WORD OF JAMIE SPEAKING HAD SPREAD, AND ALL OF Haven Valley eagerly waited for what he might say at morning service. The idea of news from beyond the border was both terrifying and intriguing. I could feel their eyes stealing glances at the pew where we sat, Andrew on one side of me, my mother and Jamie on the other.

But half of my mind was on a different matter entirely.

I’d needed to sleep, but hardly had. Every couple hours, dreams stirred me awake. Thoughts of the child that might be growing inside me, of the pleasures and happiness the small life would bring, the adventure that would be uniquely mine. I was a bundle of nerves.

To be honest, I was struggling with some fear as well. How could I be a mother in such turbulent times? What kind of world would my baby grow up in? What if something was wrong with the baby? What if there was darkness in Haven Valley masquerading as light? There was no backing away from Andrew now. I only hoped he was pure and would make a good father.

My mother had stolen into my room as I woke to see how I was feeling. Her joy was contagious. The way her eyes sparkled when she looked at me, the way she gingerly touched my shoulder and held my hand. It was a different type of love than I’d ever felt from her. She’d suggested we see Dr. Charles that morning after Chapel to confirm the pregnancy.

But I already knew. Once the idea had been brought to light, an inner knowing had taken over. I could feel it in my bones. I was pregnant. Andrew was the father and I didn’t know what to think about that, but I was going to have a baby! For now it was a secret between my mother and me. I didn’t even feel the need to talk to Lukas about it. In fact, now that I was going to have a baby, thoughts of Lukas seemed a little irrelevant.

Lukas was only in my mind. My baby was flesh and blood.

Rose’s movement caught the corner of my eye as she and her children walked up the center aisle to their places on the front bench. My gaze followed them as they moved, little Stephen glancing my way and offering a tiny wave, which I returned. Evelyn walked beside him, and there was no hiding the bandages peeking out from the edge of her long sleeves. Her rash must have worsened. That wasn’t good. My heart broke for her.

How would I be if my child broke out in a rash? Probably a basket case.