“Because after all the trouble about access, I thought a practical arrangement might help.”
A nurse passing the open doorwayglanced in and then continued down the hall. Vivian watched her go.
“I have never asked you to leave the babies alone,” she said.
“You have asked for access to my house.”
“That was before.”
“Before what?”
Vivian did not answer. She turned one page back and tapped a paragraph with her fingernail.
“I can take Leo downstairs for a little while. Karen is waiting. She has not even met him properly.”
I set the feeding cloth on the tray.
“Karen can meet him here.”
“She is downstairs.”
“Then she can come upstairs.”
Vivian’s hand remained on the folder.
“Elena, you have two babies now. You cannot make every family member come to you.”
“I am recovering from surgery.”
“You need rest.”
“Then let me rest.”
Vivian looked toward the bassinet again. Her expression stayed composed, but she did not move the folder away.
“Just Leo,” she said. “Twenty minutes.”“No.”
She stood and moved closer to the bassinet.
