Chapter 6
She stood frozen for a few seconds, then finally headed into the bedroom.
Sophia's crying slowly died down.
I sat in the chair, my throat burning so badly I couldn't even speak.
Arthur asked in a low voice, "Claire, is your incision bleeding?"
I looked down at my pajamas to check. "No. It just hurts."
Arthur said, "I've already scheduled a postpartum checkup for you at the hospital. I'll take you there when I get back.
"For now, I'll have Sarah from our building come up and check on you."
I was a little taken aback. Sarah was our neighbor upstairs.
She used to be a nurse before she retired, and whenever we bumped into her, she'd always play with Sophia or make her laugh.
I hadn't expected Arthur to think of even that.
A few minutes later, the doorbell rang.
Olivia came out holding Sophia, her face twisted with anger and embarrassment.
She demanded, "So now you're bringing in strangers to watch us be humiliated?"
Arthur said, "Open the door."
Olivia didn't move. And I wanted to stand up.
The doorbell rang again.
Sarah's voice came from outside. "Claire, are you home? Arthur called me."
"Don't move, I'll come check on you." Olivia finally went to open the door.
As soon as the door opened, Sarah walked in, carrying a small medical kit.
She glanced at me, her expression turning serious. "Why are you so pale? Just stay seated and don't move."
Sarah came over, felt my forehead for a fever, and asked if I was feeling lightheaded or sick to my stomach.
I told her honestly how I was feeling, answering each question as she asked.
Sarah frowned and said, "The first week after giving birth is when you're at your weakest. How did you end up this hungry?"
Olivia stood nearby, her tone harsh. "She ate oatmeal."
Sarah glanced at the thin, watery bowl of oatmeal sitting on the table.
She didn't scold anyone, shook her head, and said, "This won't cut it. After a C-section and with breastfeeding, there's no way you can get by on this."
Olivia's face turned red with embarrassment. "Everyone's so picky these days."
Sarah shot her a look. "This isn't about being picky. This is common sense."
The living room fell silent again.
That breath I'd been holding in for seven days finally felt like I could let it go, thanks to that simple truth.
It wasn't that I was being sensitive. It wasn't that I was making a fuss.
It was that I really did need to be taken care of.
Arthur said over the phone, "Sarah, could you keep an eye on her for half an hour?
"The postpartum nurse is already on her way. Don't let Claire get out of bed until she gets here."
Sarah agreed right away. "Don't worry."
When Olivia heard the words "postpartum nurse," her face fell completely. "I'm not okay with this. Why should we let some stranger stay in our house?"
Arthur said, "She's here because I hired her to take care of my wife and daughter. That's all there is to it."
Olivia let out a cold, bitter laugh. "So now you think you don't need me anymore? You'd rather believe a stranger than your own mother?"
Arthur paused for a couple of seconds. "Mom, after everything you've done today, how am I supposed to trust you?"
Olivia's eyes turned red, but it wasn't guilt. It was anger fueled by humiliation.
She shoved Sophia into my arms. "Fine. So I'm the wrong one, huh? Then I'll leave."
So I'm the one who's wrong, huh?"
I had taken Sophia into my arms, but my hands were still trembling and barely able to hold her steady.
Olivia had already turned and headed into the bedroom to pack her things.
Olivia was making a huge racket as she packed. She yanked the closet door open and slammed it shut again.
The suitcase wheels screeched across the floor.
Sophia flinched at the noise, and her cries, which had stopped, started up again, soft and pitiful.
I held her close, my arms aching and weak, but I didn't dare let go.
Sarah quickly took Sophia from my arms. "Don't hold her for too long. Once that incision starts hurting, it's no joke."
As I handed Sophia over, I realized my palms were slick with sweat.
Olivia poked her head out of the bedroom, her eyes rimmed with red. "Happy now? Now that I'm out of the way, you three can finally have your peace."
I didn't say anything back.
She had no intention of actually leaving. She was waiting for me to beg her to stay.
She used to pull this at the dinner table whenever things didn't go her way.
If anyone disagreed with her, she'd throw her chopsticks down, claim she was unwanted, and rant about how raising a son was pointless.
Arthur used to try to smooth things over. I used to try to calm her down too.
But today, I didn't have the strength to comfort her. And I didn't even feel like trying anymore.
The call was still on.
Arthur's voice came through the phone. "Mom, if you want to go home, I'll have the driver take you.
"But before you leave, let's get everything out in the open."
Olivia gripped the suitcase, looking like she'd been choked. "What else is there to say? I already told you, I was trying to help."
Arthur said, "If you were really being kind, you wouldn't have let Claire starve for seven days.
"If you were really being kind, you wouldn't have waved around a bowl of oatmeal on our video call, pretending you were cooking something new for her every day.
"And if you were really being kind, you wouldn't have told everyone she turned her nose up at the food her mom made for her."
Olivia's face showed a flicker of embarrassment. "Wasn't I just worried you'd get distracted with all the work you have going on?
"Your job keeps you so busy. How could I let you stress over something like this?"
Arthur pressed, "So why weren't you worried if Claire could even handle it physically?"
The living room fell silent. That cut deeper than any scolding.
Olivia opened her mouth, but all she could manage was a weak, "She's not some precious princess."
Sarah finally spoke up. "Olivia, that's not right. She had surgery and has a newborn to look after. If she doesn't eat well, it could seriously affect her health."
Olivia immediately turned her anger on Sarah.