Before that night, I had interpreted it as advice.
Maybe Diane wanted me to speak to someone with experience.
Now the wording felt completely different.
I called Carol.She initially sounded pleased to hear from me.
Then confused.
“Diane said you wanted to speak to us.”
“Did she tell you why?”
“For advice, I assumed.”
“About Brenda?”
“Yes.”
There was a pause.
“She told me you had experience,” I said.
Carol became very quiet.
“What?”
My stomach tightened.
“What did Diane actually ask you?”
Carol lowered her voice.
“She asked whether my husband and I would ever consider raising another child.”
I couldn’t speak.
Carol continued quickly.
“At first, I didn’t think she meant Brenda. I thought she was asking hypothetically.”
“What made you think otherwise?”
“She said you and Daniel might eventually realize you couldn’t handle everything Brenda needed.”
I closed my eyes.
“Then she asked what we would do if that happened.”
