Her energy returned.
The baby started moving.
And David spent evenings kneeling beside her stomach, talking softly to the child as though they were having a private conversation.
He told the baby about their home.
The family dog.
And the basketball team he hoped they'd eventually support.
Naomi laughed whenever he began discussing sports.
"You're not even giving the baby a choice?"
David smiled.
"Of course. A choice between my team and being wrong."
She threw a pillow at him.
He laughed.
For a while, life felt wonderfully ordinary.
Then, during the third trimester, Naomi's blood pressure began rising.
Her obstetrician arranged closer monitoring and discussed the warning signs that required immediate medical attention. Naomi was prescribed medication to help manage her blood pressure and instructed to continue attending appointments.
Her doctor emphasized that she shouldn't assume every headache or dizzy spell was harmless.
Naomi listened carefully.
She kept her medication records.
Followed the treatment plan.
And began carrying a small folder containing relevant medical information whenever she left home.
David became protective.
Sometimes too protective.
He wanted to accompany her everywhere.
Naomi appreciated his concern but insisted she was still capable of ordinary activities.
One evening, while they were discussing whether she should go grocery shopping alone, Amanda joined the conversation through video call.
She listened to both sides.
Then smiled.
"Okay. New rule."
Naomi raised an eyebrow.
"What rule?"
"Nobody treats Naomi like she can't make decisions. But we also make sure she doesn't have to carry everything alone."
David nodded.
"That sounds reasonable."
Naomi laughed.
"Of course you two agree."
Amanda grinned.
"That's because we're right."
They all laughed.
And for the next several weeks, the arrangement worked.
Naomi continued making her own decisions.
David and Amanda helped when she asked.
And the pregnancy progressed under close medical care.
The Thursday of the confrontation had been unusually stressful.
David was working on an electrical system upgrade at a hospital almost two hours away. He expected to return by early evening, and he'd promised to attend Naomi's prenatal appointment by video if the project couldn't be completed in time.
Naomi woke feeling tired.
She had slept poorly.
The baby had been active during the night, and her lower back ached.
She checked her blood pressure according to the plan given by her medical team, recorded the result, and called the clinic to discuss a reading that concerned her.