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wedding. I’ve seen how you are at the company, diligent in your responsibilities and accepting a subordinate position. Anyone else in your place would be demanding a raise and a seat on the board.”
    â€œThat’s simple enough. I’ve just been so happy with my life, I didn’t need to grasp at anything further.”
    â€œWait, let me finish.” Abigail continued her inspection of the outside world as Kenneth pulled through the crossroads. “I have also seen you with my daughter. And I have seen you in your worship. You are a good man, Kenneth. You deserve far more than I have been willing to give.” Abigail sighed and smiled weakly. “I suppose what I am trying to say is that you are not the only one who needs to apologize.”
    They drove on in companionable silence as Kenneth entered the tree-lined streets of Georgetown. The car drummed over the rounded cobblestones, passing one quiet residential street after another. Kenneth finally said, “Do you think this doctor will really have anything new to offer us?”
    Abigail hesitated as they turned down Kenneth’s street. As soon as their house came into view, the door sprang open and Kyle rushed down the stairs, her impatience evident. Abigail said quietly, “To be frank, I am beginning to feel like anything at all would be better for my daughter than more of this uncertainty.”

    In the hospital ward, Kenneth stepped back so that he could watch his wife watch the baby. Kyle’s face was so drawn she looked older than her mother. It was no longer possible to fool himself. Abigail was right. This uncertainty was killing her.
    â€œMr. Adams? I’m Dr. Hearly.” The beefy man was tall and solid and carried with him an air of confidence. He turned to Abigail. “You must be Mrs. Rothmore.”
    â€œI can’t thank you enough for seeing us, doctor.”
    â€œYes, well, your friends made quite a case on your behalf.” He glanced toward the glass-fronted hospital bassinet. “And now that I have seen the baby, I can well understand why.”
    He stepped forward to where Kyle stood by the crib, her fingers curled around the top corner of the glass cover. He inspected her face for a moment, his eyes and voice gentling. “And you must be Mrs. Adams.”
    â€œHe just opened his eyes and looked at me. He can see me through the glass, can’t he?” Kyle flashed a frantic glance toward the doctor, then turned back to the crib. “He’s getting better. I know it.”
    But the baby did not look well to Kenneth. Not at all. His own heart ached as he watched the helpless little infant trapped there on the other side of the glass.
    The baby’s entire body was a faint blue. The eyes were clenched so tight his whole face was twisted and furrowed. Every once in a while the body gave a convulsive shiver, then went still. The little mouth was opened up wide, as though baby Charles wanted to scream and cry. Only there was no noise coming from the crib. None at all.
    Kyle’s fingers seemed ready to claw through the glass. “Can I hold him?” were the words from her lips, but it was the desperation in her tone and expression that tore at Kenneth’s heart.
    The doctor continued his careful inspection of Kyle for a moment longer, then turned to the nurse hovering on the bassinet’s other side. “Let Mrs. Adams have the baby.”
    â€œBut, doctor—”
    â€œGive her the baby, nurse.” He waited until the nurse had turned off the oxygen and begun unfastening the catches before turning to Kenneth and Abigail. In a low voice he said, “Why don’t you both join me in the conference room.”
    Kenneth turned to his wife. “We won’t be long, honey.”
    But Kyle did not reply. Kenneth wondered if she had even heard him. Her whole being was reaching out along with her arms to accept the tiny bundle.

    The doctor waved them into chairs