Chapter 3

After I packed the last suitcase, I went to St. Mary's Hospital.

My mother was still in her room.

She was propped up against her pillow, holding a tiny pair of baby mittens she had just finished knitting. When she saw me come in, she smiled and waved me over.

"Come here. Look. How'd these turn out?"

She held the mittens up in front of me and studied the pattern closely.

"I hope the little one likes them. Oh, did today's checkup results come back?"

"Show me. I'll feel better once I see."

The knife in my hand stopped for a moment over the apple I was peeling.

My loose coat hid my flat stomach. I lowered my head and tried to make my voice sound normal.

"Everything's fine. The doctor said the baby's healthy."

Then I quickly changed the subject.

"How are you feeling, Mom? Did the doctor say when you can go home?"

She waved it off, still smiling.

"It's nothing serious. The doctor just wants to keep an eye on me a few more days."

"Who knows? Once I meet my grandbaby, I'll probably feel brand new."

She set the little mittens on the bed. Then she suddenly glanced at the door.

"Where's Alessandro? Why didn't he come with you?"

My fingers tightened, and the apple peel snapped against the blade.

"He's got some family business to handle. He couldn't get away today."

My mother didn't ask anything else. She only told me to be careful on the way home.

I sat with her a little longer. Then I made an excuse that I had something to do and hurried out of the room.

When I got back to the Vittore estate, I found the front door not quite closed.

A bad feeling rose in me. I pushed it open. There was no one in the living room.

It wasn't until I got close to the nursery that I heard laughter coming from inside.

The door was wide open. The baby clothes I had packed so neatly had been dug through and thrown everywhere.

A few tiny shoes lay on the rug. Even the decorations above the crib had been torn down.

Serena was standing by the crib with her foot on the edge of the mattress, putting a pale yellow baby hat on her own head.

She turned this way and that in the mirror, then spun around to Alessandro, excited.

"Alessandro, look. Isn't this so cute on me? I feel like a little baby."

Alessandro stood beside her, smiling, and ruffled her hair.

"Of course it's cute. When are you ever not?"

Only then did he notice me standing in the doorway. His smile faded a little.

"Oh. You're back."

I looked at the mess all over the floor and didn't say anything.

He reached over and fixed the brim of Serena's hat.

"Her follow-up didn't go great today."

"The doctor just changed her treatment plan. Her moods might swing for a while. Someone should be around to keep an eye on her."

He paused. Then he went on. "So starting today, she's staying here."

I thought I heard him wrong.

"Staying where?"

Alessandro pointed around the room.

"Here. It gets good light, and it's close to our room. Redo the nursery and turn it into a guest room for her."

"The baby's not coming for a while. We don't need it yet."

A chill went through my whole body. Even my fingertips started to shake.

"Alessandro!"

I almost screamed his name.

"If she wants a hotel, she can have the best suite in the city. I'll pay for it."

"There are so many empty rooms in this house. Why this one? Put her somewhere else!"

He frowned. He clearly thought I was overreacting.

"It's just a room. Seriously?"

"Everything in here is for the baby!"

I looked at the little clothes thrown on the floor, and the tears were already rising.

Alessandro's face darkened.

"It's just baby stuff. If it gets ruined, we'll buy more."

"Serena needs somewhere quiet right now. The doctor said she can't be upset."

"She's just starting to get better. Can't you give a little for once?"

I stood there, swaying. I could barely hear the rest of what he said.

"Those things are..."

"Okay. Enough."

He obviously didn't want to keep arguing.

"After the baby's born, we'll get better stuff. You don't need to make everybody miserable over a few things."

My eyes burned. I finally worked up the courage to say it.

"Alessandro, our baby is already..."

"Hey, what's this?"

Serena suddenly picked something up from beside the nightstand.

My blood ran cold.

It was a small picture frame. Inside was the first ultrasound photo the hospital had given me.

The doctor's note with the date of the scan was tucked into the corner. It was the most precious thing I had left of my baby.

I lunged toward her.

"Put it down! Don't touch that!"

Serena jumped at my voice. Her hand froze in midair. Then she put on an innocent face.

"Whoa. Why are you yelling all of a sudden?"

She looked down at the frame and said carefully:

"I was just curious what it was. If you don't like it, I'll put it back."

"I said put it down!"

But the next second, her hand slipped.

The silver frame fell from her palm and hit the floor. The glass cover shattered.

The ultrasound photo slid out and drifted down next to the rug.

My mind went completely blank.

In that photo, my baby was nothing but a tiny, blurry shadow.

But it was the only thing I could pull out and look at, over and over, whenever the fear of my pregnancy got to be too much.

I rushed at Serena to push her away.

But before I could touch her, a large hand clamped down hard on my wrist.

Alessandro stepped in front of Serena. His face was terrifyingly dark.

"Have you lost your mind? She didn't do it on purpose, and you're going to hit her?"

I struggled to pull my hand free.

"She broke my things!"

He glanced at the broken glass and the photo on the floor. His frown deepened, and he sounded irritated.

"It's an old picture frame. Why are you losing it over that?"

"If you like it so much, I'll have someone get you a new one."

I stared at him. The tears finally fell.

I knelt by the rug, carefully avoided the shards, and picked up the photo.

My fingers were shaking so hard I could barely hold the paper.

"Alessandro, this isn't just any picture..."

I looked up. My voice was in pieces.

"This is our..."

Serena suddenly burst into tears.

"It's all my fault! Alessandro, don't fight with her because of me!"

She covered her face, her shoulders shaking as she sobbed.

"I shouldn't have moved in. I shouldn't have touched her stuff."

"I'll go right now... I only ever make things harder for you guys anyway!"

She turned and ran for the door.

"Serena!"

Alessandro barely hesitated. He let go of my wrist, grabbed his jacket, and went after her.

He didn't even look at me again.

I knelt on the floor, clutching the ultrasound photo, now creased from being stepped on. My lips trembled again and again before I finally forced out the last few words.

"...our baby."

Behind me, the door slammed shut.

The nursery fell back into dead silence.