“You are twenty-four weeks pregnant,” she explained. “I need you to stay off your feet as much as possible, beginning immediately. Strict bed rest gives us the best chance of delaying delivery.”
Daniel leaned toward her.
“For the rest of the pregnancy?”
“For as long as it remains safe for Helen to carry the babies.”
I looked at Daniel.
“We need to cancel the cruise.”
He loosened his tie and glanced toward the brochure tucked inside his briefcase.
“We do not have to decide immediately.”
“I do,” I said. “I am carrying three babies, and my doctor has ordered bed rest. There is no trip.”
Daniel said nothing during the drive home. An hour later, I heard the closet door close and the sound of a suitcase zipper. He appeared in the hallway carrying his luggage.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“Packing.”
“For what?”
“The cruise leaves in three days.”
For a moment, I thought he was joking.
“You cannot be serious.”
He placed the suitcase on the floor and rubbed his face.
“Helen, listen to me before you get upset.”
“Before I get upset?”
“This trip was supposed to be the one good thing we had,” he said. “Everything has become bills, stress, and problems. Now there is this.”
I rested my hand over my stomach.
“These are our children, Daniel.”
