Rose reached out to steady me. Her expression softened. “It’s alright,” she said. “Maybe you should sit.”

She gave my arm a tender squeeze, and I was certain she knew I was pregnant. My mother must have told her. Which made sense, because no one cared as much as Rose did about creating new, pure life and raising up a generation of faithful. Protecting the children was her sacred calling.

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I’m okay.”

The door opened and Andrew was escorted inside. He found me and walked to my side. “You’re okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“She’s healthy,” Rose said. “And so is the baby.”

And just like that, she’d stolen my thunder.

“I thought he should know immediately,” Rose said. “This makes two pregnancies this week. Alice is also with child.”

Just as she’d hoped. I moved my gaze back to Andrew, who was staring at me as if unsure what to think.

“You . . .” He glanced at Rose. “She’s with child?”

“Ask her.”

To me: “You’re pregnant?”

“Yes.”

His upper lip quivered. “Praise God,” he breathed. He put a hand on my shoulder. “Praise God.”

It was too much for me. I no longer knew who I should give my loyalty to. Rose, yes, but what about the boy? Andrew, yes, but would I really have to move in with him now? My father, but he’d abandoned us and was an outcast. Jamie, but he was bitter. Bobbie, but Bobbie was warning me about everybody.

In that moment, I identified more with my mother than with anyone else in the room.

Rose placed her hand on my other shoulder. “You can move your things to his house next week. We’re all very happy for you, Grace.” And then, maybe sensing my apprehension, “Do you and Andrew need a moment?”

“No,” I answered quickly. Maybe too quickly. I cleared my throat. “We can discuss it later.”

I looked back at my father, unmoving inside the care room. Silence settled over us.

“The boy is key here,” Rose said after a few seconds. “He must know something.”

My mother spoke for the first time, voice frail. “Let me care for the child in my home. He’s only here because of me and my children. And if he is Ben’s son . . .” Her voice faded as she considered her own statement. She looked over at Rose. “I’ll shoulder the burden of caring for him until we know more.” She paused, and I watched the right side of her mouth turn up slightly. “He favors Ben, don’t you think?” she asked no one in particular.

“You saw him?” I asked.

“Only for a moment. He looks like Ben looked in old childhood photographs.”