"Mine says maybe Mommy comes back next year."
Natalie whispered, "I-I didn't know."
Owen answered before I could. "That's the problem! You never stayed long enough to know."
June added, "You said Dad couldn't give us a decent life. But he gave us every part of his."
Rosie, small and fierce from behind her brother, added, "I love Daddy."
That was it for me. I put a hand over my mouth because if I had not, I would have made a sound none of my children deserved to hear from their father. Tears ran down my face, and the strangest part was not the pain; It was pride.
These children had every reason to become hard. Instead, they became honest.
The strangest part was not the pain.
Maya walked to the front door and opened it. "You need to leave."
Natalie stared at her. "Maya, sweetheart, don't do this."
Maya looked at her without softening. "You already did."
***
I followed Natalie outside.
Her car was expensive in the way the rest of her was expensive. She clutched the box against her chest and turned on me with tears and fury.
"I came back because I needed them," she burst out.
Not missed. Not loved. Needed.
