A Baby In The Night
She’d been following him for the past hour, slowly trailing his cruiser as he cut through the night’s traffic.
She’d suspected something was up when he started acting aloof at the start of the year.
But tonight, he ran out of bed after receiving a call in the middle of the night. She didn’t know what it was about but was sure it wasn’t work-related. She had no idea it would end with a baby.
It’s Over
Sally Catherwood had never imagined she’d spend a Wednesday night sneaking after her husband all over town.
She’d never pictured him as the promiscuous type.
But hiding behind a pillar in a dark alley, she watched as he caressed the woman’s full belly. Tears gleamed in his eyes as they shared words. What more proof did Sally need that her marriage was over?
Her Dream
Sally had long dreamt of being a mother. Since turning twenty, she’d imagined herself with a cooing baby in her arms.
She wanted to watch her child grow and learn new things, to experience every moment until she grew old and gray.
When she tied the knot with Ken, a police officer she’d known since their college days, they talked about having kids. None of them knew what a dark future awaited them.
A Big Family
Sally and Ken came from big families.
As such, they wanted a house filled with the chaos of children laughing and running around.
They started trying for a baby as soon as possible, and they were very enthusiastic for the first few months. But it soon became evident that they couldn’t conceive. But this was only the start of their problems.
Bad News
Sally and Ken went to the doctor to discover Sally was barren and couldn’t have kids of her own.
The couple was devastated as they realized their plan to have children wouldn’t go as they hoped.
But more than anything, Sally felt like she’d failed as a wife and a woman. How could she be seen as a mom yet fail to do this one essential thing? She had no clue that she was still a long way from hitting rock bottom.
The Other Side Of The Coin
On the other hand, Ken was heartbroken because he couldn’t make his wife’s biggest dream come true.
As a man, he was meant to provide for his family and ensure his wife was happy.
Watching her sulk and spend her days quietly on their bedroom’s window seal broke him through and through. But what could he do when this issue was beyond him?
A Quiet Yet Chaotic House
At first, the two kept quiet, resolving not to talk about the matter that had seemingly ruined their marriage.
But soon after, the silence gave birth to nights of fighting and name-calling.
Sally blamed herself for not being able to bear children, while Ken didn’t know what to say to comfort her. A simple divide caused by misunderstanding would be the center of their issues.
Lost And Alone
Sally and Ken felt lost and alone, and it seemed like their marriage was caving in on itself for a while.
But one day, Ken made a suggestion that he hoped would bring the sun back into their dark lives.
He wasn’t sure whether Sally would be on board with his plan. This wasn’t something to be taken lightly.
A Sound Plan
“Why don’t we try adoption,” Ken said one night as they were having dinner.
He tried to play it cool as he talked, seemingly hoping not to hurt Sally more than she was already hurt.
She smiled at him, her sight blurring as she realized Ken was serious. She thought they would finally have the life they always wanted, not knowing that trouble was still coming.
Do It
It was a scary idea at first, but the more the two talked about it, the more it felt sensible to do.
They realized a child, whether biologically birthed by them or adopted, would still be theirs all the same.
More than anything, they could give a needy child a family and a loving home. There was no turning back now.
Perfect
Sally and Ken started the adoption process. It wasn’t as easy as they thought it would be, and for months, they swam in paperwork and interviews.
But it wasn’t long before they found a child they connected with.
She was a one-year-old baby with hair as blonde as Sally’s and irises as blue as Ken’s – a perfect baby in Sally’s eyes. Or so she thought.
Bringing Her Home
The couple got the call that changed their lives, and together, they welcomed Milly home, the girl who’d snared their hearts.
Her presence was the balm that Sally and Ken needed to fix their marriage. They’d fallen in love with Milly and were ready to give her the world.
But just as quickly as happiness came into their lives, so did the sadness return.
The Day And Night Shifts
It all started with Ken’s work schedule. He usually left the house at 8 am and returned at 5 pm.
He loved being an officer, and Sally was glad.
But everything changed when his department allotted him the night shift, causing him to spend the night away from his wife and kids. If only Sally knew what all this would amount to.
A Good Wife
Always a supportive wife, Sally ensured Ken left the house with a full stomach and snacks to last him the night.
She packed him blankets for the cold nights even though he claimed he didn’t need them, and even made him a playlist to listen to while doing his paperwork.
She’d stay awake wondering if he was safe, praying to God to bring him home in the morning. If only she knew what he was doing out there.
Where Is He?
Sally only got wind of the matter when one of Ken’s fellow officers called the house, asking what was taking Ken so long to reach the station.
Sally found the question odd, mainly because Ken had left the house over an hour ago.
She didn’t share this information with his friend, hoping it wasn’t something to report.
A Changed Man
Sally spent the next few nights trying to keep her mind from veering far from common sense.
Her husband wasn’t the type to be involved in anything illicit.
He’d always been a dedicated officer and husband, and she had no reason to worry. But one night, he came home unannounced, asking her questions that made her question everything she thought she knew about him.
She’s Onto Him
Ken came in the middle of the night, asking Sally about women’s menstrual cycles and signs of pregnancy.
He framed the questions in harmless ways, not knowing his wife was already onto him.
Still, Sally gave him the benefit of the doubt. Her husband had never been promiscuous before and really hated men who didn’t treat their wives well. She had no idea that the man she knew and the man who left their house every evening were two different people.
A Mistake
Ken continued with his behavior for weeks.
He’d come home in the morning and act normal even though Sally had confirmed that he usually showed up at the station an hour late.
She had no idea where he was spending time between their house and the station. But she couldn’t bring the matter up with him, not with everything that had happened between them.
Keeping The Peace
For the past year, Sally and Ken had spent their time quarreling or in silence.
After Milly, their love life bloomed once again. Sally feared jeopardizing this newfound peace.
She couldn’t antagonize Ken when she was the reason he couldn’t have a kid with his blood flowing in their veins. This single thought made her fear asking Ken any questions about his whereabouts – a grave mistake.
Everything’s Fine
Sally pretended everything was alright.
She was a good wife and mom and couldn’t deny that although her husband kept things from her, he was a good dad.
He made sure to spend time with her and Milly, even taking them on movie and lunch dates on a weekly basis. But it wouldn’t be long before Sally found herself trailing him.
A Day Off
A few months had passed when she did so. Ken had been on leave and had spent the day and night with her and Milly.
But at midnight, he got a cryptic call that had him flying to the bathroom.
He frantically searched through the medicine cabinet before storming off. Sally dared ask him what was wrong, but he only stared at her wildly and left.
Going After Him
Sally didn’t waste time rushing after him as soon as she could. She called her little sister, Tammy, a third-year college student living a few blocks away, to watch over Milly.
With everything set, she hopped into her car and drove after Ken.
She’d uncover his secret if it were the last thing she did.
An Agonizing Drive
The road ahead was sparsely populated by the night’s traffic, so it didn’t take Sally long to see Ken’s cruiser fly down the highway.
The vehicle’s red and blue lights lit the midnight darkness, its siren blaring.
Sally kept her distance, her mind racing as she wondered what was happening to her husband. She had no idea it involved a homeless woman and a baby with Ken’s name written all over him.
A Dark Alley
Ken drove into town, unaware his wife was trailing him. He took a corner into a dark alley and switched his siren and lights off.
Sally had to park a block away and brave the town’s darkness to get to him. She was hurt to see him enter this side of town, notorious for crime.
She told herself he was here to arrest someone or shut down a drug deal. But her heart broke when he turned off his siren and lights. That could only mean one thing.
A Woman
Whatever was happening wasn’t good. A woman stumbled out of the building Ken was standing before, staggering into his arms.
Sally had never pictured Ken as the promiscuous type, but the scene before her was enough to convince her otherwise.
With her heartbeat pounding in her ears, she snuck behind a pillar for a clearer view.
Tears At 1 Am
From her perch behind the pillar, Sally saw Ken touch the woman’s stomach and shake his head.
She realized he was crying, and that alone made her approach them.
Sally had never seen Ken cry. They had been together for seven years yet he’d never shed a tear before her. But this woman had seemingly brought him to tears in a dark alley at 1 am.
Confronting Him
“So this is where you usually come every night before reporting to work?” Sally shouted across the alley, her arms folded above her chest.
Her lips trembled with emotion, her eyes wet with it. How could Ken do this to her?
He turned to her, his glossy eyes broadening. But his hand didn’t separate from the woman’s belly. It was then that Sally realized two things she’d missed before.
Rock Bottom
Sally realized the woman was homeless. But that wasn’t the worst part. The woman was also pregnant. This realization hit her like a freight train, and she stumbled back.
“Whose baby is it?” she mumbled in the dark, feeling as warm tears raced down her cheeks.
“Whose baby is that, Ken?” Her husband didn’t answer. He only shook his head, taking a deep breath. “We need help, Sal,” he said. “Please help us.”
A New Side Of Him
Sally took a slow step forward, taken aback by this side of her burly husband.
She’d never seen him this vulnerable, had never heard him ask for help before. She’d never been able to make him feel this helpless.
She wanted to ask him who the woman was or why he’d chosen to do this to her and their daughter. But she found herself doing the opposite.
It’s His
“What do you want me to do?” she asked, wiping her eyes. “I can’t believe she relapsed,” Ken whispered. “She told me she took something and isn’t feeling good,” he added. “The ambulance won’t get here in time. Can you help me administer first aid?”
Sally nodded. She went down to help the lady, but her lips parted as her fingers grazed her belly. She knew her life would never be the same again.
To protect the privacy of those depicted, some names, locations, and identifying characteristics have been changed and are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblances to actual events, places, or persons, living or dead, are entirely coincidental.