Rose had just calmed down after the last contraction when another wave of pain shot through her body. She bit her lips and tried to count how long it lasted. She groaned and threw her hand over her forehead. Her mother had just brushed her hair and gotten her into a clean nightgown. Already she felt drenched from perspiration.

"I can't do this," she moaned. "Jack, Jack," she cried weakly.

She put her hands on her stomach and twisted her legs under the covers. Looking over at the clock, it seemed that the pains were coming about every five minutes.

"God, how is this going to happen? How can I bear the pain? How can I do this?" she thought to herself.

Her mother had left the room to find some more sheets and towels and Jack had gone downstairs to start boiling water and get some scissors and twine. He had told her that he wanted things ready for the doctor.

"Jack, Jack," she called again. "Please come, I need you, Jack," she cried louder.

Jack heard her calling and was going back up in a minute. He had started the water on the stove and had found a pan and the other things he needed. Now he stood looking out the window. The storm was increasing in intensity. The visibility was almost down to nothing. He could not risk going out for the doctor now. They would never find their way back. No one in their neighborhood had telephones yet. So he could not even call the doctor and ask what to do. The reality of what was going to happen was just sinking in on him. Finding towels and sheets and boiling the water were the easy tasks of the day. The two hardest chores still lie ahead. One was telling Rose that he was going to have to deliver their child. The other was actually doing it.

"I got Rose in bed," said Ruth, coming into the kitchen.

"What?" asked Jack, shaken out of his reverie.

"You told me to get Rose in bed," she repeated, giving him an odd look.

"Oh, thanks. Look at the weather out there," he told her, nodding his head at what was going on outside.

Ruth came closer to the window and gasped.

"How on earth will the doctor be able to get?" she asked, putting her hand to her throat.

"That's just the problem. That's why I'm glad you are here. There is no way anyone is coming out in this. I need your help, Ruth," said Jack, putting his hand on her shoulder.

"My help?" she asked incredulously.

He nodded his head.

"Yes, your help," he repeated. "You've had a baby. You must remember what to do."

Ruth looked at Jack with a blank stare. What could she say to him. How could she talk to him about something so embarrassing.

"What's the matter?" he asked, noticing her pale color.

Ruth took a long time answering. Finally she found her voice.

"When Rose was born, I was afraid, ashamed."

"Ashamed?" he asked. "It's a perfectly natural thing," he went on.

"For some people yes. But not for me. I asked to have chloroform. I don't remember anything," she admitted.

Jack put his hand to his forehead. This was a worse mess than he expected. The only things that he knew about process of birth itself, was what he remembered from the time his father had let him see a calf being born. And he could hardly compare that to the birth of his own child.

Suddenly Ruth's eyes narrowed and she spoke again.

"Of course, if you didn't live in this godforsaken place, or had exercised better judgement in the first place, you wouldn't be in this situation now," she said bitingly.

Jack looked at Ruth, shocked. He thought she had gotten beyond that kind of behavior. Now he had to deal with her on top of everything else.

He moved closer to her and stood staring at her before he spoke.

"You know that was an unfair and uncalled for thing to say, Ruth," he said quietly challenging her.

He was not about to give her any more ammunition by shouting at her.

She put her head down and partially covered her face with her hands. Ruth was quiet for a few seconds and then slowly she looked at Jack again.

"You're right, Jack. It was unfair. I'm sorry. Sometimes I still can't help it, even though I try so hard," she told him honestly.

"Listen, we both want the best for Rose. I'm as concerned and nervous for her as you are," trying to sound calm in the face of this precarious situation.

Ruth looked at him and then shut her eyes. She had never met such a forgiving, kind person.

"I know that neither Rose or I planned this very well and we were asking for trouble that night. But it's done now. And we don't have any regrets. We want this child."

She was stunned as she listened to what he said. It was almost an apology for what they had done on Titanic. Even Mr. High and Mighty Hockley had never apologized to Ruth when he did things that he knew annoyed her.

"Jack, I don't know what to do, but I will help you. I won't turn squeamish on you. I will help," she said trying to sound confident.

She thought for a moment and spoke as if to herself.

"After all, I am going to be a grandmother."