The nursery smelled faintly of fresh paint and soft linen. I stood in the center of the room, slowly turning in a circle, taking in every detail Daddy had carefully chosen. The crib, the rocking chair, the shelves lined with tiny neutral colored clothes. Everything was perfect. Everything was waiting.

I placed both hands on my belly and felt a strong kick in response. A small smile tugged at my lips despite the heaviness in my chest.

Daddy appeared in the doorway, watching me quietly for a moment before stepping inside. He had been giving me more space lately not freedom, but the illusion of it. He crossed the room...