“Darlin’, are you resting enough?”

“Matter of fact, I’ve done nothing but rest—”

“Not according to Nora.”

“Oh, Nora—”

“I thought you said she was terrific.”

“She’s good. Trouble is she’s too good. If it were up to her, I wouldn’t do a thing except vegetate.”

“Is Nora nursing the baby?”

“Peter—”

“Rina, you’ve got to rest if you’re going to heal.”

“I’m resting so much, my backside’s numb. I can’t get uninterrupted sleep anyway, because I’m nursing. What is the big deal if I want Hannah to sleep in our room?”

“Because when Hannah sleeps in our room, she becomes our responsibility. We hired a baby nurse to give you a little slack during these first few weeks—”

“I don’t need slack, okay? It’s good for me to feel useful, okay? Hannah brings me so much joy. What’s wrong with a little joy?”

“Of course you should have joy. I just want you to heal up….”

“Peter, I’m resting so much I’m nothing but a big, inert lump.”

“Rina—”

“Look at me, Peter! I’m as big as a cow on top, I still look like I’m five months pregnant, and I don’t have a uterus! I don’t want to rest and think about myself, okay?”

She burst into tears. The baby immediately began to cry.

“Oh, great!” Rina sobbed. “Now look what I’ve done! I’m no use to anybody anymore!”

Torn between wanting to comfort his wife or his child, Decker chose the kid. He started walking around the room with his daughter, holding her tightly, cooing in her ear, trying to toss Rina reassuring smiles as he paced. He supposed he was partially successful, because Rina stopped crying. She wiped her eyes on a blanket and stared at him, looking forlorn and waifish. The woman was drained!

Decker kissed his daughter’s cheek, feeling the tiny body get heavier and heavier. He felt soft breath on his hand, smelled the perfume that only newborns could produce. His thoughts turned to another infant ripped away from her mother. As fury welled up inside his breast, he told himself to breathe deeply, not wanting to inject his poison into his daughter. The bedroom had turned very quiet.

Finally, Decker whispered, “I think she’s asleep. I’m going to tell Nora to set up the portable crib tonight. If you don’t want sleep, that’s your business. But I do. I’ll be right back.”

Rina nodded, a chastened look on her face.

Decker sighed, then walked into the living room. “Nora, you want to set up the Portacrib in here?”

The baby nurse looked stunned. “How’d you do it?”

“Spouse’s magic.”

Nora smiled. “You seem to work magic with all your women. Hannah looks happy being with her papa.”