She must have been tired. She didn't wake till mid morning and was so lethargic that it took her another half an hour to pry herself out of bed. Only the thought of the children and her desperate need to know of their well-being, got her dressed and downstairs. The house was deserted.

She put on water to boil, then went out onto the porch, trying to see if anyone was outside at the school. She resisted the urge to go closer, knowing how it would anger Neil. She wished she'd stayed in bed; it would have been easier to wait that way, but at least this way she would be seen, and if there was news, surely someone would come and tell her.

David arrived in the middle of the day and stayed on despite Doctor MacNeil's warnings. He was soon busy helping with the children and little better than anyone else at keeping Christy informed, but she couldn't blame him. For all she knew he was under orders from Neil to stay away. It was a very long three days of doing whatever little jobs she was asked between long periods of waiting. She tried to rest, clinging to Neil's instructions as if they were a way she could help him.

He found her asleep on the sofa, a lazy hand resting on her abdomen, a dying fire warming her. He stoked the fire and then knelt at her side, watching her indulgently. He looked at her hand on her belly and pictured the baby inside. At five months it was just a tiny, skinny version of a full-term baby. It would have fingers and toes and was probably wriggling around. He wondered if she'd felt it move. The thought that he was missing so much, not knowing the answer to that simple question, was depressing.

"What happened?" Christy woke to see his expression full of sadness.

He brightened, "Nothing – it's all fine. It's all over. The children are fine. They've gone home." She smiled and went to sit up but he put a hand to her shoulder. "There's nothing you need to do. You should rest."

"That's all I've done for days. Let me make you some lunch."

"It's four o'clock." He lay her back down again.

She sighed, relaxed, then saw the sadness in his features. "Neil, what's wrong?"

He gritted his teeth, reigning in his emotions. "I was just... wondering if you'd felt a kick, or anything."

She smiled. "I'm not sure. I feel things but it could just be indigestion. I don't know."

He covered his mouth with his hand.

She reached over and took his hand, looking around to make sure they were alone. She placed his hand on her stomach and they waited. There was no movement.

"Should I be feeling more?" She asked, for a moment worried.

"Not really." He shook his head. "Were you worried?"

"I don't really know enough to know what to worry about."

"Just ask."

She hesitated then nodded.

"I suppose that's easier said than done when you never see me."

She realised why he was looking so downcast and cupped his cheek with her hand. "You're not missing much. Nothing seems to be happening. It's been the longest five months of my life – thought that's in part due to your absence."

He took her hand. "Come home with me?" He waited for an answer, then suddenly couldn't wait any more. He stood up, dropping her hand, hesitated a moment, then left.

Miss Alice arrived home just as Christy had summoned the energy to get up and start making supper. They hugged one another tightly then worked together to prepare the meal, catching up on the past few days events.

There was a silence, not an uncomfortable one, but it gave Christy an opportunity, "Miss Alice, I need your guidance."

"Of course," Miss Alice turned from her work, giving Christy her full attention.

"Oh, that smells de-licious." Ruby Mae bowled in.

"How are you feeling, Ruby Mae?" Christy gave up the subject for later. She intended to wait up till everyone else went to bed that night, but she was so tired she gave in, excused herself and went to bed.

After a few minutes, Alice followed her up and knocked softly at her door. "There was something thee wished to speak to me about."

"Yes. I didn't know when I'd get the opportunity and I'm so tired."

Alice smiled, "That's to be expected. Can it wait till morning? We could walk after breakfast."

"No, now is fine." Christy sat on her bed and Alice took the chair near it. "I guess I've been wondering if I made the wrong decision – staying here."

"You're considering going back to Ashville?"

"No – to Neil's."

Alice hesitated. "You have been very certain about not returning to live with him. What's changed?"

Christy took a deep breath. "I realised today how much Neil is missing out on – I mean, I know he's a doctor, so it's not a great mystery, but maybe that makes it even harder for him – he knows what he's missing. This baby is as much his as mine. Do I really have the right to deny him...?" She sighed. "Fairlight said something a few days ago – about this baby needing their father, and their father needing me. Am I being selfish – worrying about a moral question I don't think there is even a clear answer to, and in the meantime hurting someone I love?" She shook her head, looked to Miss Alice, "I just don't know."

"You're not being selfish. You're trying to do the right thing, in a situation that no one could have foreseen. And there is no black and white rule to follow here. In the eyes of the law you're unmarried, but beyond that...?"

"We're waiting for a piece of paper, essentially. We've already said vows and intend to keep them. And what if we have to wait months? This baby is going to be born in four or less and there's no guarantee everything will be sorted out by then."

"I can't tell you what to do, Christy."

"I know. I wish you could." Christy smiled wryly.

"You want me to tell you to go home to your husband?"

"I think maybe I should – but it's possible I only think that because I just so desperately want to."

"That doesn't mean it's wrong."

Christy nodded, sighed, yawned.

"Sleep on it, pray, and in the morning, look to the hills." Alice smiled, nodding toward Christy's beloved view. "I wish I could open the scriptures and point to the verse that would tell you what to do."

"Perhaps you just did." Christy reached over and pulled her night gown out from under her pillow.

Alice smiled. "I will pray for thee. Thy courage, and health, are testimony that my prayers have been heard. And that God is good. My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Second Corinthians twelve nine."

Christy sighed, "Thank you. Good night."

Alice left.