Chapter 3
I brought the children home at five on Sunday.
Eli had fallen asleep in the car. Ava carried the kite, its string wound around her wrist. I had told them we would all talk before I left. Ava wanted to know if the conversation would be loud.
“I’m going to keep my voice calm,” I said. “That’s my part.”
Nia opened the door before we reached the porch. Her eyes went straight to the children.
“Did you have fun?”
Ava held up the kite. Eli gave her a sleepy hug.
Inside, Nia’s mother, Denise, stood beside the dining table. I hadn’t known she would be there.
“Marcus,” she said.
“Denise.”
Nia had told me she would speak to the kids with me. Seeing Denise made me wary, but I could feel Eli’s hand in mine. I focused on him.
We sat in the living room. Ava took one end of the couch, Eli the other. Nia sat between them.
“I need to tell you something,” Nia said. Her voice trembled. “On Friday, I was worried and upset. I said your dad might not come because I was afraid of being disappointed. That was wrong.”
Ava looked from Nia to me.
“Daddy wanted us?”
“Yes,” Nia said. “He wanted you. He came at the time he said he would.”
Eli pulled at a loose thread on his cuff. “Why were you afraid?”
Nia glanced at Denise. “I’ve had a lot on my mind. None of it is your fault.”
“Is Dad taking us away?” Eli asked.
The question landed in the middle of the room. Denise’s face changed. Nia closed her eyes.
I moved to the edge of my chair. “Buddy, who told you that?”
“No one.” His cheeks reddened. “I heard Mom say it.”
Nia reached for him. “I was talking about a grown-up worry. I should have made sure you couldn’t hear.”
“But is he?”
“No,” I said. “I’m here to spend time with you. I’m not here to take you from your mom.”
I glanced at Nia. She nodded.
“We’re both your parents,” she told him. “That isn’t changing.”
Eli let her hold his hand. Ava leaned against her other side.
For a few minutes, the room felt lighter. The children went to put their bags away. I heard Ava calling to Eli from upstairs.
Then Denise crossed her arms.
“You’re pleased with yourself, aren’t you?” she said to me.
“Mom,” Nia warned.
“I asked him a question.”
“I’m glad Nia talked to them,” I said. “That’s what they needed.”
Denise gave a short laugh. “They also need someone who shows up the other five days of the week.”
“I know what Nia does for them.”
“Do you? Because you get the weekends. You get the park and pancakes. She gets the dentist, the school calls, and every night Eli lies awake.”
I looked at Nia. “I can take more of that on.”
“You’ve said it before,” Denise said.
She wasn’t entirely wrong. During our marriage, I had worked long hours and assumed Nia would handle appointments because she always had. After we separated, I had tried to change, but old habits did not disappear just because I wanted them to.
“I’m asking now,” I said. “Send me the appointments. Put me on the school calls.”
Nia lowered herself into a chair. “The school has your number.”
“They called you first.”
“Because Eli asked for me.”
“Then call me after. I want to help.”
Denise looked ready to argue again. Nia held up a hand.
“Marcus, there’s something you should know.”
I waited.
“My lease ends in six weeks. The owner is selling the house.”
I glanced around the living room. Nia had painted it herself when we moved in, before the divorce. Ava’s height marks were still penciled on the kitchen doorframe.
“Have you found another place?”
“Not yet. I’ve been looking.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I found out Monday. I wanted a plan before I told anyone.”
Denise sat beside her. “I said she and the kids could stay with me.”
“Two bedrooms for five people,” Nia said. “And they’d have to change schools.”
I thought of Ava asking which home was real. Suddenly I understood why Nia had been frightened of the children getting used to things.
“You can use my spare room while you look,” I said.
Nia stared at me. “The four of us living together again? You know that would confuse them.”
“You’re right.” I had spoken too quickly. “Let me help with the search, then. I can take the kids after school when you need to view places.”
“I don’t need you to rescue me.”
“I’m offering childcare.”
Her shoulders dropped a little.
Denise’s phone rang. She glanced at it and stepped into the hall. Nia watched her go.
“The rent I can afford isn’t finding us much,” she said quietly. “I’ve been working extra shifts.”
“You should have told me.”
“I was afraid you’d decide I couldn’t manage.”
I took a breath. “I’m worried about what the kids heard. I’m also worried you’re carrying this alone. Both things can be true.”
Nia looked down. “I know.”
The children came downstairs before we could say more. Ava had changed into pajamas even though it was barely six. Eli carried the blue blanket from my apartment.
“Can this stay here?” he asked.
“Sure,” I said. “I’ll keep another one at my place.”
He smiled and ran to put it on his bed.
At the door, I asked Nia to send me the school calendar and the dates she needed help. She promised she would.
I drove home feeling more hopeful than I had that morning. We had told the children the truth. Nia had let me see what she was afraid of.
At a red light, my phone rang through the car speakers.
It was Denise.
“I don’t want to fight with you,” she said when I answered.
“Then why are you calling?”
“Because I need to ask what you plan to do about the papers.”
“What papers?”
Silence filled the car.
“You haven’t seen them,” she said.
The light turned green. I stayed where I was until the driver behind me honked.
May you like
“Denise. What papers?”
“She didn’t tell you?”
