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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,