day. The doctor's voice pounded in her memory-it felt l

ed at the edges. She co

Carter. We did ev

came short and shallow. The doctor's face-she still saw it in her mind. Gentle, ca

o excessive stress," he'

stain the pregnancy un

t word for something that

and waiting for someone who wouldn't come home. Eating dinner in silence. A cold bed. The sharp

s just imagining things, telling herself he was busy, that she

inside her, lik

her baby

; Daniel stood by the bed, still as a statue. Vanessa was perched

ike a ghost haunting

nly a conve

er than knives, echoing in her mind o

ot loved. Not want

Daniel looked immaculate-perfect sui

s was a meeting, not the loss of a child or a ma

wn?" she asked, barely

annoyed. "

was pr

en shrugged like it meant not

Her legs wobbled. She crossed slowly to a chair against the wall and dropped

needed rest. She wasn't resting. She was sitting here watch

sickly face, the way her hands shook, the plastic hospital band still l

e murmured, half-sympat

tayed

ssa went on, her eyes drifting to Lo

ospitals have thin wal

for a second, she sounded almost sad. "But

g onto the slight smile

d that be?" she a

beat. "Maybe your body

l just stood there, silent-no argumen

and empty. "My body wasn't

Emotional balance. I've been very careful to avoid stress,"

ething dark flickered

someone else's husband?" Lola

ocked hard. "T

t pounding so loud she

she cha

taller, glaring. "You

her marriage, her sense of self, al

ing his gaze. "When the doctor told you I lo

aniel looked away, watched the water s

of having children," he finally

ldn't catch her breath. Behind him,

lm it hurt. "We need to

forming but she shoved them

," she said.

swer. He did

and smug, eyes never leaving Lola. She smiled-thi

ut one thing," Vanes

t react. J

e curve of her stomach, like it was

eant to be mothers," she

hing inside her

gaze locked on Lola's crumbling face. She rested her hand ther

ike