Chapter 2

Marianne came downstairs and pulled Brielle's coat more snugly around her.

“She's still in her first trimester, so she gets uncomfortable easily. Don't keep her waiting too long today.”

No one offered to take the bags I was carrying.

At the first store, Brielle picked out a cream-colored crib, then asked the sales associate to bring over three different mattresses.

I sat in an armchair in the display area and watched her send Grant a link to the crib.

“He likes it.” She smiled and held the screen out to Marianne.

Beneath it was a reply from Grant: Pick whichever one you like.

I'd sent him a link to a crib last month too.

He'd told me to save it so we could look at it together when he had time.

In the end, I'd ordered it myself. The day it was delivered, he was taking his mother to the cemetery.

“Tessa, come look at this.”

Marianne stood beside a stroller and waved me over.

I slowly pushed myself to my feet, a heavy ache spreading across my lower back.

At eleven fifty, I texted Grant.

“We're almost done. Are you on your way?”

It took him ten minutes to reply.

“My meeting isn't over yet. Just wait for me a little longer.”

I asked how long.

“As soon as I can.”

Brielle was already heading for the door, saying there was another store next door that had the bassinet she'd seen online in stock.

“I want to go home,” I said.

Marianne turned to look at me.

“We're already here.”

“My back really hurts.”

She glanced at my belly.

“Then find somewhere to sit. We'll leave when we're done.”

I sat on a bench outside the second store to rest and watched the two of them walk inside, chatting and laughing.

At twelve forty, Grant finally answered my call.

“Where are you?”

“Still at the office. Mom said Brielle hasn't found what she wants yet, so there's no rush to leave. Grab something to eat while you wait.”

“I don't want to keep shopping.”

“Then tell them.”

I looked through the glass doors. Marianne was holding up two blankets for Brielle to choose between.

“I did.”

Someone on his end called his name.

“Tessa, I really can't get away right now. Can you stay with them a little longer? They haven't felt up to going out much lately.”

I looked down at my swollen ankles.

“You promised you'd be here at twelve.”

“I know. I'll come pick you up a little later.”

After the call ended, his message was still there on my screen.

Just wait for me a little longer.

When Brielle came back out, she set two shopping bags beside me so she could adjust her coat.

“Can you hold these for me?”

I didn't move.

“I'm going home.”

She studied my face, then bent down and picked the bags back up.

“Never mind. I'll carry them myself.”

Marianne took Brielle by the arm, then turned to me. “No one's asking you to carry anything heavy. You don't have to act like you're this exhausted.”

I opened my mouth to explain, but my abdomen suddenly tightened.

I gripped the bench and waited for the discomfort to pass.

The moment I straightened up, I felt a sudden wetness that shouldn't have been there.

“I need to use the restroom.”

In the restroom, I saw the small smear of blood in my underwear, and my hands went cold.

I called my OB's office and, following their instructions, told them how far along I was and what symptoms I was having.

The nurse told me to go to the hospital immediately to be evaluated.

When I came back out, Marianne and Brielle were standing by the escalator.

“I'm bleeding. I need to go to the hospital.”

Marianne's eyes dropped to my belly.

“Weren't you fine just a minute ago?”

I didn't answer. I pulled out my phone and ordered a ride.

Brielle folded the receipt in her hand and said quietly, “Is it because I made you walk around for too long?”

Marianne immediately took her hand.

“Don't blame yourself. You didn't make her do anything.”

My ride arrived.

I opened the car door myself, held my purse against my stomach, and sent Grant a message.

“I'm bleeding. I'm on my way to St. Mary's Hospital. Come now.”

The message was marked Read almost immediately.

Then Marianne called.

“What did you say to Grant? He just called me, and he sounded upset. Brielle's so scared she can't stop crying.”

The car drove through the intersection.

I stared at the hospital sign ahead as Marianne continued.

“He said he's going to the hospital. I can't talk him out of it. Call him back and tell him to come pick us up first.”