“Did you sleep?”
“Not great,” I said.
That much was true.
Her sister-in-law, Renata, was already at the table.
Mid-forties, quiet, the kind of woman who watched more than she spoke.
She gave me a small wave.
“Renata came early to help set up,” Penelope said.
“Sit down, sit down.
I want to talk to you about something before we eat.”
She said it lightly.
Casually.
Like it was nothing.
I sat.
Penelope brought two bowls to the table, then went back for her own.
She sat across from me.
Renata was to my left.
Through the window behind Penelope, I could see the driveway.
Marcus’s car was there.
He was still inside somewhere.
“So,” Penelope said, picking up her spoon.
“I wanted to talk to you about the transition plan.
For after the birth.”
“Okay,” I said.
“The hospital has us down for the standard handover protocol, which is great.
