"Just holler if you need anything," Ray said as he unnecessarily helped Livy sit on the bed. Without her asking, he slipped off her shoes and set them in the closet. Pulling one of the many blankets on the bed over her body, Livy gave a smile of thanks to her husband. Ray closed the door behind him as he left.
Livy drifted in and out of sleep. Pains stirred her in slowly decreasing increments, but dreams made it seems as though there were hours between them.
She saw her father's stern and disappointed look and her sister's worried glances. Edward spoke about her to other officers with a sneer on his face, but she could not hear what he said. Her mother lay pale and cold in funeral attire. Livy bent to kiss her on the forehead when a pain began and the dream was over.
Another dream began and she saw Ruth and Hank Jr. and Chester swimming in the swimming hole. They begged her to join but before she could another pain began and her eyes shot open.
Again she dreamed. Ray sat on the porch in the springtime sun. He faced the fields. In his arms was a blanket and, though Livy couldn't see what he held, she knew it was their baby. Their baby. Ray let out a stifled laugh and wiped tears from his eyes. He called her out of the house to look at the grin on their child's face. She heard the slam of the door behind her but did not see her child's face before another pain began.
Once more her eyes opened but the pain did not subside as soon as the others. Taking deep breaths, Livy gripped the edge of the bed and let out a soft moan. As the pain began to ease, Livy turned to look at the clock. She'd been resting for nearly an hour and a half. Adjusting her body to once more try and sleep, she felt something damp beneath her. Sitting up to inspect the state of the bed, she realized more fluid had escaped her body as she'd slept. Her dress was darkened with moisture.
As fast as she could, Livy left the bed in attempt to thwart any further damage to the state of the sheets. Searching the layers of blanket until finding a dry layer, she bundled the top three blankets together and made her way downstairs.
"How are you feeling?" Martha said from the kitchen, recognizing the familiar cold wooden creaking of feet descending the stairs. Walking into the kitchen, Livy smelled the roast Martha had put on the stove and felt the warmth of the fire near the table.
"Pains are getting stronger, I think. And…um…" Livy moved the blankets to show Martha the chaos that befell her during her rest.
"Oh, dear. Yes, I would say things are starting to move along. That just means the baby's moving. Nothing to worry about at all. I'll take those from you and put them in the laundry pile."
Livy smiled in thanks.
"I thought I heard you two talking," Ray said, coming from the living room. His hair looked as if he'd had the best nap of the year. He smiled when he saw his wife.
"I, uh, got the baby's stuff sorted and the cradle made up," he continued. "And Martha's been working on the laundry so everything should be in fine order."
Livy smiled again and placed her hands under her belly. It was only then that Ray realized the state of his wife's dress and shot a quick glance from the dress to Martha.
"Oh, Livy, why don't you mosey on upstairs and change out of those things. Ray, you go with her and bring them down so I can set them to soak," Martha said. The couple followed orders and headed towards the stairs. Livy walked slower than she had her previous trip towards the stairs; she did not make it as far as raising her foot towards the first step before she was stopped. Bending over in an instinctual attempt to dampen the pain, she let out a soft moan. Ray held his wife at his side, one hand on her waist and the other taking her hand. He felt as she gripped his hand harder than she had ever done before.
When at last she returned to her upright stance, Livy stared up at Ray and couldn't help but release a smirking air.
"They're getting stronger," she said.
"I can see that," Ray responded, making circles on her waist with his thumb.
"Martha said we'd have a long night," Livy said with a tone declaring she was both certain the woman was telling the truth and weary at the idea of what was to come.
"I'm sure she's right," Ray responded again, his voice an even tone of comfort and confidence. Livy couldn't tell if he was putting it on for her sake or if Ray had turned into a solid foundation in the storm she was experiencing.
"Can I help you up the stairs?" he asked.
"I think I can manage," Livy responded with a subtle hit of hesitancy.
"Well, I'll follow right behind you."
Livy took the steps slowly. So slowly she'd apologized to Ray for how slow she'd gone.
"If I was having a baby I'd likely travel half this speed," he joked. It was stupid but it had made Livy feel better. When at last they'd made it to Livy's room another wave of embarrassment had crossed her mind.
"Ray, I'm sorry you have to see all of this." Livy motioned to her dress and around herself in general. "I'm sure Martha and I could manage if you wanted to wait with Hank and the others."
"Oh, Livy, don't think that. There's nothing wrong about seeing any of this." Like he had just a few hours before, Ray folded his wife into his arms. "There's no place I want to be more than here with you." He kissed her on the head once more and Livy nodded.
"I'll be just out here," he said, as Livy stepped into her room to change.