR, we need to find out what is causing your symptoms. I think I know what it is, but I must run a test to be sure."

Patty felt her insides tighten. "What kind of test?"

Anton smiled. "A very simple one. All I need is a urine sample from you, and we will have the results in just a couple of days."