day Vanessa was supposed to deliver, I texted her that morning.
No response.
I tried again around lunch.
Nothing.
Then I called.
Straight to voicemail.
Marcus wasn’t answering either.
I told myself not to panic.
Vanessa had warned me that when labor started, she might not want anyone hovering around her.
“She might shut everyone out,” Marcus had joked.
So I tried to believe that was what was happening.
That night, I placed my phone on the pillow beside me.
I barely slept.
At 5:17 the next morning, it rang.
I answered immediately.
“Hello?”
A woman said, “Is this Rick?”
Something in her voice made my stomach tighten before she even identified herself.
“Yes.”
“I’m calling from St. Matthew’s Hospital. Your sister listed you as her emergency contact.”
I sat upright.
“Is Vanessa okay?”
There was a pause.
“Your sister discharged herself approximately six hours ago.”
I stared into
