“Daniel?”
Nothing.
Claire wiped her face with the back of her hand. “Give her to me. I want to hold her.”
He still didn’t move toward his wife.
He looked at me instead. His face had gone the color of paper.
Then, in a flat voice I didn’t recognize as his:
“I’m sorry. I can’t take her home.”
The room went dead silent.
“What did you just say?”
“I can’t take her home.”
Claire’s smile stayed frozen on her face for one more second, like her body hadn’t caught up to what she’d heard.
“What are you talking about? Daniel, give me the baby.”
He looked at his wife.
Then at me.
Then he said the sentence that split the room in half.
“I can’t do this. I’m giving her up. I’m not taking her home.”
He put the baby back in my arms and walked backward, away from both of us.
