“Ivy, please.”
“Tonight. Otherwise I’m taking Hope to Melissa myself and telling her everything.”
Ryan said nothing for a long moment.
Then he nodded once.
I grabbed my keys.
“I’m following you.”
That evening, I carried Hope up the walkway to Ryan and Melissa’s house.
Ryan opened the front door looking like a man walking toward his own sentencing.
Melissa was sitting on the couch.
Her eyes immediately went to the baby in my arms.
Then she looked at Ryan.
I didn’t soften it.
“Tell her.”
Ryan sat across from his wife.
His hands were shaking.
“I lost my job four months ago.”
Melissa didn’t move.
“The nursery, the savings… I lied about all of it.”
Her expression remained blank.
“I’ve been pretending to go to work every morning.”
Melissa stared at him.
Then Ryan finally reached the worst part.
“When I saw the baby’s back, I panicked. Then the doctors started mentioning surgeries and expenses.”
He began crying.
“And I used her diagnosis as a way out.”
Melissa whispered,
“You lied to me for months.”
“I know.”
“Not about the baby.”
Her voice shook.
“About our marriage.”
Ryan dropped his head.
“I know.”
Melissa stood.
“I would have sold every piece of furniture in that nursery.”
He looked at her.
“I would have worked two jobs.”
She pointed toward Hope.
“I would never have chosen money over our daughter.”
Then Melissa slowly walked toward me.
Her hands were trembling as she reached out.
I placed Hope into her arms.
Melissa immediately began crying.
Her tears fell onto the blanket as she stared at her daughter.
I spoke quietly.
“Dr. Patel called. It’s a mild form. She’ll likely need one surgery during her first few months, followed by therapy. Her doctors believe she has an excellent chance of living a full, active life.”
Ryan buried his face in his hands and sobbed.
Melissa looked at him.
For a long moment, neither said anything.
Then she finally spoke.
