The Envelope She Couldn’t Hide

Then: “Those results showed a complication. A serious one.”

My chest tightened again.

“What kind?”

“Placental instability,” she said. “High risk of abruption. We flagged it as urgent. I told Sarah she needed to be monitored closely. If she experienced pain or fluid leakage, she was to call 911 immediately.”

I closed my eyes.

“She did,” I whispered. “My mother told her not to.”

Silence.

Then, carefully: “Michael… your mother contacted me earlier today.”

My eyes snapped open.

“What?”

“She asked for a copy of the results,” Dr. Crane said. “She claimed she was helping coordinate care.”

“That doesn’t make any sense.”

“No,” the doctor agreed quietly. “It doesn’t.”