Chapter 25 - THE FLORAL DRESSI found the ultrasound dress when Nora was eighteen months old.
Floral pattern.
Soft fabric.
Still hanging behind winter coats.
I had not worn it since that day.
For a moment I was back there.
Cold gel on my abdomen.
Dr. Evans staring at measurements.
Door opening.
Derek’s smug face.
Jessica behind him.
“Perfect. Now we’ll finally prove whose baby this is.”
I almost donated the dress.
Then stopped.
Why should they own fabric?
I wore it to Nora’s daycare picnic.
Red lipstick too.
Not symbolic when I dressed.
Symbolic afterward.
Derek arrived to pick Nora up for his weekend.
He saw the dress.
Recognized it.
His face changed.
I could have enjoyed that.
Instead I handed him Nora’s bag.
“Her inhaler is in the front pocket. She doesn’t need it routinely, only if the pediatrician’s instructions say.”
He nodded.
“Got it.”
“Bath around seven.”
“Sarah.”
“What?”
He looked at the dress again.
Then:
“Nothing.”
May you like
Good.
We had finally learned not every memory needed a conversation.
