be the friend you were meant to be

 "I'm kind of excited for Keir," Iona couldn't help but say while at Ivy's. "He hasn't been out with friends in months." Of course, she hadn't gone anywhere either. Except now, she'd made it to Ivy's with a basket of goodies for the baby.

She knew Micah was being more stoic than ever with Jay and Jay wasn't saying a word either. She felt as if she needed to hurry up and leave, but she could tell Ivy wanted her to stay. She wanted Iona to hold baby Hope.

Naturally, Iona thought she might faint. She felt uneasy. It was sort of a sad feeling. She wasn't sure she should be holding the baby. She couldn't remember the last time she held a baby and suddenly she felt herself sink into tears.

"Are you all right?" Ivy asked. Iona nodded, thinking this would be impossible to have on her own. Maybe if she stayed well enough they could adopt. But she knew it wouldn't be anytime soon.

Ivy told her that Jay got on at the warehouse. He had to get his temp taken every day before he could actually step inside the building.

Iona nodded. She said she worked from home most days. She said she didn't go anywhere.

"Then we should celebrate," Ivy smiled and called Jay to start making dinner. She wanted them to stay.

"Oh, we couldn't." Iona knew Micah wouldn't want to stay. It was a wonder that he even drove her here, but she'd saved up disposable diapers and other baby things for weeks now, and he said it was time for her to bring the stash over.

"Yes, I need this," Ivy told her. 

Before long the dining table was a feast of pork loin, sweet potatoes and stuffing with broccoli on the side. Iona looked at Micah in shock. And she was still holding the sleeping baby. 

"I don't know if I can ever repay you," Ivy told her as she reminded Jay it was Micah and Iona that had saved her in the Black Hills. "I might not be here if it weren't for the two of you."

Jay only gave them a nod and kept silent. Iona couldn't say if she really liked him or not.

"What kind of person is he?" She asked Micah after dinner on their way home.

"Oh, I don't really know," Micah shrugged. "He never said anything to me."

"But, but you think Ivy is safe with him?" Iona winced hard hoping Ivy didn't need to be saved again.

"I guess so," Micah pointed out that Ivy, Jay, and the baby were at her mother's. "I can't think of a safer place to be."

She guessed he was right. She wanted to tell him how it felt to hold baby Hope. It was so wonderful and yet she felt full of sadness. She knew he wouldn't understand, but it was such a wonderful feeling having the baby's little fingers hold on to her finger. She hoped Ivy enjoyed every minute with Hope. In Iona's heart she felt Ivy was the most fortunate person in the world.