She had no answer.
From the living room came a small laugh.
Miles had grabbed Tessa’s sleeve, and Tessa was gently trying to free it without pulling him toward her.
I watched her for a second.
She was still taking care of him even after she had already done far too much.
That decided something for me.
“We’re done talking about the phone tonight.”
Their mother looked startled.
“Grant—”
“The kids need food, baths, and sleep. Tomorrow can hold the rest.”
She asked what that meant for us.
I told her I didn’t know yet.
That wasn’t punishment.
It was the truth.
Dictionaries & Encyclopedias
What I did know was simpler.
Tessa would not be left responsible for Miles again.
No child would be used as a cover story.
No adult conversation about the affair would happen in front of either kid.
And for the immediate future, I was changing my work schedule so I could be certain the kids had appropriate adult care while everything else got sorted out.
