Chapter 1 — The Woman in the Next Bed
Chapter 1 — The Woman in the Next Bed
The first thing I noticed about the woman in the bed beside mine was that she never looked frightened.
Everyone else in the maternity ward looked frightened.
The young woman across the hall cried every time a nurse entered her room. A husband in the corridor kept pacing between the vending machines and the elevators. Somewhere behind the closed doors of the delivery suite, a woman screamed through another contraction.
But the woman beside the window looked as though she had checked into a luxury hotel.
Her dark hair was perfectly curled.
Her silk robe was spotless.
Her nails were painted a pale pink.
Even the water bottle beside her bed had been placed at precisely the right angle.
She glanced at me over the edge of her phone.
"You don't belong here."
I blinked.
"What?"
She looked toward my canvas overnight bag.
Then at my hospital gown.
Then back at me.
"You look too normal."
I almost laughed.
"I've been here for six hours."
"Exactly."
She returned to her phone.
"My name is Simone."
"Leah."
She gave me a faint smile.
"Nice to meet you."
There was something strange about the way she said it.
As though she already knew who I was.
I had been admitted to Briar Glen Maternity Pavilion earlier that afternoon after Dr. Celia Rusk found something concerning on my ultrasound.
The baby was measuring slightly small.
My placenta was low.
Nothing was immediately dangerous, but Dr. Rusk wanted me monitored.
"Better to be cautious," she'd said.
I had agreed.
Then I'd called Nathan.
He had arrived forty minutes later with Doreen.
My husband had looked worried.
My mother-in-law had looked pleased.
That difference bothered me more than I wanted to admit.
Doreen had stood beside my bed and kissed my forehead.
"Don't worry, sweetheart. You're exactly where you need to be."
Her hand had immediately gone to my stomach.
I moved away.
She noticed.
Of course she noticed.
Doreen Carver noticed everything.
Especially things she believed belonged to her.
"How is he?" she had asked.
I looked at the ultrasound image.
"They think he's fine."
"Good."
She smiled.
"He's going to be a Carver."
The way she said it made my skin prickle.
I corrected her gently.
"He's going to be ours."
Her smile remained.
But her eyes changed.
"Of course."
Nathan had looked between us.
"Mom, Leah needs rest."
"Yes."
Doreen had picked up her handbag.
"I'll let you two be alone."
She leaned down before leaving.
"Try not to worry about the future."
I had looked at her.
"What do you mean?"
She smiled.
"Nothing."
Then she left.
Nathan kissed my forehead.
"She's just nervous."
"She's been acting strange."
"She's always strange."
I smiled.
"You married into that family."
He laughed.
"I know."
Then he left to get coffee.
He never came back for nearly two hours.
I didn't know why.
I wouldn't understand until much later.
That evening, the hospital lights dimmed.
I lay awake, one hand resting on my stomach.
The baby moved.
A small kick.
I smiled.
"Hi."
Another kick.
"You're keeping Mommy awake."
Across the room, Simone laughed softly.
I looked over.
She was watching me.
"First baby?"
"Yes."
"Boy?"
I nodded.
"How did you know?"
She shrugged.
"You've got the look."
"What look?"
"The terrified one."
I laughed.
"I am terrified."
"You should be."
Her answer was so blunt that I stopped smiling.
"Why?"
She stared at the ceiling.
"Because nobody tells you how much changes after the baby arrives."
I waited.
She didn't continue.
"Do you have children?"
"No."
"Is this your first?"
She looked at me.
"Yes."
Something in her voice made me uncomfortable.
I decided not to ask more.
Instead, I said:
"How far along are you?"
"Thirty-five weeks."
"You look great."
"I've had a lot of help."
"What kind?"
She looked toward the door.
"Money."
Then she laughed.
"Lots of money."
Before I could respond, her phone rang.
She looked at the screen.
The color drained from her face.
She declined the call.
A few seconds later, it rang again.
She declined it again.
Then she whispered:
"Not now."
I pretended not to notice.
She noticed me pretending.
"Don't worry."
"I'm not."
"Good."
She put the phone under her pillow.
Then she looked at me.
"What's your husband's name?"
"Nathan."
Her expression changed.
Just for a second.
"You said Nathan?"
"Yes."
She looked away.
"Nothing."
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Do you know him?"
"No."
She was lying.
I knew it immediately.
At 9:16 p.m., Doreen returned.
She entered carrying a small paper bag.
"I brought you something."
I looked inside.
A baby blanket.
White cashmere.
Beautiful.
Expensive.
Too expensive.
"It's lovely."
"Handmade."
She placed it beside my bed.
"For the baby."
"Thank you."
Doreen smiled.
"You're welcome."
Her eyes moved toward Simone.
Simone immediately picked up her phone.
Doreen watched her for several seconds.
Then looked back at me.
"How are you feeling?"
"Fine."
"Any anxiety?"
I frowned.
"No."
"Sleep problems?"
"Not really."
"Feeling overwhelmed?"
"No."
She nodded.
"Good."
Something about the questions bothered me.
"Why are you asking?"
Doreen looked surprised.
"Because I'm concerned."
"I'm fine."
"Of course."
She sat down.
Then she said:
"You know, Leah, motherhood can be overwhelming."
"I know."
"And some women struggle after delivery."
"I know."
"Sometimes they don't realize they're struggling."
I stared at her.
"What are you trying to say?"
She smiled.
"Nothing."
Again.
Nothing.
That word was beginning to frighten me.
Doreen left at 10:03.
Nathan arrived twenty minutes later.
He kissed me.
"How are you?"
"Fine."
"You look tired."
"I am."
He sat beside me.
I studied his face.
"Did my mother ask you something?"
His eyes flickered.
"No."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"She was asking me strange questions."
"She's worried."
"She asked whether I was anxious."
Nathan shrugged.
"Everyone knows pregnancy can affect your emotions."
I stared at him.
"Why does everyone keep talking about my emotions?"
He looked uncomfortable.
"Because you're pregnant."
"That doesn't answer my question."
He stood.
"I'm getting some sleep."
"You're leaving?"
"I have work in the morning."
"You just got here."
He sighed.
"Leah."
"What?"
"Not everything is a conspiracy."
I didn't answer.
He leaned down.
"I love you."
Then he kissed me.
But for some reason, I couldn't feel the love in it.
Only fear.
At 11:41, Nathan left.
At 11:52, Simone's phone buzzed.
She looked at it.
Then she looked at me.
"Leah."
"Yes?"
"Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Have you signed any guardianship documents?"
My heart skipped.
"What?"
"Guardianship."
"No."
"Anything giving someone else temporary authority over your baby?"
"No."
She looked relieved.
"Good."
"Why are you asking?"
She didn't answer immediately.
Then she turned her phone toward me.
There was a message.
Is the Carver woman still refusing the arrangement?
I stared.
"What arrangement?"
"I don't know."
"Who sent it?"
"Unknown number."
"Why would they call me the Carver woman?"
She looked at me.
"I don't think they're talking about you."
I frowned.
"Then who?"
She swallowed.
"Your baby."
My blood went cold.
The door opened.
Doreen stood there.
She looked at Simone.
Then at me.
Then at the phone in my hand.
"What are you doing?"
Simone quickly locked the screen.
"Nothing."
Doreen smiled.
"Good."
She walked to my bed.
"Leah, I need to talk to you."
"About what?"
"Your delivery plan."
"My doctor already discussed it with me."
"Yes."
She sat down.
"But doctors don't always understand family circumstances."
I stared at her.
"What circumstances?"
She leaned closer.
"Nathan is worried."
"About what?"
"You."
My heart began pounding.
"Why?"
"You've been under a lot of stress."
"I'm fine."
"Of course you believe that."
I looked at her.
"What does that mean?"
Doreen sighed.
"Leah, nobody is accusing you of anything."
"You keep saying that."
"Because you keep becoming defensive."
I laughed.
"Because you're treating me like I'm sick."
Her eyes hardened.
Only for a second.
Then she smiled.
"Get some rest."
She stood.
At the door, she turned.
"Oh."
"Yes?"
"If anyone asks you to sign paperwork tonight, don't."
I stared.
"Why?"
She smiled.
"Because you should read everything carefully."
Then she left.
I looked at Simone.
She was pale.
"Did you hear that?"
"Yes."
"What does she mean?"
Simone shook her head.
"I don't know."
But she did.
I could see it.
She knew something.
At 1:13 a.m., I woke from another nightmare.
The same river.
The same impossible sky.
Nathan standing with my baby.
Doreen watching.
The water rising.
I woke gasping.
My hand flew to my stomach.
Then I remembered.
I wasn't dreaming about the baby anymore.
He was already inside me.
Still safe.
Still moving.
I whispered:
"Mommy's here."
A soft kick answered.
I smiled.
Then I heard footsteps in the hallway.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Someone stopped outside our room.
The door opened.
A nurse entered.
Not Mae.
Another nurse.
She carried a clipboard.
"Leah Carver?"
"Yes."
"I need you to sign something."
My stomach tightened.
"What?"
She placed the clipboard on the tray.
"Temporary medical authorization."
"For what?"
She smiled.
"Just standard paperwork."
I looked at the document.
The first line read:
POSTPARTUM CAPACITY ASSESSMENT AND TEMPORARY GUARDIANSHIP AUTHORIZATION
My heart stopped.
"I don't want to sign this."
The nurse's smile disappeared.
"You should."
"Why?"
"Because your husband requested it."
I stared at her.
"Nathan?"
"Yes."
I pushed the clipboard away.
"No."
The nurse sighed.
"You're making this harder than it needs to be."
The door opened.
Mae stood there.
She looked at the document.
Then at me.
Then at the nurse.
"Leave."
The other nurse stiffened.
"Mae—"
"I said leave."
The nurse grabbed the clipboard.
She walked out.
Mae locked the door.
Then she turned toward me.
"Listen carefully."
My heart was pounding.
"What?"
Mae looked toward the hallway.
"Your husband signed something today."
"What?"
She lowered her voice.
"Something that could allow your mother-in-law to take temporary custody of your baby."
I couldn't breathe.
"Why?"
Mae's eyes filled with fear.
"Because they are preparing to say you're not mentally stable."
I stared at her.
"No."
"I'm sorry."
"No."
I shook my head.
"Nathan wouldn't do that."
Mae didn't answer.
That silence told me everything.
Then she said:
"Leah, you need to trust me."
I nodded slowly.
"What do I do?"
Mae looked toward the bassinet.
"Stay calm."
She took a breath.
"Because tomorrow, they're going to try to take your baby."
I didn't sleep again.
At 5:30 a.m., Nathan arrived.
He smiled when he saw me.
"Morning."
I stared at him.
He stopped.
"What's wrong?"
I asked:
"What did you sign?"
His face went completely still.
"What?"
"Guardianship."
He didn't answer.
"Nathan."
"I didn't—"
"You did."
He looked at Mae.
She stepped out.
The door closed.
Nathan sat beside me.
"Leah."
"Tell me the truth."
He rubbed his face.
"It's temporary."
My chest tightened.
"You signed it."
"Mom said—"
"You signed it."
"She was worried."
"About what?"
"About you."
I laughed.
"You don't trust me."
"That's not what this is."
"Then what is it?"
He looked down.
"After the baby comes, if you're overwhelmed—"
"Stop."
He stopped.
I looked at him.
"You're not taking my child."
"No one is taking your child."
"Then why did you sign?"
He had no answer.
I leaned back against the pillow.
"Get out."
"Leah—"
"Get out."
He stood.
Before leaving, he whispered:
"I love you."
I looked at the door.
"I don't know what love means to you anymore."
He walked away.
The door closed.
Mae appeared again.
Her face was grim.
"Leah."
"What?"
She looked at the clock.
Then at the hallway.
"They've started."
"Who?"
"Your mother-in-law."
"What is she doing?"
Mae swallowed.
"She's already called the psychiatrist."
I felt the baby move.
One small kick.
I put my hand over him.
Then I looked at Mae.
"What happens now?"
Mae walked to the bassinet.
She unlocked the wheels.
"Now you and your baby disappear."
My heart raced.
"Where?"
She opened an unmarked door at the end of the corridor.
"Somewhere they won't think to look."
I followed her.
She pushed the bassinet inside.
Then she looked directly into my eyes.
"Whatever you hear outside this door..."
She locked it.
"...do not come out."
I stared at her.
"Even if your husband calls your name?"
Mae's eyes filled with tears.
"Especially then."
Footsteps approached.
Mae stepped away.
The door closed.
I heard voices.
Doreen.
Nathan.
And then my mother-in-law said the words that made my blood run cold:
"Once the psychiatric hold is signed, the baby leaves with family."
Nathan whispered:
"And Leah?"
Doreen answered:
"Leah doesn't get a choice."
I covered my son's tiny body with my arms.
Outside the locked door, the footsteps stopped.
Then Nathan called my name.
"Leah?"
I held my breath.
He knocked.
"Leah, open the door."
I didn't move.
Doreen's voice came next.
"She's probably confused."
Then Nathan whispered:
"Mom, what if she heard us?"
Doreen answered calmly.
"Then we make sure nobody believes her."
I closed my eyes.
For the first time since I had married Nathan, I understood something terrifying.
The man outside that door wasn't coming to save me.
May you like
He was coming to take my child.
And somewhere beyond that locked door, the people I trusted were already deciding how to make sure no one ever believed my version of what happened.
