A Mother's Lost Decade

liar sickness

in my stomach had not

ant.

irteen

. Small, tasteless additi

to ensure

is face lit up wit

, Sarah! W

ill-flat stomach,

er watch, cold and distant,

it happen agai

clinic in the phone book,

bits here and there, hid

Michael I was visitin

screet. I filled out the

," I whispered to t

no judgment

the door to the c

ch

him, John

lice officer, but to the clinic director who rushe

ying the most awful things, about our grandchildren. Imagining t

ptain, nodded gravely. "Sh

convincing.

ff looked at m

s that they were the ones who

hael' s arm around me

oud enough for the staff to hear. "We'l

ey met mine, were

husband, the con

as the

m that long-ago accident. That memory felt

at hero be t

m, "What about the babie

gentle, terrible smile and sa

rol was