They watched every ultrasound as their baby grew.
At the gender reveal, my SIL put her palm flat on my belly and closed her eyes as if she were praying.
« Thank you, » she said. « Ivy, thank you. »
I told her to stop because I was going to ruin my mascara.
They came to every appointment.
They’d bought toys when they found out it was a girl. And two months before the birth, they had me over for dinner and walked me down the hall to show me the nursery.
It had pale green walls and a white crib with a mobile of tiny felt stars.
Melissa opened the top drawer of the changing table. It was full of folded dresses, so small they looked like doll clothes.
« I know it’s silly, » she said, laughing and crying at the same time. « I just couldn’t stop. »
It had pale green walls.
