“Jesus, honey, I don’t want you to have to go through surgery!”

“But you never really wanted to do the home birth,” she said.

Knowing I was nailed at this point and feeling a bit like a deer in the headlights, I finally had to admit the truth. “You’re right, I’m sorry. I was never 100% about it.”

Reaching across the table, Maggie laid her hand on top of mine and said, “Don’t give up so easy, Jim. There’s got to be a way through this. Maybe Mama Vermillion will have some ideas. She’ll be here around 9am.”

“When do we give up, Maggie? I mean there is a serious issue here.”

“Jim, I promise you if there’s any chance that Layla’s or my health is in jeopardy, then we’ll do the surgery, okay? Let’s just see what Mama Vermillion says tomorrow morning.”

“Okay,” I said, “but I’m not sure I could handle it if something bad ever happens to you or Layla. I mean I couldn’t handle it, so don’t mess around with this breech issue, okay?”

“Okay, honey, I promise I won’t. I won’t put us at risk, I promise. I’m sure Mama has run into this before. She’ll know what to do.”