My Wife Said Nothing — Just Left Our Babies and a Note. The Reason? I Ignored Important Sign (3 of 5)

“There he is!” she chirped. “Let me see my granddaughters!”

I didn’t say a word. Just stared at the wine in her hand. She always had one, ever since the baby shower. That same stemmed glass, like it was glued to her fingers. She called it her “little evening ritual.” Sometimes it was her “morning calm,” too. Just a sip or two, she’d say, with a wink.

“Not now, Mom,” I said. “What did you do to Margaret?”

Her smile froze.

“What are you talking about?” she replied too quickly. “I haven’t done anything. She was lucky to have me around.”

But I could already feel the cracks forming.

Later that night, when the house had gone quiet and the twins were finally asleep, I sat at the kitchen table, Margaret’s note in front of me. My mother was in the living room, wine glass half-full again, the bottle already sweating on the coffee table.

I opened the diaper bag to grab a burp cloth—and found a wrinkled hospital form instead.

Postpartum Depression – Positive Risk Indicator.
Patient referred for psychological support. Advised to avoid judgmental environments.
Concerns expressed about lack of emotional support.

That’s when it hit me.

The way my mother always offered unsolicited advice wrapped in sweet poison.