I almost took a step after him.
Then I looked toward the stairs, where Sam was coughing in his room, and stopped.
She’s fine with it.
For the first time in our marriage, I let him walk away without chasing after him.
He stepped into the hallway and I heard his voice go soft and eager the way it never went for me anymore.
“Yes, Mom. Yes. I told her. No, she’s fine with it.”
She’s fine with it.
I stood in the middle of my own kitchen, and something quiet slid into place inside my chest. Not anger yet. Something colder. Something patient.
Two days later, they were gone. The house smelled like Vicks and burnt toast. Ellie was finally sleeping through the night, and Sam was keeping down toast and applesauce.
There was no work bonus.
Ellie handed me a drawing of the three of us.
“Daddy’s on vacation,” she explained.
