A Quiet Return Turns Into a Moment of Shock
The house was dark when Vanessa stepped inside. She took off her shoes, set down her bags, and tiptoed through the hall. She didn’t want to wake Eric. She just wanted to climb into bed and feel the warmth of home again.
But when she opened their bedroom door, she froze.
And next to him, nestled in a soft blue blanket, was a baby.
Vanessa’s breath caught. A baby? In their bed? In her spot?
They didn’t have children. They’d never discussed fostering. Eric had no family nearby—no nieces, no nephews. Her mind raced for answers, but none came.
Her hands trembled as she crossed the room and shook Eric gently. “Eric. Wake up. Now.”
He stirred, blinking through sleep. “Vanessa? What are you doing home?”
“In the kitchen,” she said, her voice sharp. “We need to talk.”
“Want to Explain the Baby You Forgot to Mention?”
Under the glare of the kitchen light, Vanessa stood with her arms crossed, exhaustion replaced by adrenaline. Eric rubbed his eyes as he followed her, his confusion turning to guilt.
“Okay,” she said. “Let’s start with the obvious. Why is there a baby in our bed?”
“What?”
“I panicked,” he said. “I didn’t want to call the police right away. He was crying, and cold… I couldn’t just leave him there.”Continue reading…