The baby shower, held two weeks later at Delilah's newly acquired apartment, brought together the same careful, hard won family that had gathered for the wedding, and Ivy spent the afternoon surrounded by warmth that felt, finally, entirely uncomplicated by any lingering threat, at least for those few precious hours.

"You're glowing," her mother said, watching Ivy carefully unwrap a small mountain of tiny clothes and careful, thoughtful gifts, her own pregnancy with Ivy clearly present in the particular, warm nostalgia softening her expression. "I remember this exact stage. Terrified and thrilled in equal measure."

"That's exactly it," Ivy admitted, laughing. "I keep alternating between excitement and pure panic about...