Tad leaned forward in his seat, his head in his hands. He blocked out every sound, sitting in silence. He ran his fingers back through his hair, his eyes, glazed and bloodshot. He wasn't sure how long he had been sitting in the chapel, and he didn't care. Tad could feel somebody standing behind him, but didn't turn around. If it wasn't Dixie standing there, and he knew it wasn't, he didn't much care who it was. After a moment, he saw the figure, out of the corner of his eye, take a seat beside him.

Tad didn't want to look. He didn't want to talk to anyone. He just wanted to be alone. But this person wasn't moving. Tad slowly glanced over.

"What, Liza?" he said. "How did you know to find me here?"

Liza kept a forward glance. "I came by to see how you were feeling and Jake... told me about Dixie..."

"Did he tell you that I'm going to have to choose?" he said in a raspy voice. Tad cleared his throat and rubbed his temples. "How am I supposed to do this?""

Liza put her arm around Tad's shoulder. "I don't know what to say, Tad," Liza said. "You've helped Dixie through these times with her heart problems before."

"She was never this pregnant when it happened." Tad said, looking Liza in the eye. "What am I going to do, Liza?"

"What does Dixie want?"

"She wants to wait." Tad said. "Jake wanted to take the baby, but... but Dixie said no." he paused. "I'm going to lose them both. I know I am."

"Don't talk nonsense, Tad." Liza said. "You're talking nonsense."

"There's nowhere to go from here," Tad stood. "Just when I think it can't get any worse. Just when I'm about to have... all of the things that I ever wanted in my entire life... I get thrown a curve ball." He paused. "It's like I'm stuck in this whirlwind. It just keeps on spinning and spinning, picking up pieces of our lives along it's path and just... throwing them in all these different directions."

"It'll all cool down eventually," Liza said, still sitting, watching Tad pace the floor. "Maybe you just need somebody to talk to. Even if it's not me. Maybe Jake..."

"Jake!" Tad said. "He wouldn't want to hear from me. I pretty much called him incompetent in front of the entire medical staff."

"He's your brother. I think he understands where you're coming from."

Tad shrugged. "Whether he understands where I'm coming from or not... it doesn't matter. It just doesn't matter, because I don't want to talk to him. I don't want to talk to anyone." he paused. "I just... want to be with my wife, Liza. I want to go sit with her, hold her hand. Tell her... " Tad swallowed. "Tell her..." Liza stood and approached Tad. She paused a moment before embracing him. Tad leaned his head down on Liza's shoulder in tears. Liza brought her hand up and rested it soothingly on the back of his head, stroking his hair gently.

She took a deep breath. "I know," she said. "I know." Tad lifted his head, his face tear stained. "Everything's going to be fine." She said, pulling him towards her again. His head returned to her shoulder. She rubbed her hand up and down his back, comfortingly, as the sound of soft sobbing became the only sound to fill the silent room.



Dixie rubbed her hand over her belly. she tried to keep herself composed, taking a few steady deep breaths as she shut her eyes.

"Knock, knock," Dixie turned her head. "How ya feelin', honey?"

"Opal." Dixie smiled as Opal approached her, taking a seat. "I'm just really tired." she said.

"I woulda bet anything that Tad would be here with you."

"Oh, he was. He was, but Jake needed to get the doctors in here." Dixie paused. "Have you seen Tad yet?"

Opal shook her head. "Not yet. He's on my list."

"How did you know I was here?" she asked. "Did Tad call you?"

"No, Jake gave us a ring."

"And Uncle Palmer?"

"We got here as soon as we heard. He out there somewhere talkin' to Jake." Dixie smiled slightly. "I'll steer him clear of Tad, don't worry."

"Tad's doing much better," Dixie said. "It's been such a long time, and he still woke up... just as good as new."

Tad's strong." Opal said. "He had to deal with a whole lot growin up. You know that, darlin'."

"Yeah," Dixie wiped her eyes. "I know." she paused. "Which is why I thought that... we'd pull through this too. But I don't know this time, Opal."

"Don't be crazy, Dixie," opal said. "Of course you're gonna pull through this. You and Tad are gonna have a precious little baby. To keep you up all night, dirty diapers to change, 3am feedings..." Dixie let out a soft giggle. Opal smiled. "And you make sure that you get my Tad to take those early morning bottles for you."

"You're kidding. I probably won't be able to tear Tad away from this baby."

Opal laughed. "You know, you're right." Dixie smiled, rubbing her belly. "I'm gonna go see what's takin' Palmer so long." She stood. "You take care of yourself, Dixie." Dixie nodded, resting her head back and closing her eyes as Opal left the room. Hardly a minute later, Dixie head the door open again.

"That was qui..." Dixie stopped short as she turned her head towards the door.

"Just hear me out."

Dixie's mouth gaped slightly. "What do you want, Adam?"