Chapter 12 - THE DAUGHTER WHO ARRIVED EARLY
My daughter arrived at thirty-seven weeks.
It began on a rainy Tuesday morning.
I was folding tiny yellow pajamas when I felt the first contraction.
At first, I thought it was another false alarm.
Then the contractions became regular.
My sister drove me to the hospital.
I called my obstetrician.
And I called my attorney to ensure Graham received appropriate notice through the arrangements we'd established.
Labor was long.
Exhausting.
And nothing like the peaceful birth I'd once imagined.
But when the nurse placed my daughter against my chest, the world became very small.
Warm skin.
Tiny fingers.
A soft cry.
I began sobbing.
“Hello, sweetheart.”
She opened her eyes.
I smiled through tears.
“I'm your mommy.”
I named her Evelyn.
After my mother.
Graham arrived later, after the delivery, in accordance with the hospital's visitation rules and our agreed boundaries.
He stood near the doorway.
His eyes filled when he saw her.
“She's beautiful.”
I nodded.
“Yes.”
He looked at me.
“Maddie…”
I shook my head.
“Not today.”
He swallowed.
Then nodded.
For once, he respected the boundary.
I looked down at Evelyn.
May you like
Whatever happened between her father and me, she deserved to be loved without being used as leverage.
And I intended to make sure she was.
