Chapter 1 - Three Hours Early

The first thing I saw was my wife's hand over her stomach.

The second was my mother's fist tangled in her hair.

I had come home three hours early with a tiny pink blanket hidden inside a shopping bag. Savannah was twenty-eight weeks pregnant, and for the past two weeks she'd been quieter than usual. I thought she was tired. I thought I could fix the mood with takeout, flowers, and one ridiculous little blanket covered in white stars.

Instead, the bag slipped from my fingers.

"This is my son's house!" my mother shouted. "You don't belong here!"

Savannah was on the living room floor beside the couch, one arm wrapped around her belly, her face wet with tears she clearly didn't want me to see.

"Mom?"

Bernice froze.

Then, like somebody had flipped a switch, her face changed.

She released Savannah's hair and stepped back. "Christopher. Thank God. She fell. I was helping her up."

"Helping her?"

"She's emotional. You know how pregnancy can be."

Savannah stared at the rug.

I dropped to my knees. "Sav, look at me. Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine."

She said it too quickly.

My mother folded her arms. "See? She's fine. She got upset over nothing."

"What happened?"

Savannah's lips parted, but no sound came out.

Then I saw her phone beside her hand. The screen was glowing. The Notes app was open.

At the top, in bold letters, she had written:

IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME OR THE BABY, READ THIS FIRST.

My stomach dropped.

I picked up the phone.

"Christopher," Savannah whispered.

Mom moved toward me. "That is private."

I looked at her.

"How do you know what it is?"

She stopped.

The room went so quiet I could hear the refrigerator humming in the kitchen.

I scrolled.

March 4. Bernice came in while Chris was at work. She said he regrets marrying me.

March 11. She took my spare key after I asked for it back.

March 16. She hid my prenatal bag and told me I was too stupid to be a mother.

March 20. She grabbed my wrist when I refused to sign the papers.

Today. She said if I tell Chris, she will make him believe I am unstable.

I stopped reading.

"What papers?" I asked.

Savannah finally looked up.

My mother answered first.

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"Nothing you need to worry about."

And that was the moment I knew there was much more in my house than a family argument.