At My Baby Shower He Celebrated Another Woman’s Child Chapter 05
Graham searched the hospital and every place we had ever been together, but he found no trace of me.
He called my number again and again until it went straight to a disconnected service message.
“Don’t be like this,” Sadie said softly, holding Clara. “Nora just needs time. Right now, the most important thing is the family trust confirmation luncheon for Clara’s first birthday.”
Brooke nodded in agreement. “Once the luncheon is over and she’s had time to calm down, you can go explain.”
Graham stared at the empty hospital bed, his voice hoarse.
“After the ceremony, I’m cutting all ties with Sadie. I’m bringing Nora home. I’ll spend the rest of my life making this up to her.”
Sadie’s face paled, and she lowered her eyes to hide the chilling resolve in them.
Make it up to me?
After losing my child, after being branded as insane by everyone I had ever loved, how could I possibly come back?
As long as Clara was officially entered into the Mercer family trust, Sadie would have won.
And I was living in June’s apartment on the outskirts of the city.
I held the keepsake card the hospital had given me. On it, two tiny, perfect purple footprints sat side by side. In the name field, the nurse had written: *Iris Mercer*.
My tears fell onto the card, blurring the ink at the corner.
June didn’t tell me to be strong or to let it go.
She just picked up my medication on time, cooked meals I didn’t eat, contacted lawyers, and kept a quiet vigil outside my door.
In college, she’d been my best friend. After graduation, she became an independent investigative reporter, and we’d drifted apart. But the moment she got that call from the social worker, she had dropped everything and driven through the night.
“Whatever you want to do, I’m with you,” she said. “But first, you have to stay alive.”
I wiped my tears and carefully put the card away.