summit

Chapter 19 - THE BABY KICKS DURING MEDIATION

At thirty-one weeks, our daughter kicked Owen’s hand.

Accidentally.

He was sitting beside me in counseling.

I shifted.

His hand rested on the sofa between us.

My abdomen moved beneath my gown.

He froze.

I did too.

“Was that—”

“Yes.”

He did not touch me.

Good.

“Can I?”

I thought.

Then nodded.

He placed two fingers lightly against my side.

Another kick.

His face collapsed.

“Hi.”

I cried.

Angry at myself.

Dr. Warren said nothing.

She was smart enough not to turn fetal movement into marital symbolism.

Afterward Owen asked:

“Do you think I’ll be at the birth?”

“I don’t know.”

He nodded.

“Okay.”

Then:

“I want to be.”

“I know.”

No promise.

He had spent too long building plans around later forgiveness.

May you like

He would not get one from me.

Not yet.

Related Stories

Other posts