Page 47

"That's her."

He looks toward the calf even though he can’t see her through the wall. There’s a thump on the other side, which means she’s already on the move.

"Calf's about to be up."

We walk back in together and I crouch, running a hand down the calf's back to check that it's breathing clean and count it whole. Then I pull the calving book out of my coat and thumb to the page, and beside the tag number I write her name in pencil.

“Mackie.”

The calf heaves its hindquarters off the straw and stands on all four legs.

Dutch clicks the flashlight off.

At the end of April, two moving boxes sit open on Hildie's bed at Sabal Point, one of them half full.

Lis kneels over the low dresser, wrapping the clay dish with the thumbprints pressed into its rim. Newspaper crinkles under her hands. Hildie watches from her chair, fingers smoothing the hem of her cardigan.

"Where are we going?"

"Wyoming," I tell her. "I want you closer, and I found a nice place for you."

"I've never been west of Mobile."

Reaching into my shirt pocket, I take the clothespin angel out. I drove to her house at seven this morning and pulled the Christmas box down from the attic to find it, with its doily skirt and all. I lay it on top of her folder of penciled birds, down inside the box where it won't get crushed.

My phone buzzes in my jeans. It's Mackie. This morning's calendar reminder told me she's twenty weeks today.

"Hang on." I step into the hall and pull the door most of the way shut behind me.

"One of each," she says.

"I'm sorry?"

"It's a boy and a girl."

I stop with one hand on the door frame. She's having one of each.

"Okay," I say, because I don't have anything better.

"I want to name the boy Graham, after my dad."

A name turns a medical situation into a person. She didn't ask what I want to name him, or if I even like the name, and that's fine. I don't do names.

"That sounds like a good, strong name."

"If you care about the girl's name, I'm open. Graham's nonnegotiable."

"I'll leave that part to you."

"Listen, I'm walking back into the office. Just wanted to let you know."

"All right."

"I'll talk to you later."

"Yeah."

We end the call. Back in the room, Lis has taped the box shut and is holding out a plate wrapped in foil.