“Grandma!”
Her voice filled the apartment before I had time to prepare myself.
“Hello, sweetheart.”
“We brought you something.”
“That was kind.”
“It’s not food because Daddy said airport food costs too much and Mommy said not everything in Hawaii counts as airport food.”
In the background, Rebecca said, “Emily.”
“What?”
I smiled despite myself.
“What did you bring me?”
“It’s a surprise.”
“Then you shouldn’t tell me.”
“I didn’t.”
“You called me to tell me you had a surprise.”
“That doesn’t count.”
I could hear Jack laughing.
Something inside me softened.
The children knew nothing.
To them, Hawaii had been beaches, hotel breakfasts, sunscreen, and a week without homework.
Good.
That was exactly how it should remain.
“Will you be home when we get there?” Emily asked.
The question caught me.
“No, sweetheart.”
“Where are you?”
“I have an apartment for a little while.”
Silence.
“Why?”
I chose my words carefully.
“Because sometimes grown-ups realize they need to change something in their lives.”
“Did we do something?”
“No.”
I answered so quickly that there could be no doubt.
“You and Jack did absolutely nothing. I love you both exactly the same as I did before your trip.”
