TWO!

MABEL

I didn't even realize I had stood up.

My chest felt tight. My legs wobbled. My baby, my own baby, was lying there in her arms like he belonged to her.

He looked so peaceful. So still.

And I felt like I was choking.

“What do you think you are doing?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

“What do you think she's doing?” Claire walked deeper into the room, I didn't even realize she was in here.

I looked at Hailey, she gave me a smirk, and raised her head up with pride as she rocked my son in her arms.

“She is keeping your son happy,” Claire said. “A job you fail to do.”

My body tensed immediately after hearing the cruel truth. I gritted my teeth and didn't let it all get me down. I could fix that. I loved my son so much, and no one could deny my connection to him.

“You have no idea what my job is,” I said to her, keeping an eye on my son as he laughed with Hailey.

My shoulders dropped as I looked at them. He has never done that with me. All he does is cry whenever he is with me.

I turned to Claire, my fists clenched at my sides. “You have no idea what my job is,” I said, each word tight in my throat. “Not like you would know. You haven’t been around.”

Something flickered in her eyes, guilt, maybe. But it vanished in an instant, swept away by her usual cold stare.

“I had better things to do than watch you play house with my son,” she snapped.

“Your job is simple. Look presentable. Keep the Hoss name clean. And raise the child right.”

Hailey shifted the baby in her arms, her smile stretching wider. I could see it, the satisfaction in her eyes. She loved this. She loved watching me fall apart while she played the savior.

My baby let out a tiny laugh in her arms, and I felt something inside me tear. I thought of holding my chest, like it would prevent me from falling apart

“I want him back,” I said instead

Hailey’s head tilted, like she hadn’t heard me clearly.

I stepped forward. “I said, give me my son.”

She gave a soft sigh. “Mabel, he just calmed down. Maybe you should…”

“I should, what?” I snapped.

“Hold off till he has fallen asleep,” she said softly, and I scoffed.

“I won't say it a second time, hand him over,” she tightened her grip over my son, and I lunged at her. Ready to do whatever was necessary.

“Now.”

That came out harsher than I intended, but I didn't care. She was coming between me, and my child.

Her eyes narrowed, but she handed him over, slowly, like I was about to break him.

The moment his little body was back in my arms, he started to scream. Loud and sharp. Like I was hurting him just by holding him.

I froze.

His tiny face scrunched in anger, fists waving, legs kicking.

I looked down at him, and all I could think was: He hates me. My own baby hates me.

“He needs a real mother,” Claire said under her breath.

I looked up, stunned. “Excuse me?”

But she was already walking toward the door, grabbing her purse like we were done here.

Hailey stepped beside me. She didn’t look at me, just at the baby.

“You should get some rest, Mabel,” she said gently. “You look… tired.”

I wanted to slap that sweetness off her face.

They left me there like that , in that cold doctor’s office, rocking a baby who wouldn’t stop crying, and wondering if I was really meant to be his mother at all.

I clutched my son tighter while he was still crying. Tears silently streamed down my face while seeing my baby feel unrest in my arms. I didn't know if I would be able to muster up the courage to win him back the next time I saw him prefer Hailey.

Every time I tried to get him to recognize me as his mother, it was like a battle; the last thing I wanted was to cause my son pain. Things shouldn't be like this. But I had no idea what the problem was.

At night I stood in the nursery doorway and watched him sleep.

He looked peaceful now. Soft cheeks. Little fingers curled around the blanket. Like the screaming never happened.

I should have felt better. Relieved.

But I didn’t. Because it wasn’t me who got him to sleep. It was Claire.

She swooped in like some damn baby whisperer the second we got home, cradled him, hummed some old lullaby, and he was out in less than five minutes.

Me? I’d been trying for hours. I pressed a hand to my chest. It felt empty.

Like there was a hole growing deeper every day. I heard the door creak.

I turned, expecting the nanny. But no. It was Ethan.

My husband. My absentee husband. Ever since I gave birth to our son, he has found one reason or the other to get out of the country on his so-called business.

Yes, his business demands he travels, but not at the expense of his wife, and newborn baby.

He looked tired. Hands in his pockets. Hair messy like he ran his fingers through it too much.

He hadn’t even texted he was back. I straightened. “You’re home.”

He nodded. Didn’t smile.

“Your mother put him to sleep,” I said, nodding at the crib.

He stepped in, glanced at his son with so much love in his eyes. I haven't seen that look in a long time.

Then his eyes met mine. “You okay?”

Was I okay? Was I okay?

I wanted to laugh, or cry. Or scream. But all I said was, “I’m fine.”

He nodded again. Like we were strangers. Like I was someone he bumped into at a gas station.

But I wasn’t just some woman to him. I was his. I still am, right?

Or… maybe that’s just what I keep telling myself so I don’t fall apart.

We used to be so in love, wild, and intense, not caring about whatever people said about us, not even his mother.

But all that changed when Hailey dropped back into our life like a hurricane.

Suddenly she was the best friend I had never heard about. I thought I was his best friend.

He cupped my face, both hands holding me like I was something fragile. His fingers trembled a little. He always did that when he was nervous.

Then he kissed me.

Soft. Familiar. Like he hadn’t left. Like he still loved me.

And I let him.

My body gave in before my brain had a chance to argue. I sighed into his lips, leaning into him like I had been holding my breath for too long.

God, I missed this. Missed him.

Missed us. But then… Why now?

Why did it feel like he was kissing me… but thinking of someone else?

He pulled away, just enough to breathe.

“Hailey told me he cried a lot today,” he said. My heart stopped.

Of course. Even now, even here, her name had to come up.

I pulled back slowly. “She shouldn’t be telling you anything about my child.”

His voice came out flat. “He’s my child too.” That was it. That’s all he had to say.

And suddenly, I felt cold again.

His hands were still on my skin… but I had never felt more alone.

“I’m tired, Ethan,” I whispered, drawing away.

He looked at me, finally really looked.

And then he said, “Then maybe Hailey should stay here for a while. Help you out.”

“What?!” I replied in huge shock.