Chapter 4 - Noah Would Not Stop Crying
Noah's crying changed in the fifth week.
Ethan noticed because he knew the sound.
There was the hungry cry.
The wet diaper cry.
The tired cry.
The startled cry.
The small angry cry Noah made when cold air touched his stomach during a change.
Then there was another one.
Thin.
Exhausted.
Continuous.
It began shortly after Daniel left for a two-day trip to Boise.
Vanessa had been furious that morning.
Daniel's company was bidding on a hospital expansion, and the trip could not be postponed.
"I just had a baby."
"I know."
"You said you'd slow down."
"I am."
"This isn't slowing down."
Daniel kissed Noah.
Then Vanessa.
Then Ethan.
"I'll be back tomorrow night."
After the front door closed, Vanessa stood silently in the hallway.
Ethan recognized the mood.
He went upstairs.
At noon Noah began crying.
At one, he was still crying.
At two, Ethan entered the nursery.
Vanessa was sitting in the armchair scrolling through her phone.
Noah lay in the crib.
"What's wrong with him?"
"Nothing."
"When did he eat?"
Vanessa looked up.
"Excuse me?"
"When did you feed him?"
"Mind your business."
Ethan stared at the empty bottle on the dresser.
"How long?"
Vanessa stood.
"Get out."
Ethan walked toward the crib.
She stepped in front of him.
"Move."
"No."
"He's my brother."
"He's my son."
"Then take care of him."
Vanessa shoved Ethan backward.
He caught himself against the wall.
"You're crazy."
"I warned you about that word."
Noah screamed.
Ethan moved again.
This time Vanessa grabbed his hoodie and pulled.
The fabric tightened against his throat.
"Stop."
"You do not challenge me."
"He's hungry."
Vanessa released him.
"Fine."
She picked up a bottle from the mini refrigerator.
Ethan watched her prepare formula.
Too much water.
Not enough powder.
He knew because Daniel had shown him how to measure it.
"That's wrong."
Vanessa ignored him.
"You need another scoop."
"Shut up."
"The ratio is wrong."
"I said shut up."
Ethan reached for the container.
Vanessa slapped his hand away.
He stared at her.
She stared back.
Then he did something that changed the balance between them.
He took out his phone.
Vanessa froze.
"What are you doing?"
"Recording."
She lunged.
Ethan ran.
He reached the hallway before she caught him.
They struggled over the phone.
Ethan was taller, but Vanessa was stronger than he expected.
Her elbow drove into his ribs.
He gasped.
She tore the phone from his hand.
"Delete it."
Ethan smiled despite the pain.
"Already uploaded."
Vanessa went pale.
"What?"
"Cloud."
It was a lie.
He had not started recording early enough to capture the formula.
But she did not know that.
For the first time, Vanessa looked uncertain.
"Where?"
"Doesn't matter."
She stepped toward him.
Ethan backed away.
"If something happens to me or Noah, Dad gets everything."
Another lie.
But a useful one.
Vanessa stopped.
They stared at each other.
Then her expression softened.
Too quickly.
"Ethan."
He hated the gentleness more than the anger.
"You're upset."
"Stay away from me."
"I think we've both been under stress."
He almost laughed.
Vanessa continued.
"I shouldn't have grabbed you."
"No."
"And maybe I've been too strict."
Ethan said nothing.
She lowered her voice.
"Let's start over."
Noah cried behind her.
"Feed him correctly."
Vanessa's smile disappeared.
Ethan walked downstairs.
His hands were shaking.
That night he emailed himself a message.
Tuesday. 2:17 p.m. Vanessa mixed Noah's formula with too much water. When I tried to stop her, she grabbed me and hit me in the ribs.
He hesitated.
Then added something else.
Dad is in Boise. I am afraid she will hurt Noah when nobody is watching.
He saved it.
At 11:42 p.m., Ethan woke to silence.
Noah was no longer crying.
For some reason, that frightened him more.
He crossed the hallway.
The nursery door was locked.
"Vanessa?"
No answer.
He knocked.
Nothing.
Then he heard the sound.
A fan.
Loud.
May you like
Steady.
Running somewhere inside the nursery.
