Chapter 17 - The birth
Our daughter arrived at thirty-nine weeks and two days.
Healthy.
Six pounds, eleven ounces.
We named her:
Maeve Price Hale.
Price because I wanted my family name included.
Dorian objected initially.
Then withdrew the objection through counsel.
He was notified after delivery.
Not invited into the delivery room.
Was that legal?
Medical decisions during labor belonged to me as the patient.
He did not have an automatic right to attend.
After Maeve was born and medically stable, the hospital social worker asked about discharge safety.
I was going to my father’s house for two weeks.
Not Clement Street.
Dorian requested to see Maeve at hospital.
I agreed to one supervised visit.
Why?
He was still her father unless and until a court decided otherwise.
He entered.
Washed his hands.
Sat.
I held Maeve.
He cried.
That complicated everything.
People who do terrible things can love the people they harm.
I did not hand him the baby immediately.
After ten minutes, I allowed him to hold her while the social worker remained.
He whispered:
“I’m sorry.”
I said:
“Not here.”
May you like
He nodded.
Maeve slept through all of it.
