The front shelves were lined with various imported brands of baby form and food, which didn''t particrly interest Yvonne.


    She couldn''t make sense of it all anyway and figured she would just follow the maternity nurse''s advice when the time came. They walked straight to the clothing section, where racks were filled with tiny outfits. The smallest ones were no bigger than two adult palms, looking utterly adorable and miniature.


    Yvonne picked up a pink baby onesie. The soft, tender color and embroidered cartoon character were impossibly cute.


    "Isn''t it lovely?" she asked Bet.


    "Yes, it is," Bet said with a smile.


    Yvonne thought so too and ced it directly into the shopping cart.


    After a full tour of the baby section, Yvonne''s cart was overflowing with girls'' clothes, toys, and even aplete set of Barbie dolls.


    "What if it''s a boy?" Bet asked with augh, looking at the contents of the cart. "Then... we''ll save it for the second one?" Yvonne suggested.


    Bet replied, "...Don''t even think about it."


    The image of Yvonne, pale and fragile during those first few months, was a ghost that still haunted him. Even now, the memory made his chest tighten.


    She had suffered through it once, and that was more than enough. A second child? She had clearly forgotten how grueling it was now that the worst of it was over. After they finished shopping, Bet drove Yvonne back to Cherry Apartment. Helen had just finished preparing dinner and was setting it on the table.


    "You''re back just in time. Go wash your hands and eat. I''ve made some chicken soup; have some while it''s nice and hot."


    Yvonne washed her hands, changed into some loungewear, and sat down at the dining table.


    "It smells so good," Yvonne said, taking a sip of the soup.


    "Eat as much as you like. You''re eating for two now," Helen said with a smile.


    Bet had taken a quick shower after getting home and entered the dining room a moment after Yvonne.


    He sat down across from her, and just as he picked up his utensils, his phone, which was on the table, began to ring.


    Bet nced at the screen before answering.


    Whatever was said on the other end,


    his expression grew increasingly grim. He instinctively nced at Yvonne before getting up and leaving the dining room to continue the call.


    Yvonne was focused on her soup and didn''t notice.


    When Bet returned, she casually asked, "Who was calling sote?"


    "Something came up at the base. I have to head out for a bit. I might not be back tonight, so don''t wait up for me,” Bet said before hurrying out the door.


    Yvonne heard the heavy thud of the door closing and furrowed her brow slightly.


    "Mr. Thompson''s work is just so demanding. He leaves at a moment''s notice, without even finishing his dinner. I just hope he


    can be by your side when you give birth."


    Helen sighed as she brought a bowl of steaming, homemade soup to the table.


    "It''s not like he can go throughbor for me, so he might as well focus on his work," Yvonne said dismissively.


    Their line of work was like that; they often had to put the greater good before their own families. No one understood Bet''s job better than Yvonne.


    "You''re just too young. You don''t


    understand how much a woman suffers during childbirth. For


    Something so important; how can at


    husband not be there?" Helen continued to sigh.


    Yvonne, however, remained unfazed, continuing to eat and drink as usual.


    Helen shook her head and said no more.


    That night, Bet did not return.


    The next morning, he called her briefly to ask if she and the baby were okay, then mentioned he might be on a mission. The call ended after just a few sentences.