The Breakup That Set Her Free

at our daughter's school, my husband Lanc

ing in the classroom next door, attending t

pressing her love to hi

umber for the third tim

ess trip right now," he said, h

with an expectant look on her face. My heart ached as I replied, "To

g pause before

I trust you can handle it. We'll talk when I get back." He added, almost as an afte

only the dial tone in my ear, dee

was six, yet the number of times he'd been

ck into my pocket, trying to figure o

f my eye, I saw Lance sitting

n his arms, her tiny hands wra

ded the girl a lollipop. Following tho

breath hitched as I recognized

Fleck, Lance's

t him with adoration, her voice sugary

armly and replied, "Daddy l

d pieces. I stood there, frozen,

nth ago, casually dropping her name int

y we're partnering with," he had said. "After ten years, s

ly, knowing all too well how

He seemed to finally notice my unease a

and she already has a child now, " he assured me. "Thou

it. Lance never tr

member so clearly that the

he had a child and

om ten years ago or the Lance who married me ten years la

ild together did

ed us to choose his ex-gi

ughout all those days and nights, he had been

nsferred schools; otherwise, he would

ance came hom

till sitting on the sofa, he paused

" he asked, his voice casua

nt scent of woman's perfume clinging t

poured a glass of water,

nt of her perfume hit me, a

eacher meeting, where he had held Ja

to twist her ankle and fall onto the lawn. Lance had rushed to he

be so clumsy?" he had teased, ma

tenderness and attention. It was as if I had been living in

teasing. "It's because you're here t

on't have to worry about anything.

t you used to tell me,

, Lance's hand ha

ction in their eyes was undeniable, a l

ight be wonderful; to m

r now, Jane always had a way o

a segment, and popped it into my mouth.The so

me like that? Is there

aring at him, Lance put down his cup

still cared a

on a business trip today? H

y, and then he gave

ects, so I went and ca

I missed my wife a

to give me a hug, but

to embrace m

e. Let's

he planned to take Hanna to the

ppily bounced on her little leg

ade me feel disoriented, as if this was a

e same thing to another girl too. Ho

eared my schedule this weekend to spend time with you and Hanna. Y

s arms around

less times, from the initial comf

took a f

the emptiness in our relationship st

d arrived

carried Hanna with one arm, he

e carousel, he too

first date at a

ream came from the direction o

uickly gath

, Lance, holding Hanna and my hand, w

its safety checks. There's always something

at all that b

no dad around, just the mom.

ou alright?.

, had no trouble spotting

rd the name "Haley,"

going on when I caught the dee

Hanna into my arms and bolted through

landed on the scene. There, sprawled on

while Jane looked utterly helpless, her voice trembling a

uched beside them, scooping the little girl into his

aky. "The safety bar on the pirate ship just... i

ears. "Lance, what do I do? She's bleeding

rapped an arm around Jane's

, his voice steady. "I'm here. N

ay he comforted her-it was

as ready to climb in with them,

nk you're going? Hanna's

aused s

and tightly held h

, it h

spersed, Lance's wor

an't just leave her. I'll take her to th

n, he cho

hat girl call Daddy 'Daddy' too? And why does Daddy igno

shing down the anger and

ng a smile. "This time, we're t

here for us. But his heart had always been somewhere