By the window, Olivia’s mother, Margaret, sat in a chair holding a cup of coffee that had long gone cold. Her eyes never left the baby, as if she were guarding something priceless.
“Have you decided on a name yet?” Margaret asked gently.
Olivia parted her lips to answer.
But before she could speak, her phone vibrated on the bedside table.
The sudden sound felt loud in the quiet room.
She frowned and reached for it.
Today she expected calls from hospital staff, insurance agents, maybe friends.
But the name on the screen made her breath catch.
Daniel Hayes.
For several seconds, she simply stared.
Six months.
Six months since the divorce had been finalized.
Six months since she last heard his voice.
Six months since the man she had loved for seven years had looked at her coldly and said,
“I’m not ready to ruin my life with a baby.”
Her thumb hovered above the screen.
“Who is it?” Margaret asked.
Olivia swallowed.
“Daniel.”
Her mother’s expression hardened immediately.
“You don’t have to answer that.”
Olivia knew that.
But curiosity… anger… and a piece of grief that still hadn’t faded pushed her finger to tap the screen.
She answered.
“Why are you calling me?”