Chapter 2 - PinkBy early afternoon the backyard was full. Relatives clustered around the food table. Bianca's closest friends took pictures. Someone brought balloons despite her insisting she didn't need any. For the first time in years, my daughter looked surrounded by uncomplicated happiness.

At least, that's how it appeared.

Trent stayed close to her, one hand near the small of her back as they greeted people. Bianca smiled often, but I noticed her hand kept drifting to her stomach — she'd done that throughout the pregnancy, sometimes affection, sometimes reassurance. Usually I could tell which. That afternoon, I couldn't.

Eventually someone suggested cutting the cake before the light faded behind the trees. Everyone gathered around. Bianca laughed, nervous. Trent handed her the knife. When she pushed it through the frosting, the whole yard leaned in and went quiet.

She cut slowly, made the second slice, slid the server underneath, and lifted the first piece.

Pink.

"It's a girl!"

Everyone screamed. People clapped. Bianca's best friend laughed and cried at the same time.

But Bianca didn't. She stared at the cake. For one strange second I thought she hadn't understood. Then she started crying.

Trent wrapped his arms around her. "We're having a daughter."

"I know," she whispered.

Everyone assumed relief. After everything she'd been through, tears made sense — people stepped in to hug her, told her she'd be a wonderful mother. I wanted to believe they were happy tears too.

But her expression bothered me. She didn't look happy. She looked afraid. Not overwhelmed by good news — pale, staring at the pink center like it had confirmed something she'd desperately hoped wasn't true.

I watched Trent whisper something in her ear. She nodded once.

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Then I noticed the baker standing near our backyard gate. She was staring at Bianca, arms folded tight across her chest, tense. When our eyes met, she waved me over urgently.

I hesitated — Bianca was still surrounded by guests, Trent's arm still around her — then crossed the yard.