“When you were ready to be born,” I said, “your first dad, Ryan, made a very bad choice. He went on a work trip even though I needed help. Then you decided you were coming fast.”
“I did?”
“You did.”
“Was I early?”
“Determined.”
Eli coughed.
I smiled.
“I called Eli because he lived next door and I needed someone safe. He came right away and took us to the hospital.”
Lily looked at him.
“You saved us?”
Eli set down the knife.
“I helped your mom get to people who saved you both.”
“Was Mommy scared?”
“Yes,” I said.
“Was I scared?”
“You were busy.”
She nodded, accepting that newborns had schedules.
“Was Ryan sorry?”
The question hit with a child’s clean cruelty.
I answered carefully.
“He was sorry about some things later. But sorry does not always fix what happened.”
Lily looked at the mug.
“Is that why we have this house?”
