Chapter 4: Camille Signs Her Own Invitation

On Friday evening, Camille sets a white box on my dining table and opens it beside the bowl where I keep spare keys.

Inside are embroidered fabric swatches, two folded cards, and a cream ribbon printed with a gold monogram that belongs to no child yet.

Adrian stands behind her with his coat still buttoned.

He has brought the posture he uses for investors.

Calm shoulders.

Open hands.

"Please stop making the pregnancy harder than it already is," Camille says.

I look at the ribbon.

"I was under the impression pregnancy involved more physical difficulty than my facial expression."

Camille's smile holds a second too long.

Adrian takes the chair opposite mine.

He does not sit until Camille does.

They have rehearsed the arrangement.

"We came to talk about the house," he says.

"And about what happens next."

"You came to my house with nursery samples."

"Our future has changed."

"Your future has changed. The house is still in my name."

His mouth tightens before the smile returns.

The dining room is exactly as I left it on Monday morning.

A stack of patient charts sits beside the fruit bowl.

A mug of black coffee has gone to a dry brown ring near the window.

Camille touches the ribbon.

"I thought you might want to see that we are trying to handle this with some dignity."

"You brought monogrammed stationery to my dining table."

"For the baby."

"An ambitious child. It has not arrived and already has correspondence."

Camille's laugh comes out on schedule.

Adrian does not join it.

He looks at the bruise near my temple, then at the stitches hidden in my hair.

He has seen the hospital photographs in the emergency file.

"You should be resting," he says.

"I did rest. The rural hospital recommended it. They also recommended that people not sign death identifications when dental records disagree."

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