Emeline was so optimistic. Clara liked to hear it but it was hard to go along with the idea. But she certainly hoped the woman was right and her own fears for the worst were wrong. And it did no good to give in to one's fears. She had to be better than that, stronger than that.

"Oh, thank you for this encouragement. I so want you to be right," Clara declared.

"I'm excited for you, Clara, and I have no doubt this will all work out, even though the situation isn't ideal," Emeline added more words of comfort or at least encouragement.

Clara swallowed back emotion and tried to compose herself again.

"If the baby is a girl, I am going to ask Jacob if we can name her after you," she announced solemnly.

"Oh, well..." That caught Emeline off guard, but in a good way. "Of course, if you'd like...that would be an honor." She smiled widely, moving in to give Clara a quick hug again, even though she would really have liked to smother her in a hug. "Just keep in mind that you aren't obligated, of course. There may be someone in Jacob's family you'd prefer to call her after."

Or perhaps Clara's own mother would be a worthy namesake.

She chuckled, then, and added, "Or, there is always Miss Arabella...if she is in town when the baby comes, I'm sure she'll be happy to name it for you, whether you like it or not!"