I watched his face change.
“Ryan?” I said. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
My brother didn’t answer me. He kept staring at the baby, and then, very carefully, he shifted her in his arms and looked at her back.
Melissa was still crying happy tears, wiping her face with the corner of the hospital gown.
“Let me hold her, honey. Give her to me.”
“What’s wrong?”
But Ryan didn’t move toward his wife. He turned toward me instead, looking pale. He cleared his throat, and when he spoke, his voice came out flat and strange, as if it belonged to someone else.
“I’m sorry, but… I can’t take her home.”
The room became silent. I thought I’d misheard him.
“What did you just say?”
“I can’t take her home.”
“Ryan, what are you talking about?” Melissa’s smile was still frozen on her face, as if her brain hadn’t caught up yet. “Give me the baby.”
