“The First Time My Husband Bathed Our Newborn, He Looked at Me in Horror and Said, ‘We Can’t Keep This Child’”

“That’s it?” My voice came out sharper than I intended.

The doctor stiffened slightly. “The child required treatment.”

I looked down at Sophia. Her tiny face rested peacefully against my chest. She had already endured something painful before I even knew the sound of her cry.

And then the anger hit me.

I looked at the doctor first. “Did the procedure save my baby from serious harm?”

He nodded. “Yes.”

I took a breath. “Then I’m grateful you treated her.”

Kendra released a shaky breath, like she thought I was forgiving everything.

I turned toward her.

“And I believe you were trying to help…”

She immediately started crying.

But I continued.

“… But you still made a decision that should have belonged to us.”

Kendra’s face crumpled. “I know.”

“No, I don’t think you do.” I looked back at the doctor. “At what point did you decide I didn’t count as her mother?”