I’m 39 weeks pregnant, and last week I found myself sitting at my husband’s birthday dinner, trying to smile through exhaustion and pain. Then he said something so selfish, so breathtakingly inconsiderate, that I grabbed my daughter’s hand and walked out.
I’m sure nobody at that table will ever forget what happened.
My name is Marissa. I’m 38 years old, and we’re expecting our second child any day now. My belly feels stretched to its absolute limit—like a balloon about to burst. Every step sends lightning bolts of pain shooting down my legs. My nights are restless, my hips ache, and I’ve completely forgotten what it feels like to wake up without feeling sore.
We already have our daughter, Lily. She’s four years old—pigtails, giggles, and an endless list of questions that start the moment she opens her eyes. I adore her, but keeping up with her during this pregnancy has been harder than I expected. My doctor warned me that being over 35 puts me in the “high-risk” category, which means extra monitoring and more need for rest.
“Marissa, you need to slow down,” Dr. Patel told me at my last appointment. “You’re doing too much. The baby’s almost here—you have to take care of yourself.”
I nodded at her, but in my head I thought, Tell that to Daniel.
My husband has made it to exactly one ultrasound this entire pregnancy. One. I’ve gone to every other appointment alone—sat there by myself listening to heartbeats, reading the results of tests, and worrying about every little thing.
Whenever I brought it up, Daniel would say, “I have to work, Mar. Someone’s got to keep the lights on.”
And that would be the end of it.
But it wasn’t just weekdays—he’s been working weekends too. I’ve been the one chasing after Lily while my ankles swell like balloons and my back feels like it’s on fire.
For months, I’ve been asking him to help me finish the nursery. We’re not talking about building an extension on the house—just moving some boxes, hanging curtains, assembling the crib.
“I’ll get to it,” he’d say every single time.
The boxes are still there. The curtains are still in their package. The crib is leaning against the wall, unassembled, like a forgotten idea.
A couple of weeks ago, I rubbed my aching lower back and asked, “Daniel, when are you going to finish the nursery?”
“Soon, Marissa. God, you’re always on me about something.”
Always on him. Nagging. That’s what it was to him.
Then came last Tuesday—Daniel’s 39th birthday. His sister, Tessa, called me that morning.
“I want to throw him a little party here,” she said. “Just family. You, Daniel, Lily, Mom, Dad, and my boyfriend, Chris. Nothing fancy.”
It actually sounded nice. I thought maybe we could have one calm evening together.
“That sounds wonderful, Tessa. Thank you.”
I spent the afternoon getting ready—not that I had much energy for it. I slipped into my best maternity dress, the one that used to make Daniel smile when I was pregnant with Lily. This time, he didn’t even seem to notice.
We got to Tessa’s apartment around six. The smell of roast chicken filled the air. Soft music played in the background, candles glowed on the dining table—it felt warm and welcoming.
“Happy birthday, son!” Daniel’s mom, Linda, greeted him with a hug. She’s always been more of a mother to me than my own.
“Thanks, Mom. Looks great, Tess.”
Dinner started out fine. Tessa had made all of Daniel’s favorites—roast chicken with herbs, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole. The chocolate cake sat on the counter, waiting.
Lily was happily telling her grandmother about preschool. Linda asked me about the pregnancy. Chris told funny firehouse stories. I did my best to ignore the constant pressure in my pelvis and the sharp ache in my back. This was Daniel’s night, after all.
Then, halfway through the main course, Daniel turned to me with this big, excited grin.
“You know what, Mar? After dinner, why don’t you take Lily home and get her to bed? I’ll stay here with everyone and keep the party going.”
I froze. “What?”
He leaned in like he was letting me in on a great plan. “Come on, babe. This is my last chance to celebrate before the baby comes. I want to have a few beers with Chris, maybe smoke a cigar on the balcony. Stay up late like the old days.”
I stared at him. “You want me to leave? And take Lily home by myself?”
“Well, yeah.” He said it like it was the most reasonable thing in the world. “You’re always saying how tired you are. And someone’s got to put Lily to bed.”
“Daniel,” I said slowly, “I’m 39 weeks pregnant. The baby could come tonight.”
“Oh, come on, Mar. Don’t be so dramatic.”
That’s when Linda set down her fork. She didn’t raise her voice—she didn’t have to.
“Daniel,” she said in a tone I’ve only heard her use a handful of times, “would you mind repeating what you just said to your wife?”
He shifted uncomfortably. “I just said—”
“No.” She held up one finger. “Word for word.”
“I told her to take Lily home so I could stay here and celebrate my birthday.”
“Your 39-weeks-pregnant wife. Who could go into labor any moment. You want her to drive home alone with your four-year-old daughter so you can drink beer and smoke cigars?”
Hearing it out loud made it sound even more absurd.
“Mom, it’s not—”
“Sit down, Daniel.”
He sat.
Linda walked around the table and stood behind me, resting her hands gently on my shoulders.
“Marissa is carrying your child,” she said evenly. “She’s exhausted and in pain. And instead of making sure she’s cared for, you’re trying to send her away so you can party?”
“It’s just one night,” he mumbled.
“One night? And what if she goes into labor while you’re here getting drunk? What then? She calls an Uber to the hospital while you’re too wasted to drive?”
The room went dead silent.
“She’s gone to every appointment alone. She’s been asking you for months to help prepare for this baby. The nursery’s still a mess. You haven’t lifted a finger to make things easier for her.”
My eyes stung. Someone finally said it. Someone finally saw what I’d been feeling for months.
Linda’s voice softened, but her disappointment was sharp. “You’re treating this like it’s something happening to you, instead of something you’re supposed to be doing together.”
Tessa stared down at her plate. Chris cleared his throat. Lily’s little brow furrowed, picking up on the tension.
I pushed my chair back. “I’m going home.”
Linda’s hands squeezed my shoulders. “I’ll come with you. You shouldn’t be alone tonight.”
I turned to Lily. “Come on, sweetheart.”
“Is Daddy coming?” she asked.
I looked at Daniel, still sitting there, staring at his plate. “No, honey. Daddy wants to stay here.”
Her face fell, but she took my hand.
We left without another word.
The drive home was quiet except for Lily’s small voice. “Why is everyone mad?”
“Sometimes grown-ups have disagreements,” I told her.
“Are you and Daddy okay?”
I caught Linda’s eyes in the rearview mirror. She gave me a sad smile. “I don’t know, Lily. I really don’t know.”
Back at our house, Linda helped me get Lily ready for bed while I sank into the couch. My body felt heavy and sore.
“Grandma, will you read to me?” Lily asked.
“Of course.”
While they read upstairs, I sat there, thinking about my marriage—and how the man I’d built a life with could so easily put his own fun above his family.
Linda returned a little later with two cups of tea. “How long has he been like this?”
I hesitated. “Since I got pregnant. Maybe even before.”
The baby kicked hard against my ribs, making me gasp.
“They’re getting strong,” she said quietly.
“The doctor says it could be any day now.”
“Are you scared?” she asked.
I thought about it. “Not about the baby. I’m scared about everything else. About whether I can do this alone if I have to.”
“You won’t be alone,” she said firmly. “No matter what my son decides, you and those kids have me.”
The baby kicked again, and I placed my hands over my belly. “I keep wondering what I’ll tell this child one day—about their father choosing a party over being there for us.”
“You’ll tell them they were wanted,” Linda said. “Wanted by you and loved beyond measure. That’s the truth.”
The house felt different now—quieter, heavier. Daniel still hadn’t come home. I imagined him laughing with a beer in his hand, completely unaware of how much damage had been done.
The baby kicked again, harder this time. Almost like they’re ready to face this complicated world.
I whispered to my belly, “No matter what your daddy does, you’ll never doubt that you’re loved.”
I don’t know exactly what’s going to happen after the baby comes. But I do know one thing—some choices reveal more about a person than years of marriage ever could.
And last Tuesday night, my husband showed me exactly who he is.
