"It's such a shame, really. David told me your baby and Pete's birthdays were only six hours apart."
"Your child didn't make it. Mine is alive and thriving."
The corners of her mouth curled upward. Her tone was light, breezy, like she was commenting on the weather.
"Pete is smart, adorable, healthy. Even when he's being a little troublemaker, I can't bring myself to discipline him too hard. What can I say? I'm just lucky. God's been good to me."
She stood, picked up her purse, and walked over to where I sat. She leaned down, her lips close to my ear, and whispered a single sentence.
"You're a woman with no blessings."
She straightened up, and that gentle mask slid right back into place.
"But don't lose heart." She patted my shoulder. "Your blessings are still coming."
The click of her heels faded into the distance.
I sat there, motionless.
Six hours.
Only six hours apart.
The same day.
The same hospital...
General Memorial Hospital?
On the fourth night, Lucinda called. Her voice was shaking with anger.
"Ellie, your... your marriage certificate with David... it's fake."
I thought I'd heard her wrong.
"What... do you mean?"