“She’s pregnant.”
“Oh God… Andrew, she’s pregnant. You got her pregnant while I was—”
And then the laugh.
Jennifer’s laugh.
High and nervous and unmistakably cruel.
“This is awkward.”
Someone in the audience let out a sob.
Andrew’s mother stood up, staring at her son with horror.
The recording played on.
Samantha begging to hold her baby.
Andrew refusing.
Samantha realizing she was dying while her husband’s pregnant mistress stood in the corner watching.
“Please tell my baby girl. Tell her Mommy fought so hard to meet her. Tell her I loved her more than anything. Tell her I’m sorry I couldn’t stay.”
Madison’s voice broke as she heard her mother’s final words, but she didn’t stop the recording.
She let everyone hear the machine’s flatline.
She let everyone hear Andrew’s response:
“Is the baby healthy? Can we take her to the nursery?”
She let everyone hear footsteps walking away while doctors tried to save Samantha’s life.
When the recording ended, the silence was deafening.
Madison looked at her father.
He was still sitting frozen, his face gray, his hands gripping the table like he might fall over.
