Courtney laughed.
“We’ll survive without you for a few days. Stop acting like you’re abandoning her forever.”
Hannah stood quietly beside the hospital bed.
The look in her eyes was begging me not to go.
But I went anyway.
Over the next three days, I called again and again.
Each time, my mother picked up.
She said Hannah was sleeping.
She said Owen was feeding well.
She claimed everything was completely under control.
When Hannah finally came on the phone, her voice sounded faint and terrified.
“Ethan… please come home.”
My stomach clenched.
“What’s wrong?”
Before she could reply, my mother took the phone from her.
“Nothing is wrong,” she said with a laugh. “New mothers get emotional.”
Something felt wrong.
On the fourth day, I chose to come back without telling anyone.
I bought diapers, pastries from Hannah’s favorite bakery, and a small green blanket for Owen.
