Megan stayed silent for a long moment.
Then she said softly,
“You should have told us your daughter would be with you.”
Laura nodded.
“I know. I thought it would only be for one afternoon.”
Her voice cracked.
“I never imagined…”
She couldn’t finish the sentence.
The truth was heavy enough already.
Daniel sighed and rubbed his face.
“We can’t undo what happened.”
“No,” Laura whispered.
“But Noah is alive.”
Everyone fell silent again.
Finally, Megan spoke.
“Emma didn’t mean to hurt him.”
Laura nodded through tears.
“She feels terrible.”
Megan wiped her eyes.
“But we can’t trust her around him again.”
Laura lowered her head.
“I understand.”
Two days later, Noah was discharged from the hospital.
The doctors said he would heal completely.
But the experience had changed everyone.
Daniel and Megan decided to stay home with Noah themselves for a while.
No nanny.
No risks.
