Chapter 18 - ETHAN AND ELENA
Ethan was excellent with Elena.
That complicated everything.
He learned paced bottle feeding.
He knew how to keep her awake long enough to finish.
He tracked wet diapers without turning parenthood into a spreadsheet competition.
He held her upright after feeds.
He attended follow-ups.
He never once used access to Elena to force a conversation about our marriage.
At first he visited two hours daily.
Then four.
Then an evening.
When Elena was six weeks adjusted age, I allowed him to take her to his apartment for three hours.
I panicked.
Not because he was unsafe.
Because trust had been damaged in one category and my body wanted to apply it everywhere.
I nearly canceled.
Dr. Bennett asked:
“Do you believe Ethan will ignore Elena’s medical need for a ceremony?”
“No.”
“Do you believe he understands what happened?”
“More.”
“Then is the fear about Elena or you?”
Me.
I let the visit happen.
He brought her back on time.
No triumph.
No:
See?
Just:
“She ate at five-ten. Diaper at six. She slept thirty minutes.”
He handed her to me.
May you like
Then left.
Trust returned in boring increments.
