“You have a library?” Lana asked, and her eyes swam again.

“We have a library, a community garden, a day care, and medical facilities. Does Max also have other abilities?”

“Witch.”

“Would you like Max to be with you for the exam?” Rachel asked her.

“Yes, please.”

“Send him in, Katie. I’m going to take Lana inside, get her comfortable.”

Jonah took Duncan, watched Lana go in with Rachel. “They’re healthy.” He set Duncan on the blanket. “I couldn’t not see. Healthy and strong. The baby … there’s something bright. I don’t know how to describe it. Something … more.” He cut himself off as Max strode up.

“They just went in. I’ll show you.”

Lana changed into an exam gown while Rachel explained that they’d scavenged supplies and equipment from hospitals and clinics en route.

“We still need more, but at the time we didn’t have room to take more. And some of what we have we can’t use until we get power up again. Fingers crossed there. Come on in, Max. First, you estimate four and a half months, so eighteen weeks?”

“She was conceived on January second. That’s certain.”

“Date of your last period?”

“I honestly don’t know, but I know the conception date.”

“All right.” Rachel walked to a calendar on the wall, flipped back, counted. “Eighteen weeks, three days. That puts your due date at … best estimate going forty weeks from conception, at September twenty-fifth.”

“But, nine months would be early September.”

Rachel let the calendar flip back down, smiled. “It’s actually ten months’ gestation. Forty weeks.”

“Then why do they say nine? See,” she said to Max. “I know nothing.”

“You know now.”

Rachel gestured toward the scale. “Do you know your weight pre-pregnancy?”

“A hundred and sixteen. Oh God, I have to get on there, don’t I?” Resigned, Lana stepped on the scale, but closed her eyes.

“Height, five feet, six and a quarter inches. Weight one-twenty-six.”

“Ten pounds?” Lana’s eyes popped open. “Ten?”

“Is excellent for your stage of pregnancy. With your height and build, a twenty-five- to thirty-five-pound weight gain would be very good. But everyone’s different, so don’t stress about it.”

“Did you say thirty-five pounds? I thought Ray was exaggerating.”

“Why don’t you sit up on the table—don’t cross your legs. We’ll get your blood pressure. How are you sleeping?”

“It depends. I have dreams.”

“We haven’t always been able to stop or find the best shelter at night,” Max added.

“Mmm. Blood pressure’s good.” Rachel noted it down. “Morning sickness?”

“I never had any. A little light-headed now and again, and I’m hungry all the damn time.”

“Allergies, medical conditions, medications?”

“No, nothing.”

“Is this your first pregnancy?”

“Yes.”

Rachel asked questions, Lana answered. Max wandered the room.

“Have you felt any movement?”

“I think—I felt … When we saw the sign? The one that says New Hope? She moved. It felt amazing really.”

Max turned back. “You didn’t say.”

“You were on the walkie with Poe. You were worried. We didn’t know if we’d be welcome here, or what to expect. And it wasn’t like the butterflies I felt before. Ray called that quickening. It wasn’t like that. It was excited. Is that normal?”

“At eighteen to twenty weeks it’s good to feel movement. You’ll feel more, but don’t worry if you don’t feel movement every day right now. ‘Don’t worry’ is the mantra.”

Rachel glanced at the ultrasound, sighed. “I need you to scoot down, feet in the stirrups.” She walked over, took gloves from a box. “I need to do an internal. Once we get things running, we’ll do an ultrasound.”

Max pointed. “That?”

“Yes. Once we can use it, you’ll be able to see the baby on the monitor, hear the heartbeat. I can measure weight and length, check a lot of things. I might be able to—if you want—determine sex.”

“It’s a girl. I know that the same way I know the conception date. I know she’s healthy and strong, but—”

“You still worry.”

“An ultrasound would show you things that would help with that worry?” Max asked.

Understanding expectant parents worried about everything even under normal circumstances, Rachel sent Max a reassuring smile.

“Babies have come into the world healthy and strong long before ultrasounds.”

“But?”

“I’m a doctor. I’d love to have all the tools available.”

“I can help with that.”

Max stepped to the machine, laid his hand on it. Rachel felt the air vibrate around her before the machine hummed to life.

Lana reached out a hand to brush Max’s arm. “Max has a talent for machines, motors, engines.”

For a moment, professional equanimity lost against a celebratory fist pump. “Oh, hell yes! We have an engineer and an electrician—and an IT guy—who are all going to want to meet you as soon as possible.”

“Can you use it now, for Lana and the baby?”

“Let’s find out. If I’d known this was an option, you could’ve kept on your underwear.”

“If you think modesty’s a factor, it’s not.”

“All right then.”

Rachel pulled out a tube of gel, snapped on the gloves. “I’m going to put this on your abdomen.” She lifted the hem of the gown.

“Will this be painful?” Max asked, and took Lana’s hand.

“Painless.” Mentally crossing her fingers, Rachel rubbed the transducer over the gel. “There.” She nodded toward the monitor. “There’s your baby.”

“I can’t really … Oh God, I can!” Lana’s hand clamped on Max’s. “I can see her. She’s moving. I can feel her moving.”

“Hear that sound? That’s a good, strong heartbeat. And from the size, I agree with your conception date.”

“She’s so small.” Max reached out, traced the image with his finger.

“I’ve seen bigger bell peppers,” Lana agreed. “Is she growing all right?”

“We’ve got her at right about five and a half inches, and seven ounces. She’s growing exactly right. And you’re right again. It’s a girl.”

“I see her fingers.” Lana’s voice broke. “She has fingers.”

“Eight fingers, two thumbs,” Rachel confirmed. “We’re going to take a closer look—at her heart, her brain, her other organs—but I’m going to say I’m seeing a perfectly formed eighteen-week fetus, female. How long will this stay on?” she asked Max.

Still tracing the baby, he brought Lana’s hand to his lips. “How long do you need it?”

Rachel felt a bit like weeping herself. “If I didn’t say it before, let me say it now. Welcome to New Hope.”

* * *

Lana came out clutching a list of do’s and don’ts. A line of people snaked out from Katie’s table. Lana zeroed in on Ray, walked over to hug him.

“Told you, Mama.”

“The doctor said she’s perfect. We’re perfect. She’s hoping to talk to you and Carly after you’re settled a little. I liked her, Ray. I really liked her.”

He gave her a pat on the cheek with his big, broad-palmed hand. “You were right to follow the signs.”

“Hey, I’m Fred.” She bounced up, beaming. “You’re Lana, right, and Max? You brought Bill’s son. He’s so happy. They’re up at Bygones. I think they need a little time together. But Jonah said I should show you around, and let you see the house he thinks will work for you. If you want.”