That afternoon I received an update from the lender. Its investigation had identified serious irregularities in the home-equity application. The account was under further review, and disputed obligations would be addressed through established procedures. The news mattered, but it was not the instant cancellation I had imagined.
I celebrated by ordering pizza and letting my mother choose curtains. We laughed over how difficult it was to assemble a changing table.
I used to measure good days by whether Michael was pleased with me. Now a good day could mean that both babies were growing, my lawyer had returned a call, and I had eaten dinner without crying.
CHAPTER 17: AN APOLOGY WITH CONDITIONS
Michael asked to meet in a neutral office. Camille attended. He said he had been wrong to assume the surgery made pregnancy impossible, but he wanted a paternity test after delivery before making any public statement.
“I agree to appropriate testing,” I said. “I don’t agree that you get to leave the accusations standing until then.”
