at the kitchen table. Her shoulders were shaking, her face buried in her hands. It

ing through his phone like nothing was happ

had another one o

t the weather. An "episode" was his and his

go back home. D

She watched our two-year-old, Maya, while I worked my paralega

t... Ethan, she can' t go back to h

t his phone down. "Nicole, it' s not up for discuss

ing at a wall again? We should hire a home

t a stranger in the house? Be

t. He stood up and walked over to the kitchen, completely ignoring Maria' s sile

will go home. The real problem is May

assessing. The unspoken words hung

me. My student loans aren' t going to pay th

f his beer. "A nanny? You want a

ills," I said, my voice tight.

e' ll see about that, and went back to the couch, leaving me

eyes red and swollen. She tried t

, Nicole. I'

was lying.

r small bag. Maya toddled over, hold

said, her little vo

ged Maya tightly. "Grandma has to go see

s forehead. I felt a surge of anger at Ethan, a

elping her to her feet. "We can figure something els

of a lifetime of fear. "It' s easier

mpatient. "Is she ready? T

movements rough, and started walking toward the door. He t

his expectations. In that moment, he looked so much like the old man he claimed to despise.