IN'S

barking here and there. I sat on one of the benches, looking at Jamie as he ran to the playground,

f life and en

didn't have time for women, I see them as distraction. But I once made a mistake of having a one-night with my secretary on a business trip. But we both wen

going to meetings and travelling. My life was all about work and building th

the time to pr

ress moved gently in the breeze. She pushed him o

the bench, letting

ssistant for year

knew my plans better than I did, knew what I needed before I asked, and remained c

ht that chang

late nights and too many drinks. I wasn't the type to mix busines

ght, someth

e stress of the deal, maybe it was the way she laughed at something

ad leaned in. And sh

s a m

hat we both decide

ersations. Just an unspoken agree

work as if not

w months later

it at the time-people left jobs all the time. She was good at wh

st let

Never checked in. Never once consider

years later, I

as pregnant. Because she h

regnancy and given birth a

tried to stop her

fists, a feeling of

I have m

I had just gone on with my life,

y on the swing chains as she pushed him forward. She laughe

differ

was a mother. There

The sharp, confident woman I h

ugh. Being a single mother, raising Jamie on her own, and suddenly steppin

mething in her when I

my chest tw

past. I couldn't tak

ight by her now.

right thing to do. Because Jamie dese

't lov

he didn't lo

od husband to her and a

the playground. She gave me a

I stood up. I wa

smiling. He looked up at me.

. "I see, buddy.

laughter filling t

k you for doing this with

into my pockets. "Yeah. I'm happy I finall

nt, it was as if something a

covered it up with a smile,

in some other time." s

sita

house. Our marriage wasn't built on love or affectio

with our son, somet

l always be there for her, after everything she's been through. And

lly said. "May

and she look

is going to bring, but ther

ady failed

t fail th

around the park for hours, now he was sitting on a bench no

close to the swi

e was something I had been thinking about

gs right, about been there for both of

out slow

e and raised an

stake? What if she says no? What if she thi

sn't about love or romance. I

ack of my neck. Maybe we should go

inked.

ferently, but we're married now. Maybe it would be good if we sp

prise. She didn't say a

as if she was going to say som

saw something in her eyes–hesitation, f