Chapter 12 - Ryan Finally Takes Emma Home
Emma was already home, technically.
But Ryan had not carried her through the front door.
Melissa had.
The memory bothered him.
So six weeks after Emma’s birth, he did something strange.
He asked Melissa to dress her.
Then they drove around the block.
I thought he had lost his mind.
Maybe he had.
They pulled back into the driveway.
Ryan got out.
He opened the rear door.
He lifted Emma from her car seat.
Then he carried her toward the house.
Melissa stood on the porch crying.
Ryan stopped before crossing the threshold.
He looked down at his daughter.
“I’m sorry I got this wrong the first time.”
Emma yawned.
He laughed.
“I know you don’t care.”
Then he carried her inside.
Into the pale-yellow nursery.
Past the stuffed animals.
Past the ridiculous number of books.
Toward the crib he had built months before her birth.
He placed her down.
The crescent mark showed briefly as her onesie shifted.
Ryan saw it.
He did not flinch.
He touched it gently.
Then whispered,
“You don’t scare me anymore.”
Melissa stood beside him.
Ryan corrected himself.
“No.”
May you like
He smiled.
“You never did.”
