After 3 Boys, We Gave Up Our Dream of a Daughter—Then My Husband Called Me to the Hospital and Said, “There’s a Baby Here”

My mother offered to keep the boys overnight while we prepared.

After they left, the house became unbearably quiet.

I walked to the garage.

Turned on the light.

The box was still there.

Above Marcus’s tools.

Exactly where it had been for four years.

I pulled over the aluminum step stool.