the car.”
I closed my eyes.
“No, Rick. I’m not mad at you.”
“Are you mad at Mom?”
I paused.
“I was hurt by what happened.”
“Because she said we might not come this weekend.”
I swallowed.
“That’s not your fault.”
“Can we still come?”
“Yes.”
“Really?”
“Of course.”
I heard Noah shouting somewhere in the background.
“Dad! Are we still having pizza?”
I laughed.
“Absolutely.”
Rick laughed too.
Then he asked:
“Are you and Mom getting back together?”
I froze.
“No.”
“Okay.”
There was a strange relief in his voice.
“Why okay?”
“Because I like you better when you’re happy.”
I didn’t know what to say.
So I said the only thing I could.
“I love you, buddy.”
“I love you too.”
When the call ended, I sat alone in my office for several minutes.
That was when I finally understood what Laura had failed to understand.
I hadn’t
