“I went to Whole Foods yesterday.
The cashier there said I have to wait 4 weeks after giving birth before returning to work.
Of course, it's unpaid."
Then Yuko said.
“It’s illegal.
“You won’t be able to fire them for three months.”
“Yes, that’s right.
I told the cashier the same thing, but he just shrugged.”
Gemma said.
“I have a friend who lives in Copenhagen.
She took 18 months of leave after giving birth to her son.
“And that too, for a fee.”
Colette answered.
“In Canada, they keep a woman’s job for one year after she goes on maternity leave.
Did you know that the United States and Papua New Guinea are the only countries in the world that don't mandate paid vacation? And that's the United States, a country that values ​​family so highly.
--- p.51~52

“That was the pasta.”
Alma spoke from the far end of the long room.
It was too far for Winnie to hear.
I was sobbing that I couldn't speak here and there.
Alma sat on the soft leather sofa, holding a rosary in one hand, and, intermittently closing her eyes, waved a handful of crumpled toilet paper at the ceiling, mumbling a prayer in an unintelligible Spanish.
He said he had eaten too much pasta from home and was feeling sleepy, so he sat on the sofa and said goodnight to his baby at his sister's house on his phone.
Alma must have fallen asleep after that, but she glanced at Winnie with an embarrassed look on her face, insisting that it was out of character for her.
Alma's daughter was suffering from toothache and woke up four times the night before.
Alma woke up and checked the monitor.
But the cradle was empty.
“Did you not hear anything?”
--- p.75

Winnie was on TV.
But it wasn't the Winnie he knew.
Winnie on screen was a much younger teenager.
She stood on stage wearing a strapless gold dress with her hair loosely tied back.
And he was holding the arm of a woman who looked exactly the same but was a little older, and she was clearly Winnie's mother.
Another screen appeared.
Winnie was wearing a pastel-colored leotard top, a long tulle skirt, and ballet flats that laced up to her knees.
Francie picked up the remote control from the countertop and turned up the TV volume.
“……Gwendoline Ross was famous for her role in the hit drama “Bluebird” that aired in the early 1990s.”
--- p.92

“This morning we received a very disturbing photo.
This is a photo showing Winnie Ross from that very night.
“Perhaps at this very moment, Winnie’s baby, barely seven weeks old, was snatched from her crib.”
The camera zoomed in again on the photo.
This time it was a close-up of Winnie's face.
He was drunk, his mouth slightly open and his eyes half-closed.
“Look at this.
“I’m drunk.”
Patricia Faith continued.
“I really can’t help but ask.
What does this photo mean? Will it change the narrative we've been telling? Shouldn't it? Everyone has been focusing on the other side, on the police's inability to handle things properly, or on Bodhi, the man.
I also had doubts about what kind of person the nanny was.
But I don't know.
A new mother, a woman who had given birth only a few weeks ago, left her baby at home and went out.
So you went and played like in this picture? I guess the meaning of motherhood has changed these days, so maybe this is acceptable?
--- p.228

"that's right.
And Mr. Ross drank too.
Do you remember how much Mr. Ross drank that night?
“You already asked.
“Last time.”
Nell steeled herself and calmed down.
“Honestly, what does it matter whether I drink or not?”
“What does it matter?”
"is it so.
What does drinking have to do with the incident? I don't think Winnie drank that night.
Because I ordered iced tea.
And I don't know what they're saying on cable news, but women who have children have the right to drink alcohol."
--- p.241

“I was dying to take that woman home.
I wanted to put you to bed.
“I should have torn that dress.”
The man removed his hand from between Frances's legs, grabbed her wrist, and rubbed his palms together harder, making her move faster.
The man closed his eyes and opened his mouth.
“Winnie, damn it.
“That woman was so sexy I could kill her.”
Francie felt tears welling up in her eyes.
The man's low moan echoed throughout the room.
People looked at this sight.
The two workers next to the billiard table were both motionless, holding their billiard cue sticks like pitchforks and looking in this direction.
Frances was crying, but Archie didn't seem to notice.
He rested his head on the back of the sofa and stared at the ceiling, licking the sweat off his upper lip with his tongue.
“That woman’s baby.
“Kidnapping is ridiculous.”
He shook his head and picked up his glass to finish his beer.
“I hope the police catch that woman soon and question her.
“She was a woman with a total sweet tooth.”

--- p.344~345