Chapter 2What We Lost

My fingers traced the crinkly plastic of the cake box, a storm of emotions churning inside me.

Twenty minutes ago, Serena was the person I was most grateful for in my lonely postpartum world. If it weren’t for her visits every few days, helping with the baby and listening to my endless complaints, I probably would have shattered long ago.

But the child I was pouring my life into was calling her Mommy?

It was too absurd. I let out a brittle laugh.

“What’s so funny? Share the joke!” Serena looked up, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

Our gazes met. This time, armed with suspicion, I really looked at her, and I froze. I’d always known Serena was attractive, but now… now she had a certain glow. A ripeness.

I remembered her telling me she was away at a training seminar for most of my pregnancy. I remembered that when she finally reappeared after Leo was three months old, she was fuller, softer than I’d ever seen her.

As much as I didn't want to believe it, the answer was screaming at me. For a moment, the world tilted, and I felt like I couldn't stay upright.

“Hey, you okay? Spacing out again? Don’t tell me the baby brain is permanent.”

Serena casually placed Leo on the playmat on the floor. My eyes followed him, and I held my breath, waiting for the inevitable screaming to start.

Instead, Leo started playing by himself, content. It was a universe away from his usual behavior, where being put down meant at least ten minutes of solid wailing.

A wave of helplessness washed over me. The difference in his treatment of us was so blatant. How had I never seen it before?

“Mia? What’s wrong? I’ve been talking to you for ages.”

I couldn’t let her know I was onto her. Not yet. I had too many questions.

I mumbled an excuse about being sleep-deprived and changed the subject, asking Serena if she was free tomorrow.

“Anything you need help with, you know you can just ask!” she said, feigning a pout.

I forced a grateful, apologetic smile. “It’s just… my heart’s been feeling a little weird lately. I want to get it checked out. If you have time, could you watch Leo for me? I don’t feel comfortable leaving him alone with the nanny.”

I was eighty percent sure, but I needed absolute proof before I decided what to do next. Until then, I couldn’t completely let go of Leo. So if I was going out, I needed a babysitter. My parents were out of town on vacation. My in-laws, who subtly blamed me for Leo’s health issues, were a source of constant friction. We avoided each other unless Philip was around.

If Serena really was Leo’s mother, then she was, ironically, the best person for the job.

Thankfully, she agreed without a second thought.

I’d read online about what was needed for a DNA test. As we chatted, my mind raced, trying to figure out how to get a sample from her. Suddenly, I remembered a pair of diamond hair clips she’d admired several times.

Serena watched, confused, as I got up and went to my closet. When I returned with a small hand mirror, she raised an eyebrow. “What are you up to?”

Without a word, I clipped one of the sparkling pins into her hair. Then I held up the mirror.

“You always said you loved these. My hair’s falling out so much, I doubt I’ll ever get to wear them again. It’d be a waste for them to just sit in a box.”

In the mirror, Serena’s face lit up. She touched the clip, a wide smile spreading across her face, though her words were modest. “Your hair will grow back! These are so expensive, Mia, I can’t take them.”

“Oh, let me fix it, it’s not sitting right,” I said, and with a calculated tug, I pulled the clip out.

“Ouch!” Serena yelped.

“Oh, I’m so sorry!” I said, feigning horror. “Look at me, I’ve developed super-strength from carrying the baby all day! I think I pulled out a few strands. Don’t be mad!”

I quickly plucked the hairs tangled in the clip’s teeth and tossed them into the nearby wastebasket.

Serena just laughed, rubbing the sore spot on her head. “Why would I be mad? It’s just the price of beauty!”