After losing Mama and the others, Papa had once told her that sometimes just getting through the day was a good enough accomplishment. Endurance was often an overlooked blessing. She sighed.

Remembering the bottle, Gloriana made her way back to the stove. She tested the milk and found it sufficiently warm just as Sally began to offer up her morning protests of having an empty stomach. Gloriana grabbed a cleaning cloth and dipped it into the warm water around the bottle, then took it with her to greet Sally.

“Good morning, darling girl,” Gloriana declared, lifting Sally from the cradle. The baby calmed immediately. “Let’s get you washed up and into some dry clothes.”

She unwrapped the baby from her blankets and swaddling. Sally kicked her legs and flailed her arms a bit, happy for the freedom she’d suddenly achieved. The room was chilly, though, so Gloriana lost little time getting the infant changed and redressed.

“We’re going to church today, because it’s Christmas,” she told the baby. She had chosen an embroidered white gown that the child’s mother had made for her. There were little rosebuds sewn into the bodice.

“Just in case it’s a girl,” Sally had told Gloriana. “If it’s a boy, I can always take them off.”

“Your mama made this gown for you,” Gloriana whispered. “She’s not here to tell you about it, but I am. And I won’t let you forget her.”

Baby Sally began to fuss again, as if bored with the entire matter. Food was her number one ambition now that she was warm and dry.

“All right. I know what you want, but I haven’t even gotten dressed yet myself.” Gloriana decided it would be better to see Sally content than to worry about her own attire for the moment. She took the baby with her to the living room, collecting the bottle from the kitchen on the way.

Sally’s eyes widened and her mouth started working before the leather nipple even reached her lips. Gloriana laughed at her. “You little piggy. At least wait until I can put a towel under the bottle.” She wanted to protect the gown Sally’s mother had worked so hard on.

Gloriana arranged everything just so and sat in the rocking chair by the fire. Finally, they were settled and the baby was content. Just then, however, a knock sounded at the door. A moment of panic washed over Gloriana. It would be Luke. She wasn’t dressed, and her hair wasn’t pinned up or even brushed out. She hated to let Luke see her this way but felt she had little choice. If she didn’t call him in, he’d just keep knocking.

“Come in.”