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Gladys saw Mama was adamant. "Very well,"
she said. "I'll go to Octavious's room to recuperate and
put the baby in his nursery."
"Exactly how to you plan to feed the infant?"
Mama asked.
Gladys smiled coolly. "We've thought of that.
I've hired a wet nurse. Octavious will fetch her now.
Won't you, Octavious?"
"Yes, dear," he said obediently. He was unable
to look at me and just gave me a passing glance. "The child needs a lot of attention," Mama said.
"Remember, he's premature."
"We'll have a real doctor here in less than an
hour. He's someone we can trust, but I still want you
out of the house as soon as possible," she said. She
handed the baby to Octavious as she rose from her
bed. Then she took the baby back quickly and started
out of the bedroom, taking care, it seemed to me, to
prevent me from getting a good view of him. She
paused at the doorway.
"Once you're gone, I don't want to ever see you
on this property again," she told me.
"She'd rather step in quicksand," Mama
retorted. Gladys smiled, satisfied. "Good," she said,
and walked out with my baby. I hadn't even seen him
for a full minute and he was already gone from my
life forever. My lips trembled and my heart ached. Octavious remained behind a moment,
stuttering some apology and some thanks. "Take as
long as you need," he concluded, his eyes down. Then
he hurried to follow his wife and new child. I couldn't help but burst into tears. Mama put
her arm around me and kissed my hair and forehead,
