Twelve Months Later, Ethan Came Back With a Sleeping Newborn and a Broken Suitcase

He came in sideways so the suitcase wouldn’t hit the frame.

Water ran off his sleeves onto the hall floor and made three dark coins by his shoes.

“Lock it,” he said again.

“The chain too.”

I turned the deadbolt.

I slid the chain into its track.

The baby made a small sound inside the blanket, a cat sound, and Ethan shifted her higher against his chest.

“Whose baby is this?” I asked.