If He Had Been with Me, #2
If Only I Had Told Her
by Laura Nowlin
Contents
Autumn — Five
Overview
Autumn shops for baby essentials with her mother and Aunt Angelina at a resale store, choosing practical items and arranging delivery. She learns The Mothers will fund necessities, while her father departs for months in Japan and hints at abortion or adoption. Honest talk reframes early motherhood as isolating but survivable, and Autumn begins nesting with renewed resolve.
Summary
Autumn consults a minimalist online list for baby essentials and brings it to her mother, who counters with a far longer one. They compromise by letting Aunt Angelina pick the store, landing at a resale shop that initially disappoints Mom but soon wins her over.
While comparing changing tables, Autumn debates features until Aunt Angelina recommends a changer-bassinet combo, explaining its usefulness during the exhausting first months. Their talk corrects Autumn’s romanticized image of her and Finn as infants together, with Angelina admitting early motherhood was isolating and that she and Autumn’s mom mostly survived by phone calls.
Autumn worries about costs after leaving school, but Angelina reveals that she and Mom will cover expenses. This prompts Autumn to recall recent calls with her father: he will be in Japan for at least six months and subtly hopes she’ll choose abortion or adoption, though he’ll provide money. Autumn reaffirms she is keeping the baby and finds strength in The Mothers’ practical support.
Emotion rises; Angelina jokes that love and wisdom will be repaid in babysitting. Mom, now enthusiastic, confirms the store delivers, and they plan purchases. With finances arranged and essentials selected, Autumn starts to build her nest, embracing the challenge ahead despite the acknowledged loneliness of early motherhood.
Who Appears
- AutumnPregnant protagonist; shops for essentials, accepts support from The Mothers, rejects father’s pressure, and begins nesting.
- Aunt AngelinaGuides practical choices, shares candid truths about early motherhood’s loneliness, commits to funding and emotional support.
- MomInitially skeptical of resale, then enthusiastic; selects items, arranges delivery, and helps finance Autumn’s baby needs.
- SaleswomanBlue-haired clerk who offers help and confirms delivery details, grounding the shopping trip.
- Autumn’s fatherHeard via recent calls; leaving for months in Japan, provides money, hints at abortion or adoption.