Instead, she turned toward the door.
“Your father will explain everything.”
Then she looked at me.
“You can’t give me the life I want, David. But Julian can.”
She walked out.
I followed her into the hallway, carrying Maya against my chest.
“Elena, please. At least say goodbye to the children.”
She paused with her hand on the doorknob.
For a moment, her shoulders moved as if she were struggling with something.
Then she opened the door.
And left.
No kiss for Maya.
No promise to call.
No explanation for the triplets who were now standing behind Chloe, staring at their mother as if they had just watched a stranger steal her face.
The door slammed.
Maya began crying.
Violet asked when Mom would come back.
Evelyn started crying because Violet was crying.
Charlotte ran upstairs and hid beneath her bed.
Stella stood frozen in the hallway.
Chloe said nothing.
