Looking at Maggie, who was beaming at me, and then back to Mama, I hesitantly said, “Yes.”

“Well then, Mr. Jim, follow me into nursery room and, Maggie, you get up on your birthing bed, okay?”

We all stood up and followed Mama into the room.

“Now, Maggie, you get up on the bed and, Mr. Jim, you lay down next to Maggie on her right side. Maggie, you pull up your shirt so that Mr. Jim can put his right hand on your belly.”

On the bed, my heart was racing and I could tell that Maggie was a little scared too.

“Now, Mr. Jim, Maggie says that you’ve been layin’ your hand on the baby and Maggie and talkin’ to Layla every night.”

“That’s right,” I said.

“Well, what’s you been sayin’ to her?” Mama asked.

Feeling a little embarrassed, I hesitated and Maggie broke in and said,
“He’s been singing to her lullabies and we’ve just been telling her stories and saying we love her and telling her things about us.”