Eric never came.
I never received another phone call from him.
Raising the girls cost me things.
I don’t say that because I regret it.
But pretending otherwise would be a lie.
I never finished the business courses I once planned to take.
I turned down a management position in Columbus because it required relocating in the middle of Lily’s junior year.
I skipped vacations.
I sold my motorcycle when Brooke needed dental surgery.
I cashed out a tiny retirement account when Sophie received an opportunity to attend a summer academic program in Washington.
And then there was Rachel.
Rachel Bennett was the closest I ever came to building another life.
We met when the girls were eight.
She taught English at their elementary school.
She was funny, stubborn, and completely unimpressed by my attempts at charm.
For almost five years, Rachel stayed.
She came to softball games.
