Then he said quietly:
“Mom, did you throw away Elena’s medication?”
His mother’s expression changed.
“Her medication?”
“Yes.”
She shrugged.
“I cleaned the bathroom.”
“Did you throw it away?”
“I thought it was old.”
“It wasn’t old.”
“I didn’t know.”
“You didn’t ask.”
His mother frowned.
“Marcus, don’t start.”
“Don’t start?”
His voice remained calm.
That somehow made it worse.
“She’s eight months pregnant.”
“I know.”
“She has blood-pressure problems.”
His mother waved her hand.
“She has vitamins.”
“No.”
Marcus shook his head.
“Not just vitamins.”
He took a step forward.
“You threw away medication prescribed by her doctor.”
His sister immediately jumped in.
“Mom didn’t do it on purpose.”
Marcus looked at her.
“I didn’t say she did.”
“You are acting like she tried to hurt her.”
“I’m acting like my pregnant wife is missing medication she needs.”
His brother sighed.
“Come on, Marcus. It’s just one dose.”
Marcus turned toward him.
“Do you know what medication it is?”
His brother didn’t answer.
“Do you know why she takes it?”
Silence.
“Do you know what her doctor told us?”
More silence.
Marcus looked around the room.
Not one person met his eyes.
Then he said:
“No.”
He pointed toward the kitchen.
“None of you know.”
His mother stood.
“Marcus, I was trying to help.”
“You were trying to help?”
“Yes.”
“Then why was my eight-month-pregnant wife washing everyone’s dishes?”
His mother’s face hardened.
“She volunteered.”
