“How many?” I repeated.
“We called once,” he admitted. “A nurse looked for you, but didn’t find you. Given the time sensitivity, we proceeded with the available consenting adult.”
“That’s it?” My voice came out sharper than I intended.
The doctor’s face tightened. “The child needed treatment.”
I looked down at Sophia. Her tiny face was relaxed against my chest. She had already gone through something painful before I even got to learn the sound of her cry.
And then the anger came.
She had already gone through something painful.
I looked at the doctor first. “Did it save my baby from serious harm?”
He nodded. “Yes.”
I took a breath. “Then I am grateful you treated her.”
Kendra let out a shaky breath like she thought I was letting this go.
I turned to her.
“And I believe you were trying to help…”
She started crying.
But I didn’t stop.
She thought I was letting this go.
“… But you still made a decision that should have been ours.”
Kendra’s face crumpled. “I know.”
“No, I don’t think you do.” I looked at the doctor again. “At what point, exactly, did you decide I didn’t count as her mother?”
His mouth opened, then closed.
I looked at Kendra. “At what point did you?”
She dropped her gaze.
“Not one of you gets to choose when I count.”
“At what point, exactly, did you decide I didn’t count as her mother?”
“We needed to act fast—” the doctor started.
“We were here, in the hospital. You tried to call us only once before pushing the decision onto her.” I nodded at Kendra as I adjusted Sophia in my arms. “I want the full medical records. Every note. Every consent form. I want the names of everyone involved in that decision.”
The doctor nodded slowly. “You’re entitled to the records.”
“And I want a formal review.”
That got me another pause.
Daniel stepped up beside me then, close enough that our arms touched. “And a copy of the policy you think justified this.”
Kendra wiped at her face. “I really thought I was doing the right thing.”
“I want the full medical records.”
I believed her.
“You were scared,” I said. “I understand why you did what you did. What I want to know is why the system failed me.” I turned then and looked directly at the doctor.
He didn’t answer me.
On the drive home, Daniel said quietly, “I should have checked her over better when we got home.”
I turned to him. “Don’t do that.”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.” My voice softened. “This isn’t on you.”
“What I want to know is why the system failed me.”
His hands tightened on the wheel. “I told you I wanted us in the delivery room. I should’ve pushed harder. I should’ve—”
“You don’t get to rewrite this and make it your fault.”
He blew out a breath and looked straight ahead. “I hate that we missed it.”
“I know. But we didn’t miss her.” I glanced into the back seat, where Sophia was strapped into her car seat. “She’s here. She’s ours. We have to remember that’s what really matters.”
When we got home, the bathroom was exactly as we had left it. Towel on the counter. Water gone cold in the tub.
Daniel stood in the doorway and looked at the baby tub like it had betrayed him.
“We have to remember that’s what really matters.”
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