Chapter 18 - The Second Pregnancy
I hated phrase rainbow baby.
Not because others could not use.
Because I did not want new child assigned job of healing Rowan.
This pregnancy was itself.
Thomas understood.
We told Claire at twelve weeks.
She cried happy.
Then asked:
“Do I have to share bathroom?”
Practical.
Good.
At sixteen weeks, a business columnist published photo from event.
My hand rested on stomach.
Headline mentioned pregnancy.
Dominic saw.
He sent nothing.
I appreciated.
Then at twenty weeks, anatomy scan normal.
I cried through entire.
Thomas asked doctor too many questions.
I laughed.
Then a letter arrived from Dominic through Sophia.
Only if Audrey wants.
I opened.
Congratulations.
Then:
I will not contact again.
That was all.
Good.
Victoria heard in prison.
No letter.
Also good.
Then daughter born.
Elise Avery Monroe? We can name Nora Avery. Let's choose Nora.
Nora arrived healthy.
I held her and felt grief alongside joy.
Rowan did not disappear.
Nora did not replace.
Two truths.
Thomas understood when I cried one night over both.
Then Claire became big sister.
Our family did not need same bloodline to be real.
Thomas already taught.
Then Dominic’s life.
He eventually remarried at forty two to Dana Walsh, a school administrator with a son from previous marriage, Mason, age eight.
I learned years later through company shareholder bio.
Dominic became stepfather.
No biological children.
And apparently he stopped calling that failure.
At first, I felt strange.
Then relieved.
The man who had been raised to worship heir learned family could arrive without his DNA.
That was not reward.
That was growth.
Then Victoria’s release.
She served about five years of six before supervised release based on credits and programs.
She moved to a small but comfortable condo.
No mansion.
She still had personal investments.
Not destitute.
No company authority.
She requested no contact with me.
Surprised.
Her attorney sent:
Mrs. Vance understands Ms. Monroe has not invited contact and will respect that.
Good.
She also did not contact Nora.
Obviously.
Then she reached out to Dominic.
He chose limited relationship.
Boundaries.
Paige.
She rebuilt career in nonprofit communications after years away from corporate work.
No direct connection.
One day I received forwarded article she had written about ethics in reputation management, not naming us.
I did not read fully.
No need.
Then Aster Vale.
My stake in Vance Meridian fell below 20 percent after another employee ownership transaction.
I supported.
The company no longer depended on my control.
That mattered.
My father’s money had saved company.
It did not need to own it forever.
Then Thomas asked:
“Would you ever sell all?”
“Maybe.”
“Would Dominic care?”
“Not my problem.”
He smiled.
Healthy.
Then Nora turned five.
She loved construction cranes.
Of course.
We passed Vance Meridian project site.
She pointed:
“Your company?”
I said:
“Not mine.”
“A little yours?”
I laughed.
“A little.”
Then:
“Can I have it when you die?”
Thomas nearly choked.
I said:
“No automatic empires.”
Nora shrugged.
“Okay.”
Children recover quickly from governance disappointment.
Then a formal envelope arrived.
Victoria Vance requested one mediated meeting.
Not with Nora.
Not Thomas.
With me.
Reason:
To return my mother’s necklace.
I reached for throat.
It wasn’t there.
I thought I had lost necklace the night I fell.
Hospital had not found.
May you like
Victoria had.
And kept it for almost seven years.
