Vivian smiled at him.
“Yes. We should.”
She did not say where she expected me to be included in that “we.”
The family lounge was nearly empty at 2:35. Vivian arranged the fruit from the basket onto a white tray while Daniel stood near the window. I stayed beside him, one hand resting on the strap of my hospital bag.
“You reallyshould eat,” Vivian said.
“I am fine.”
“After the delivery, you will need help.”
“We have help.”
“I mean family help.”
Daniel looked at the tray. “Mom, what are you asking?”
Vivian placed two grapes beside the apple.
“I am asking nothing.”
“You brought it up.”
“I mentioned the babies.”
“You mentioned arrangements.”
Vivian turned toward me.
“Elena, surely you understand that I am trying to make this easier.”
“For whom?”
She picked up a napkin and folded it once.
“For everyone.”
I waited.
She continued.
“Leo will have people who love him. Karen will be there. I will be there. Daniel will be there. There is no reason for anyone to make ordinary family support into a legal question.”
The blue hospital folder was not in her hands, but I knew it was nearby.
I said, “If a document needs my signature, I will read it before I signit.”
Her expression stayed pleasant.
“Nobody said anything about signing.”
Daniel shifted his weight.
“Mom.”
She turned to him.
“You do not need to defend me from Elena.”
“I am not.”
“Good.”
She put the napkin beside the tray.
“Then let us keep this simple.”
That was when I understood how she intended to make it difficult. Not by shouting. By making refusal sound impolite.
A volunteer came through the lounge carrying clean blankets. Vivian moved the tray closer to the wall to give her room.
“Do you know,” Vivian said, “the family has been waiting a long time for this?”
I looked at her.
“For what?”
