PART 8

At 2:37, Allison said quietly, “You can put him down.”

I nodded.

I carried Mateo to the bassinet.

Then I came back.

“Allison?”

“What?”

“Can I ask you something?”

She looked tired.

“What?”

“Do you still want me here?”

She didn’t answer immediately.

Finally, she said, “I want you to want to be here.”

I swallowed.

“I do.”

“Then show me.”

I nodded.

She closed her eyes.

I went into the kitchen.

For the first time in three days, I cleaned it.

I took out the trash.

I washed the bottles. I put the towels in the dryer.

I wiped the counter.

Then I opened the refrigerator.

There was almost nothing inside.

So I made a list.

Groceries.

Medicine.

Baby supplies.

Breakfast.

Lunch.

Dinner.

Then I looked at the list.

I added one more thing.

Call Teresa.

I hated the idea.

But I called her anyway.

She answered on the second ring.

“Is Allison okay?”

“Yes.”

“Is Mateo okay?”

“Yes.”

A pause.

“Then why are you calling me?”

I closed my eyes.

“Because I think I need help.”

Silence.

Then Teresa said something I wasn’t prepared for.

“I’ve been waiting for you to say that.”

I leaned against the kitchen counter.

“Does Allison hate me?”

“No.”

“How do you know?”

“Because she keeps making excuses for you.”

That hurt.

“What did she say?”

“She said you were tired. She said you were overwhelmed. She said you didn’t know what you were doing.”

I stared at the floor.

Teresa’s voice softened.

“But I told her something.”

“What?”

“That being a new father doesn’t excuse being an absent husband.”

I nodded even though she couldn’t see me.

“I understand.”

“No, Daniel.”

Her voice became firm.

“You’re beginning to.”

I didn’t argue.

She told me she would come in the morning.

I thanked her.

Then I hung up.

I returned to the living room.

Allison was awake.

“You called my mother.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“I asked her to come tomorrow.”

She stared at me.

“Why?”

“Because you shouldn’t have to do this alone.”

She looked away.

For a moment, I thought she might cry.

Instead she said, “Thank you.”

It was the smallest thing.

But it was the first thank-you I’d earned.

I sat on the floor beside the couch.

I didn’t ask for forgiveness.

I didn’t promise that everything would magically change.

I simply stayed.

CONTINUE FOR NEXT PART….