“Then you’ll stay?”
“Not tonight.”
His face fell.
“I need to know you’ll still mean it tomorrow.”
I went upstairs and packed a small bag.
Graham appeared in the doorway.
“Want help, Mom?”
“No, honey. I’ve got it.”
He hesitated.
“I’m sorry if we made things harder.”
“You didn’t make your father say those things.”
“We just wanted him to understand.”
“He needed to hear you.”
I touched his cheek.
“And I needed to hear myself.”
Downstairs, Tobin hugged me tightly.
“I’m only going to Aunt Laurel’s,” I reminded him.
“I know.”
Wade stood beside the kitchen table. The pizza boxes were still closed, and the television was dark.
He looked at my bag.
“Will you call me?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll be here.”
I hoped he understood that being there wasn’t the same as changing.
At the door, I turned.
“Wade?”
He looked up.
