Chapter 3 - CLAIRE’S EMPTY NURSERYClaire had wanted a child since before I wanted one.
That was part of why I had ignored the warning signs.
When Daniel and I announced my pregnancy, Claire smiled.
Then cried in the bathroom.
I found her.
She apologized.
“I’m happy for you.”
“I know.”
“I hate myself for being sad.”
“Don’t.”
Then the ultrasound showed twins.
Then triplets.
Claire stopped attending appointments with me.
Understandable.
At twenty-six weeks, she invited me to her house.
One bedroom upstairs was painted pale green.
Crib.
Changing table.
Rocking chair.
I stood in the doorway.
“You’re adopting?”
“Maybe.”
She smiled strangely.
“We’re keeping hopeful.”
I believed her.
Now, lying in the hospital, I remembered something else.
Three weeks before delivery, Linda called.
“Does Daniel’s insurance cover all three babies equally?”
I laughed.
“What kind of question is that?”
“A practical one.”
“They’re not luggage.”
Then:
“If something happened to you during delivery, who would care for them?”
“Daniel.”
“He’s overseas.”
“He’s still their father.”
“And if he couldn’t?”
I said:
“Why are you asking?”
She changed subject.
May you like
At the time it seemed like Linda.
Now every odd conversation grew teeth.
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