My husband said he was flying to Denver for work, so I went to my prenatal appointment alone. While waiting outside maternity triage, I saw him rushing down the hall with one arm around a heavily pregnant woman

the wheelchair.

The nurse bent toward her.

“We need to move.”

But Maren shook her head and looked at me.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I honestly thought he told you about me.”

My voice barely worked.

“About you how?”

Adrian closed his eyes.

Maren answered first.

“My name is Maren Cole.”

Cole.

My married name.

Then she put one hand over her stomach, looked at Adrian, and said the word that broke everything open.

“Dad.”

PART 2

“Dad?”

The word hit harder than if Maren had called Adrian “baby.”