At My Mother’s Funeral, a Woman Slipped a Baby Into My Arms and Said, ‘She Wanted You to Have Him’

“Your mom’s favorites. Try one, will you?”

“Are you coming in, Nadia?”

“I’m not hungry,” I mumbled, but took one anyway, just to keep her from worrying. Her eyes flicked to the mug in the sink. She started stacking containers.

“You slept at all?” she asked, peering at me over her glasses.

I shrugged, rubbing my forehead. “It’s all a blur. I keep thinking I’ll hear her singing in the kitchen or the bathroom.”