Holding it up to the light, I smiled.
“She’s going to love it,” I whispered to no one. “She has to.”
I reached for the phone the way I always did on Sundays, knowing there was no guarantee Jason would pick up.
He answered on the fourth ring.
“Hi, Mom. What’s up?”
“Jason, honey, I have a little surprise for Phoebe.”
“I’d like to meet her.”
A pause. A television murmured in the background.
I swallowed the lump rising in my throat. “I’d like to meet her.”
“Mom, you don’t have to do that. Olivia’s parents are here. Her sister too. It’s already a lot.”
The blanket pressed against my chest.
“I won’t be in the way, sweetheart. Just want to hold her once. Just once.”
He sighed the way he always did now. Like I was a chore.
“Do whatever you want. I’ve gotta go.”
