“Go hold your daughter.”
The nurse wrapped the baby and carefully placed her in Ryan’s arms.
I expected him to cry.
I expected
him to smile.
Instead, he stared down at her.
His expression changed.
His shoulders dropped.
And slowly, all the color disappeared from his face.
“Ryan?” I asked. “What’s wrong?”
He didn’t answer.
He carefully shifted the baby in his arms and looked at her lower back.
Melissa was still crying happy tears.
“Let me hold her,” she said. “Give her to me.”
But Ryan didn’t move toward his wife.
He looked at me instead.
Then he swallowed hard and said something I will never forget.
“I’m sorry, but… I CAN’T TAKE HER HOME.”
The entire room went silent.
I thought I had misunderstood him.