“I should have stopped her when she asked for the key,” he said.
I put the papers back in their exact order.
“You thought she wanted to help.”
“I did.”
“Now you know she wants more than that.”
He looked at the folder.
“Do you think she expects you to sign this?”
“I think she expects me to sign something.”
Daniel reached for the folder, then stopped.
“Should we call someone?”
“Not yet.”
I carried it upstairs.
In the nursery, two hospital bags sat open on the floor. I labeled
one with Luna’s name and the other with Leo’s.
Daniel checked the straps on the car seats.
“Seven thirty,” he said. “Friday.”
“I know.”
He tightened one strap.
“What do we tell my mother?”
“Nothing about the birth until the babies are safely delivered.”
He looked toward the hall.
“She will be angry.”
“She can be angry at the door.”
Daniel almost smiled.
“That sounds like you.”
I folded two receiving blankets and placed them into Leo’s bag.
The blue folder remained downstairs.
For the first time, I did not want to know what Vivian thought I was worth.
I wanted the birth to belong to Daniel, the babies, and me.
Daniel carried the second car seat toward the stairs.
“What about the hospital room number?”
“I am not giving it to her.”
He nodded.
“And the key?”
“No.”
He reached the nursery door.
I took the silver house key
