After having spent her pregnancy largely untouched in even greeting by anyone other than her midwife, Melody foolishly sank into Reuben's embrace. She didn't want to rely upon him, nor did she think he would ever be there for her in any such capacity. So to ignore her boundaries against him so easily left her feeling unsettled. Tomorrow morning he would be off staying with his brother again or helping Arthur or doing anything else that he deemed more important than being here with her. Melody hated herself for wishing he would support her because of her and not because she was the mother of his second born child.

She hated herself even more for wishing he would just stay with her until the baby finally did come.

Her tears fell in two rivers down her cheeks. For the first time in months, Melody wasn't isolated and alone. It was as though the dam was broken on her tightly held resolve, leaving her open and broken. "I know I'm not perfect, but I love this baby. You'll make sure they know that if something happens to me, right?" She whispered in an increasingly distressed voice.

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