Of all the responses she was expecting from him, that wasn't it. It was such a random topic that she stared at him dumbfounded for a minute before withdrawing her hand from his. What had provoked that question? And what answer was he hoping for?

Children were terrifying for her to consider. They screamed and pulled at skirts. They were needy and constantly getting into something or other. But, Melody's heart had softened somewhat to them as she spent time with Desdemona's daughter. Was she ready for them now? No. Did she wonder what the baby she aborted would've become? Almost daily.

"I didn't used to, no," she confessed. Before him, Melody would've been most content to be a childless spinster. "The baby ..." we lost, "...changed things, I guess ... doing what I did, I regret it sometimes."