9781422288184

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D I SCOVERY

D ana sat in the soundproof booth with her baby on her lap. Denzel watched her intently, wide eyes staring from his dark, chubby face. He opened his mouth in a pink, toothless smile, and a bubble welled up between his lips. He lifted a pudgy finger, and the bubble popped at his touch. Squirming with surprised delight, Denzel tugged at his mother’s shirt with his moist hand. Dana smiled and felt momentarily reassured that this was an unnecessary test. Looking at her little boy filled her with joy and wonder. He was so small and so perfect, always watching with curi- ous eyes, grabbing with his little fingers, wriggling and squirming his plump body, anxious to explore. There couldn’t possibly be some- thing wrong with her little boy. Denzel was beautiful, healthy, and flawless. But somewhere deep in Dana’s being, gnawing at the walls of her stomach and aching behind her heart, another part of her wasn’t so confident. She thought about what had happened just the other day. Dana had lowered Denzel into his playpen in the living room and turned on the television. The colorful Teletubbies danced across the television screen as Dana headed to the kitchen. She could hear the soft sounds of the Teletubbies laughing and singing as she began to clean. Unloading the dishwasher, Dana balanced three glasses on the stack of plates cradled in her arm. As she spun toward the cabinet,

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