The Bag with Yellow Ducks

“Marlee? Why are you down here?”

“Why are you here?”

“I was supposed to meet Neil.”

“For what?”

She lifted the bag. “Things he asked for. He wanted them in his car before your discharge.”

“What things?”

“Bottles, formula, clothes.”

“For what?”

“For when Alicia stays with us.”

I held my daughter closer.

“She’s not staying with you.”

“It’s only two nights. You’ll need rest.”

“Formula? You know I’m breastfeeding.”

“Babies can take bottles. We’d manage.”

“You decided that without asking?”

“It’s only a couple of nights.”

“Dennis even cleared his fishing gear out of the spare room,” she added, as though that settled it. “Everything is ready.” I pictured the little yellow hat she’d bought before we knew Alicia was a girl. What once looked like affection now felt like a claim.

“Neil agreed to this?”

“We made arrangements weeks ago.”

The bag wasn’t a suggestion. They had prepared to carry out the plan.

“I already told you no.”

“You were pregnant then. You didn’t know how tired you’d be.”

“I know what I said.”

“We’re trying to help.”

“By taking her when I’m asleep?”

“Lower your voice.”

I turned to the information desk.

“Please call the maternity unit. I need a nurse. My husband and his mother have made plans for my baby without me.”

The employee picked up the phone.

Patricia stepped closer. “There’s no need to involve the hospital.”

“Then why didn’t you involve me?”

“Because we knew you’d refuse.”

I couldn’t speak. They hadn’t misunderstood my answer, they’d anticipated it.

A few minutes later, Tessa, a maternity nurse, arrived.

“Alicia hasn’t been discharged,” she said. “Let’s go upstairs and make sure the team knows your concerns.”

Patricia raised her hands. “Nobody’s taking her today. Neil was bringing her over tomorrow, after they got home.”

“Without telling me.”

“He knew you’d be emotional.”

Tessa stayed beside me.

The elevator opened. Neil stepped out, hair damp from his shower.

“Marlee? What’s going on?”

“Ask your mother.”

“She misunderstood,” Patricia said.

“Did I? You promised Alicia could stay with them?”

Neil glanced at Tessa. “Can we discuss this privately?”

May you like

A Man Married a Woman Three Feet Taller than Him – When Her Mother Broug...

When my mother-in-law brought a step stool to our wedding photographs, I waited for my bride to respond. She did — but her mother'...

Woman's MIL Called Her Son 'Curvy' in Front of 20 Guests – Then the Boy'...

I thought the worst part of my mother-in-law's birthday dinner was watching her humiliate my seven-year-old son in front of 20 rel...

Neighbor Told a Man's Grandma No Man Would Want Her – 6 Months Later, Sh...

My grandma spent years putting everyone else's happiness first. When she finally dared to want something for herself, one neighbor...

“Upstairs,” Tessa said, “if Marlee wants.”

“I do. Patricia isn’t coming.”