Three days later, an emergency at one of our company’s facilities forced me to make an unexpected trip to another state.
The timing could not have felt worse.
But my mother quickly offered to stay with Hannah.
“Go take care of your job,” she said warmly. “I’ve raised children before. Your wife just needs guidance.”
Courtney laughed.
“We’ll survive without you for a few days. Stop acting like you’re abandoning her forever.”
Hannah stood quietly beside the hospital bed.
The look in her eyes was begging me not to go.
But I went anyway.
Over the next three days, I called again and again.
Each time, my mother picked up.
She said Hannah was sleeping.
She said Owen was feeding well.
She claimed everything was completely under control.
When Hannah finally came on the phone, her voice sounded faint and terrified.
“Ethan… please come home.”
My stomach clenched.
“What’s wrong?”
Before she could reply, my mother took the phone from her.
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