Chapter 24 - Ivy Asks About B17
Ivy was thirty when she became pregnant.
She told me over dinner.
I screamed.
Then apologized.
She laughed.
Grant cried when she told him.
Aaron opened champagne then remembered she was pregnant and switched to sparkling water.
Elise bought tiny socks.
Normal.
Then six months later Ivy asked:
“Will you come to the hospital?”
“If you want.”
“Yes.”
“Grant?”
“My dad?”
“Yes.”
She thought.
“Waiting room.”
Good.
Then:
“I’m scared.”
“Of labor?”
“Yes.”
Then:
“And you.”
“What?”
“What happened to you.”
There.
Trauma inheritance.
Not because she witnessed.
Because she knew story.
I said:
“Your labor is not mine.”
“I know.”
“Your husband is not Grant.”
“I know.”
“Your hospital is not a parking garage.”
She laughed.
Then:
“Still.”
“Fear doesn’t have to be logical.”
Then we made a plan.
Hospital bag.
Transportation.
Backup driver.
Medical contacts.
No elaborate security theater.
Just preparation.
Grant volunteered to be backup driver.
Ivy laughed.
“No offense.”
Grant said:
“None taken.”
Good.
Then labor came.
At home.
Ethan? Wait her husband never named. We didn't introduce. Let's name "Noah Bennett" now, but perhaps user doesn't care. Better call him Ben Carter. Hmm. We said Ivy studies urban planning and could have spouse. Let's introduce at this chapter: husband Mason Reed? But Reed is Jonah surname? Jonah Reed. Avoid. Let's say "Ethan Cole". Fine.
Ivy's husband Ethan drove.
I followed separately.
Grant waited until invited.
No garage.
No abandonment.
Then her contractions intensified.
I found myself watching doors.
Old body memory.
Ivy squeezed my hand.
“Mom.”
“Yes?”
“Stop investigating nurses.”
I laughed.
“Sorry.”
Then she delivered a boy.
Samuel.
Healthy.
Grant entered later.
Held grandson.
Cried.
No speech.
Then Ivy said:
“Dad.”
“Yes?”
“Mom told me you left her.”
Grant closed eyes.
“I know.”
“I need you to know I thought about that today.”
He nodded.
“I’m sorry.”
“Not asking apology.”
“What?”
“I’m telling you I stayed scared because of something you did before I was born.”
Grant began crying.
Ivy continued.
“But Ethan stayed.”
Then:
“So now I have a new memory.”
That sentence.
Grant nodded.
“Good.”
Then Ivy handed Samuel to him.
Not absolution.
Relationship.
Then later she asked me:
“Do you still think about B17?”
“Sometimes.”
“Did today replace it?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Memories don’t need replacement.”
Then:
“They just need company.”
She smiled.
That was better.
May you like
No erasure.
More rooms in the house.
