“Hey, you,” he said, his voice so affectionate I could have died. I sniffled and he said, “What’s wrong? Where are you?”
I laughed. “No, I’m fine. I’m really good. They might—” I cut myself off with sobs, “have a medicine that will work for me. For my pain. All the time.”
Jack gasped on the other end of the phone. “Mara, that’s so incredible. What amazing news! When can you get the meds?”
“They have to send it to a special compounding pharmacy, but I’m just,” I sucked a choppy breath, “I’m so relieved there’s a chance I’ll feel better.”
Jack’s voice sounded garbled when he spoke again. “Mara, I’m so happy for you.”
“That’s what all this was for,” I said with a hiccup. “I’m sorry I’m crying so hard.”
“Don’t apologize, sweetheart. It’s the best news.”
“What if it doesn’t work?” I coughed out.
“Hey,” he said, waiting for me to calm down a little. “Then we’ll try the next thing. Okay? This is just the beginning.”
My teeth almost chattered with all the emotions pouring out. “Just the beginning. You mean you’re not divorcing me since you solved my problem?”
“Of course not, baby.” He hesitated. “I’m in this for good.”
For good.
“Yeah?”
“Yes. I can’t wait to see you tonight. We can celebrate.”
I almost said it right then.Love you.But I wasn’t ready just yet. And I knew he wasn’t ready.
But everything was starting to feel so real.
THIRTY-SEVEN
JACK
DECEMBER
I heardJace’s signature wail when I got out of the car in our garage. I braced, expecting to hear the accompanying frantic “it’s okay!” from Sydney, but it wasn’t there.
Instead, I heard Mara’s calm voice—and Jace actually listening to her.
“It can feel scary or embarrassing when we have accidents, can’t it?”
I froze, listening for Jace’s response. “I don’t like it,” he sniffled.
“I know, buddy. Accidents happen. It’s no big deal. Next time we’ll listen when our tummy starts talking, and we’ll make it to the potty on time. Let’s go get you cleaned up, and then do you want to practice letters with Asp and Harp?”
“Okay,” came his mumble.
I opened the door to find a peaceful scene despite Jace’s apparent accident, which I could still smell. Poor guy.
Aspen and Harper sat at their little table, drawing. Hazel ran at me as fast as her little toddler legs could carry her, wearing her bright smile.
“Hi, Hazey Mazey,” I said, picking her up and kissing her cheek. Her arms clung to me, her sweet little hug. “Hey, you two over there! Whatcha drawin’?”
I leaned to hug Aspen and Harper, then patted Hazel’s butt to find a soggy diaper. “Looks like somebody else needs a change too. Let’s go find your mama, eh?”
“Eh,” Hazel echoed, something she’d started doing. It made me realize just how often I sounded Canadian because anytime I said “eh,” a little red-headed parrot repeated me.
