Chapter 3 - THE NAME
Diane’s obsession with sons had not started with Emma.
Rachel knew that now.
At first, it had sounded like old-fashioned teasing.
When Rachel was pregnant:
“Maybe we’ll finally get a Mercer boy.”
At the ultrasound:
“Oh.”
At the baby shower:
“Pink again.”
Again?
Rachel was carrying her first child.
Diane meant the family.
Mark had two sisters.
Three female cousins.
No grandson in his branch.
When Emma was born, Diane kissed her forehead.
Then said:
“Next time.”
Rachel had laughed then.
She hated remembering that.
Three years later, there had been no second pregnancy.
Not because Rachel refused.
Because the first delivery had been difficult.
Her doctor recommended waiting.
Mark said he understood.
Diane did not.
She kept talking about:
“the Mercer name.”
Rachel finally asked Mark that night:
“What does she mean when she says Emma won’t carry the name?”
Mark looked away.
“It’s just Mom.”
“No.”
Rachel held Emma’s ruined birthday dress in her hands.
“What does she mean?”
May you like
Mark sighed.
“The farm.”
