She had been practicing for months.

PART 16

Oliver arrived on a cool morning after a closely monitored delivery.

The doctors had prepared us for complications, and Chloe had made her preferences clear with the care team beforehand.

Nothing about the experience was easy, but when a nurse finally placed the baby close enough for Chloe to see him, the expression on my daughter’s face made the whole room quiet for me.

“He’s real,” she whispered.