I pushed the door open before he could finish the sentence. My husband spun around with the phone still at his ear, and the color left his face. “Say it again,” I whispered. “Say who I’m carrying this baby for.” He stammered, then hung up. His work laptop sat open on the counter, and I read the top line of the message thread before he could close it. It was addressed to Julian, and it ended with a heart.

“She thinks this is only business,” the message said. “After the birth, we tell her together, and we start our life.” My knees nearly gave way. My husband reached for me, and I stepped back, one hand on my stomach. “Julian does not know I am standing here, does he?” I asked. He shook his head, and the phone began to ring again.