“What the hell is going on here?” Ethan demanded. “Dad and I found my mother-in-law sobbing in the hallway.”
“They made me leave,” Mom explained, wiping at her tears. “Regina told them I wasn’t family… and I wasn’t allowed to stay because I didn’t pay for all of this.”
When she explained what happened, Robert was livid.
“Are you telling me my wife just kicked you out of our grandchild’s birth… over MONEY?” His hands clenched at his sides.
“I didn’t want to cause trouble,” my mom said. “I just want what’s best for Cindy.”
“What’s best for Cindy is having the support she asked for,” Ethan said firmly. “Let’s go back in.”
“But… Ethan… Rob…” Regina stammered.
But Robert was NOT having it.
“Regina,” he said, his voice so cold it seemed to drop the temperature in the room. “We’re going to have a talk. Outside. Now.”
Regina stammered, suddenly not looking so confident. “I was just —”
Regina went pale and let him drag her out, her designer heels clicking rapidly as she struggled to keep up with his long strides. And just like that, my mom was back by my side, stroking my hair.
“I’m so sorry, honey,” she whispered. “I should have fought harder to stay.”
“It’s not your fault,” I managed between breaths. “She ambushed us.”
She held my hand and Ethan kissed my forehead.
“I can’t believe she did that,” he said. “I’m so sorry, Cindy.”
“Later,” I gasped as another contraction hit. “Baby first, drama later.”
And together, we welcomed our baby into the world three hours later without Regina’s toxic energy anywhere near us. She was a perfect little girl with Ethan’s dark hair and, if I wasn’t imagining it, my mother’s determined chin.
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