a child called it

David loves Kevin so much because of something his mother told him. David's mother said that his baby brother would be born with birth defects because of something David had done during her pregnancy, and David was devastated to learn that such an awful thing would be his fault.... his brother hadn't even been born yet, and he had hurt him. When Kevin was born, he was perfect, and David was filled with relief. The fact that he was alright reassured David. It also proved that the things his mother says to him aren't directed at something David has done, but rather as a way of coping with her own fears about the pregnancy.