When my husband left for a luxury cruise three days after my doctor put me on bed rest with high-risk triplets, I told myself he was selfish, not dangerous. I had no idea the trip was only the beginning of what he had already taken from us.<\/p>\n
The glossy cruise brochure sat on our kitchen counter for three days before I believed it was real.<\/p>\n
Daniel kept picking it up and rereading the letter. He said he had won the trip through a sales contest at work: four months on a luxury cruise ship, meals included, island stops included, the kind of trip people like us usually only saw on television.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe actually got lucky for once,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Two weeks later, we were sitting in Dr. Evans\u2019s office staring at an ultrasound screen.<\/p>\n
I never saw the company announcement myself. Just the printed letter Daniel kept reading.<\/p>\n
Two weeks later, we were sitting in Dr. Evans\u2019s office staring at an ultrasound screen.<\/p>\n
\u201cHelen,\u201d she said, turning the screen toward me, \u201cyou\u2019re carrying triplets.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel let out a stunned laugh.<\/p>\n
\u201cTriplets?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd your blood pressure is very high. With multiples, that makes this pregnancy high-risk very quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we want to keep these babies where they belong for as long as we can, strict bed rest gives us the best chance.\u201d<\/p>\n
My mouth went dry. \u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt means I need you off your feet as much as possible immediately,\u201d she said. \u201cYou are twenty-four weeks today. If we want to keep these babies where they belong for as long as we can, strict bed rest gives us the best chance.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel leaned forward. \u201cFor the rest of the pregnancy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor as long as she can safely stay pregnant,\u201d Dr. Evans said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to cancel the cruise,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n
He stood there staring at the brochure still tucked into the side pocket of his briefcase.<\/p>\n
Daniel loosened his tie. \u201cWe don\u2019t have to decide this second.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI do,\u201d I said. \u201cI\u2019m twenty-four weeks pregnant with triplets. There is no trip.\u201d<\/p>\n
He stood there staring at the brochure still tucked into the side pocket of his briefcase.<\/p>\n
\u201cI already cleared the time off,\u201d he said finally.<\/p>\n
I looked at him. \u201cDaniel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m just saying I need a minute.\u201d<\/p>\n
Instead, an hour later, I heard the bedroom closet door slam and the sound of zippers.<\/p>\n
He came halfway into the hall with a suitcase in one hand.<\/p>\n
I pushed myself upright on the couch. \u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n
He came halfway into the hall with a suitcase in one hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cPacking.\u201d<\/p>\n
I honestly did not understand him at first. \u201cFor what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe cruise leaves in three days.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at him.<\/p>\n
He set the suitcase down and rubbed his face.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou cannot be serious.\u201d<\/p>\n
He set the suitcase down and rubbed his face. \u201cHelen, listen to me before you start crying.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore I start crying?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis was supposed to be our one good thing,\u201d he said. \u201cEverything has been one expense after another, one problem after another, and now this\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
I put a hand over my stomach. \u201cThese are our babies.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe I go, come back rested, and then we deal with everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
He looked away.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe I need the time to clear my head,\u201d he said. \u201cMaybe I go, come back rested, and then we deal with everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou need me calm more than you need me trapped here panicking,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou want to leave your pregnant wife on bed rest so you can clear your head?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll call. I\u2019ll check in. It\u2019s not like I\u2019m disappearing.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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