I set her hand back down and put mine to her belly when it moves. “Can you feel that?” I ask. I’m not sure if I’m asking my sister if she feels the baby or the baby if she feels my hand. “It’s the freakiest thing,” I tell Ivy. “I’ve been making videos so you can see when you wake up. I know that sounds creepy, but I thought you’d want it.”

My niece or nephew—Santiago won’t find out the sex of the baby without Ivy—presses a hand or foot against my sister’s belly. I say hand or foot, but for all I know, it could be her butt.

“I think it’s going to be a girl. And I’m making a list of names so you’ll have plenty to pick from. Dad’s doing better, by the way. He’ll come to visit you later, too.” She must know by now that he’s not dead. That Santiago had devised that plan to lure Abel out. It just went so horribly wrong. But I’m not going to think about Abel now.

“Antonia and I have unpacked most of the baby gifts, but they just keep coming. There’s so much, Ivy! Everyone is excited about this baby, even Santiago’s weird sister,” I say, leaning in close to whisper the next part. “She wants to come home, but Santiago won’t let her.” I keep an eye on the door. “I overheard him tell her the house will be ready for you. That he’s going to bring you home any day now.” I leave out the part about not wanting any additional stress for Ivy when she gets home.

I straighten again and tuck the blankets closer around my sister. I look at her face. Then at the monitors. Nothing.

I can’t help a sob when I look down at her again and try to suck it all back in.

“Sorry,” I say, wiping my tear off her face. “I’m trying really hard to keep it together because someone has to, but it’s getting tougher. You need to wake up, okay? You just need to push through whatever is happening inside you and wake up. There’s no reason you’re not awake. The doctors say so.” I take a deep breath in and pull myself together. “I’ve never seen Santiago like he is. If he’s not in here, he’s in his office in the dark. He just sits there like a ghost or a vampire or something. Never comes out when anyone is around. I think he doesn’t know how to be without you. We all just really need you back home.”

The door opens, and I turn my face away to swipe at my eyes.