My mother would never have photographs like those with my son.
She wouldn’t be there for his first Christmas or his first birthday.
She would never get to hear him call her Grandma.
Diane was going to experience all those wonderful things.
And I had wanted to make room for that happiness.
So when she hurried toward us, beaming with excitement, I forced myself to smile.
“There you are!” she exclaimed. “Isn’t everything beautiful?”
I nodded.
“It’s certainly a lot.”
She laughed.
“Oh, I knew you’d love it!”
Before I could respond, she pulled me toward a group of women.
“Everyone, this is Mel!”
Several guests smiled politely.
Then Diane laughed and added,
“And here’s the woman carrying our little miracle!”
A few women chuckled.
I smiled awkwardly.
But before anyone could ask me about the pregnancy, Diane began talking about how wonderful it felt to become a grandmother.
