Ryan opened it.
He looked like a man preparing to hear a sentence he already knew he deserved.
Melissa sat on the couch.
She looked exhausted.
Her face changed the moment she saw Hope in my arms.
Pain.
Love.
Longing.
All of it appeared at once.
I turned toward Ryan.
“Tell her.”
He sat across from his wife.
For several seconds, nothing came out.
Then he began.
“I lost my job four months ago.”
Melissa stared at him.
Ryan continued.
“I never told you. Every morning when you thought I was going to work, I was going to a coffee shop. I’ve been applying for jobs.”
Melissa didn’t move.
“The savings are gone. Most of the nursery went on credit cards.”
Her face became pale.
“You lied to me for four months.”
“Yes.”
“Every day?”
Ryan nodded.
Melissa looked toward Hope.
Then back at him.
“And the hospital?”
