set the table, filled glasses with water and settled in her chair. âI missed you. Chatterbox and all. We donât see enough of each other.â
âIf youâd come home more often, we could.â Melissa clamped a hand over her lips and shook her head. âI am so sorry. Nate said my mouth was going to get me into trouble one of these days. Heâs right, you know. I didnât mean that the way it sounded, Linds. Believe me. I just meantââ
âRelax. I know what you meant. And youâre right. I should have come home more. It was just so hardâ¦so painful, you know?â Lindsey scooped some of the chicken casserole onto her plate. A few minutes ago, the savory herbs made her mouth water, but now her stomach ached. âHow could I stay and risk running into the happy family at the grocery store? Or church? Or hang out with the same friends I shared with Stephen?â
âIâm sure it would have been hard at first. I donât think your friends would have felt like they had to choose sides. They loved both of you. But now youâre back.â
Although her family and friends said they understood, no one truly did. She did what was best for everyoneâsheâd left. But now she was back. And her heart still ached just as much.
Â
âMommy!â
Stephen slapped the snooze button on the alarm clock before his sleep-induced brain kicked into gear and realized it wasnât time to crawl out of bed yet. He forced an eyelid half-open and squinted at the clock.
3:04 a.m.
He groaned.
âMommy!â
He flung back the covers and dragged his fatigued body out of bed. Using the hall night-light as a guide, he stumbled to Tylerâs bedroom.
He stifled a yawn as he edged his way to Tylerâs bed. The Spider-Man night-light in Tyâs room cast a reddish glow across the carpet. Stephen thought it looked creepy, but Ty insisted on it.
As usual, the blankets were twisted with one end coiled around Tyâs leg. Ty huddled in the corner of his bed, clutching a crinkled photo and one of Bethanyâs T-shirts. His eyes wide and unfocused.
Stephen picked him up and cradled his stiff body against his chest. He dried Tyâs tears with the hem of his T-shirt and rubbed Tyâs back as he rocked him back and forth.
âShh, Ty, youâre okay. Iâm here.â
âI want Mommy. My arm hurts.â
âIâll get the medicine. Iâll be right back.â Stephen started to lay Ty on his pillow, but Ty wrapped his good arm around Stephenâs neck.
âNo! Donât go! You wonât come back!â
âYes, I will.â But instead of arguing, Stephen carried him to the bathroom across the hall. He flicked on the light and winced at the sudden brightness. Tyler buried his face in Stephenâs shoulder.
He fumbled for the bottle of childrenâs ibuprofen and managed to measure out the correct dose of orange liquid without spilling it all over the counter. He handed it to Ty and waited as the kid downed the pain reliever. Stephen filled a plastic Spider-Man cup with water and gave Ty a drink.
âAll better?â
Still drinking, Ty nodded, spilling a few drops on his blue-and-red pajama top.
âEasy, tiger. Youâre giving Spidey a bath.â Stephen eased the cup out of Tyâs grip and dried off his face and shirt. He tossed the hand towel next to the sink.
âCan I sleep in Mommyâs bed?â
Stephen shook his head. âWe talked about this, remember? You need to sleep in your bed.â
âCan I sleep in your bed? Please? Just tonight? My arm hurts.â A tear slid down Tyâs cheek and splatted against the blue sling in his lap.
Stephenâs heart splintered. He couldnât fight this.
With Tyâs legs wrapped around him, Stephen stumbled back to his own room. He tucked Ty into the king-size bed and settled beside him.
âDad?â
âHmm?â
âDoes Mommy
Rebecca Hamilton, Conner Kressley