Twenty minutes later, Judy wheeled me carefully through the neonatal wing.
My heart pounded harder with every turn.
Then we reached a quiet room.
A nurse opened the door.
Inside was a small bassinet.
And there he was.
My second baby.
Sleeping peacefully beneath a pale blue blanket.
I covered my mouth.
Tears immediately filled my eyes.
“He’s okay?”
“He’s doing very well,” the nurse said gently.
I reached down and touched his tiny hand.
His fingers curled around mine.
That was the moment the fear finally broke.
He was here.
He was safe.
And nobody had taken him away.
I looked at Judy.
“What happens now?”
“The hospital has temporarily paused all outside placement paperwork while legal and compliance teams review whether proper consent was obtained.”
I nodded.
“Good.”
Mark appeared several minutes later.
His mother Wendy was with him.
The moment she walked into the room, she began explaining herself.
“Hailey, please understand. We were thinking about what would be easiest for you.”
I turned toward her.
“Easiest for me?”
