He pressed the pages to his chest.
For the first time, Mark understood that Emily had not left because of one afternoon.
She had left because the afternoon had revealed what had already been breaking.
The next medical update came two days later.
Grace had gained weight.
Lily had taken more from a bottle.
Hope had opened her eyes during feeding and followed Emily’s voice.
Mark smiled for the first time in weeks.
Then Dr. Henson added, “Mrs. Carter has agreed to a video call. Ten minutes. Tomorrow afternoon. You may see the girls, but she asks that you not discuss the marriage during the call.”
“Yes,” Mark said quickly. “Of course. Anything.”
The next day, he sat at the kitchen table thirty minutes early.
He shaved.
Changed shirts twice.
Set a glass of water beside the laptop and never touched it.
When the call came through, his hand shook before he clicked accept.
