Chapter 3

David seemed to think the party was already underway and that I shouldn't push the issue any further. He took Max from Elaine and held him out to me, his voice taking on a forced gentleness.

"Alright, here's the baby. Let's retake some photos," he said.

I didn't reach out to take him.

Max was still asleep, a small red imprint left by the button on Elaine's dress pressed into his cheek. His hat was crooked, and there was a smear of milk at the corner of his mouth, but David didn't seem to notice at all.

I reached out, wiped the milk off his face, and only then did I take him back into my arms.

The main seat was now empty, the nameplate on the back knocked askew. Elaine stood nearby, still had my brooch pinned to her chest, her eyes searching David for direction, looking completely lost.

"David, maybe I should just head home," she said.

"The party hasn't even started yet. Where are you going?" David replied.

"If I stay, Sophia will feel uncomfortable," Elaine said.

David frowned. "She's just worn out today, probably a bit overwhelmed. Don't take it personally. It's not about you."

My mom's face changed the moment she heard that.

Before she could say anything, I quickly walked over to the backdrop with Max in my arms.

"Mom, let's just take the photos first," I said.

There were a lot of family elders here today, some even traveling in from out of town. I didn't want Max to look back at his hundred-day album one day and just see a big family fight.

The photographer readjusted his position.

I stood in the center, holding Max, and David came to stand beside me. We were less than two feet apart. When he reached out to put his arm around my shoulders, I stepped aside, leaving his hand hanging awkwardly in the air.

The photographer gave an awkward smile. "Come on, Mom and Dad, get a little closer. Look at the baby."

Sophia glanced down at Max, trying to focus on him and block out everything else.

David hesitated for a few seconds, then awkwardly placed his hand on Max's blanket.

The flash went off again.

After we finished the family photo, Mrs. Harper called Elaine over.

"Elaine, come take a picture too. You and Max are clearly meant to be connected. So from now on, you'll be his godmother," she said.

I looked up. "Who said that?"

Mrs. Harper paused, a little taken aback.

"Elaine's been part of our family since she was little, and even after she and David divorced, she's always been around. If Max calls her godmother, it's just more love in the family, right? What's the harm?" Mrs. Harper said.

"Max already has a mom," I said.

"Of course I know you're his mother," Mrs. Harper frowned, clearly not agreeing. "But wouldn't it be good for Max to have more people doting on him? Elaine doesn't have any kids, so she'll treat Max like her own. That way, you can relax a little too."

Elaine stood off to the side, waving her hands in protest.

"Please, Mrs. Harper, let's just drop it. If Sophia doesn't want this, that's fine. I don't want her to think I'm trying to take her place," Elaine said.

The more Elaine tried to step back, the more Mrs. Harper's heart went out to her.

"Come on, what could you possibly be up to? If that baby had made it, he'd be in grade school by now. You're just holding Max for a bit. Why does Sophia have to be so wary of you?" Mrs. Harper said.

Some of the relatives nearby were already glancing over.

I'd been standing there with Max in my arms for so long that my C-section scar started to ache. The waistline of my dress was pressing right on the scar, and every breath felt like a thin thread rubbing against it.

David noticed I looked pale and reached out to take Max from me.

"Let me hold him," he said.

I shifted away from him.

"I'll hold him myself. I'm fine," I said.

"Your scar's not fully healed yet. Don't overdo it," David said.

"I'm just holding my own kid. That's hardly overdoing it," I replied.

David's face darkened, and he dropped his voice. "There are so many people here today. Do you have to be so sharp with every word?"

"Then why don't you tell them who the real mother is?" I shot back.

David looked at me.

I waited a few seconds, but all he said was, "Everyone knows."

Except the photographer didn't.