A card still stood between them.
Congratulations, Mark and Emily! Three little miracles!
He had not even known whether they were boys or girls.
A strange embarrassment moved through him.
Not the embarrassment of being judged by strangers.
Something quieter.
Something heavier.
He stepped away from the nurse and called Emily.
The phone rang four times.
Voicemail.
He called again.
Voicemail.
Then Claire.
She answered immediately.
“What?”
Mark closed his eyes.
“Claire.”
“No.”
“Please.”
“I said no.”
“I’m at the hospital. Emily’s gone.”
There was silence on the other end.
He could hear traffic behind Claire.
“Where is she?”
“She asked me not to tell you.”
“Claire, I’m her husband.”
“And four days ago she was asking strangers to call you while doctors were preparing her for surgery.”
Mark glanced at the nurse.
“I didn’t know.”
Claire laughed once, but there was no humor in it.
“You turned your phone off.”
“I thought—”
“What did you think?”
Mark had an answer prepared.
He had rehearsed it in the elevator.
My phone died.
It had been a misunderstanding.
Emily worried too much.
He had been nearby.
Nothing could have changed in forty minutes.
Suddenly every excuse sounded childish.
“I thought I had more time.”
Claire became very quiet.
“So did she.”
The words landed harder than shouting would have.
Mark leaned against the wall.
“How are the babies?”
“Safe.”
“Healthy?”
“They need follow-up appointments. Emily needs rest. That’s all I’m telling you.”
“Are they still in the hospital?”
Another pause.
“Goodbye, Mark.”
“Claire, wait.”
The call ended.
Mark stared at the screen.
Then another notification appeared.
A voicemail.
From Dr. Patel’s office.
It had been left on Tuesday morning.
Mark pressed play.
“Mr. Carter, this is Dr. Naomi Patel calling regarding Emily. She has authorized us to leave a limited message. She is stable. The babies are receiving appropriate care. Emily has asked that all medical decisions and discharge planning go through her designated support person, Claire Bennett. Please contact Emily directly regarding any family arrangements.”
Mark listened without moving.
Designated support person.
Claire.
