"Livy! What in the world are you doing?" Ray yelled to his wife, running to her shivering frame as she stood out in the December air.

"Getting ready for our baby," she responded. Giddiness filled the man, and he couldn't help but let out a chuckle of excitement. Sweeping his wife into his arms, he yelled the news to his brother-in-law. Their baby was coming.

"I'll send Martha right over!" Hank quickly sped off.

Nudging the door open with his foot, Ray quickly carried his wife into the living room and set her on the sofa as gently as he could. His mind raced.

"I'm not sure where to start," he confessed to his wife. "Is there anything you need? What can I do?"

"Oh, no, Ray, I'm fine for now. I left a message for the doctor in Wilson when I called the police and they assured me he'd be ringing back any minute," Livy assured her husband.

"Police? Is everything okay?" Ray's thoughts raced faster than he thought possible. Had there been a robbery? Did someone threaten Livy?
"It's a long story," Livy exhaled with a smirk. "Just don't expect to go anywhere in the truck right this minute." As her last words of explanation left her mouth, Livy let out an exclamation, closed her eyes, and took in a sharp breath. Before she could open her eyes again, Ray was at her feet holding her steady. She gripped his forearms until the pain passed.

When she opened her eyes once more, she found Ray staring at her more lovingly than she'd ever been looked at before. His callused hand found its way to her cheek and caressed it for a moment before moving to the top of her head and unpinning her hat.

Three rings came from the hall and Ray quickly answered.

"Well, Doc, I'm not really sure.

Oh no, not that close.

No, Martha is on her way over.

It sure looks like the weather could get that way.

Yessir.

Yessir.

Alright. Thanks, Doc."

Hanging up the phone, Ray turned again to his wife.

"The doctor says to call him at his sister's, Miss Catherine's, when your pains are five minutes apart. Weather's looking to get bad before the night's over so he's going to stay at his sister's instead of in town. Miss Catherine only lives about ten miles up the road."

Livy nodded and smiled.

"Can I get you something?" Ray continued, his thoughts slowing now and only thinking of attending to his wife. "Maybe some water or tea?'

"Oh, Ray," Livy blushed. "The floor in the kitchen…there's…I should clean it up before—"

"Don't you worry about that. It's nothing I haven't seen before, I promise." Livy followed as Ray walked into the kitchen. He let out a laugh.

"What?" Livy asked, more embarrassed now.

"This just must be the lucky spot, that's all. Martha was in that very spot when she was expecting Chester and the same thing happened."

"Oh…" Livy said, bringing her palm to her chin in hopes of covering some of her flushed skin and palpable discomfort. Before she knew it, Ray had the floor cleaned and was handing her a glass of water. Livy thanked him, took a sip, and set the glass on the table.

"Ray," Livy said.

"Yes, Livy?"

"Will you hold me?"

She wasn't sure what came over her. Inside her head, thoughts rushed by and stood still all at once. Ray stepped towards her and wrapped her in his arms. He smelled of cold and dusty air with an undertone of warm cologne. Tears began to escape from Livy's eyes. They hadn't burned on their way out nor did they fall with purpose.

"I wish my mother were here," Livy said. Her voice muffled against Ray's chest.

"I know," Ray responded. He wrapped her tighter in his arms and kissed the top of her head.

A swift knock came at the door. Neither Ray nor Livy moved to answer it. Martha's entrance quickly followed the knocks.

"Just Martha," she called from the front door.

"We're just in here," Ray answered with a soft voice. He spoke as though Livy was asleep in his arms.

"How is it going?" Martha asked, following Ray's response into the dining room. When she saw the couple, she couldn't help but grin from ear to ear.

"It's alright," Ray said. Livy raised her head from Ray's chest and quickly wiped her eyes.

"Things are just starting," Livy informed her sister-in-law.

"How far apart are your pains?"

"About fifteen minutes or so, I'd say."

"Well, I'd say we're in for a long night," Martha smirked. "I brought over a roast. After Ruth was born, Hank found the doctor sniffing around the kitchen in the leftovers. We realized, with a good meal on the stove when the doctor arrives, you nearly have your bill cut in half. Did you call him yet?"
"Yes, ma'am," Ray responded.

"And he's staying at Miss Catherine's," Martha continued.

"Yes, ma'am," Ray said once more.

"Well, there's nothing much we can do now but wait. Livy, is there anything you need?"

Finally releasing herself from her husband's embrace, Livy smiled.

"I'm fine for now."

"Well, now you just do what you feel you need to, and Ray will be at your beck and call…and I'll be here, too." Martha nudged her brother with her elbow and giggled.

"I'm not sure I know what I need to do." Livy began to panic. "There's laundry I meant to do and the cradle isn't even made up. And Ray I forgot to make lunch for you. And there's still baby things to be put away."

Seeing the frustration and panic in the woman's eyes, Martha stepped forward and put her hand on Livy's elbow. "Don't worry about any of that. That's why I'm here. I'll make up the cradle and put everything in its place and then start on laundry. Ray can fix his own lunch, or he can starve."

Livy smiled as another tear escaped her eyes.

"Why don't you try to rest for now," Martha suggested. Livy nodded and headed for the stairs. Ray quickly hugged his sister and exchanged giddy expressions with her before following his wife up the stairs and matching her pace two steps behind her.

"Ray, I'm okay. Really. Why don't you eat something? You must be starving," Livy said, trying to hide her unsure tone with a false tone of annoyance.

"I'm just going to grab something is all," Ray smirked. He didn't even try to hide his fib. The pair continued up a few more steps before Livy paused and gripped the banister. Letting her know he was still there, and ensuring she didn't fall backwards down the stairs, Ray placed a hand on her waist and waited until the pain had passed. Martha watched from below, warm with admiration and excitement as she saw the man her brother was and imagined the father he would be.