My heart sank. “I understand.”
“But I can tell you that she’s safe. She’s somewhere she can think clearly without distractions or pressure. And I can tell you that the daughter I raised doesn’t run away from problems she wants to solve. She runs away from problems she thinks are unsolvable.”
Problems she thinks are unsolvable.
“You’re saying she left because she thinks the situation is hopeless?”
“Yes, but if what you’re telling me is true, if you really do want to include her in your life with your son, then it’s not hopeless. It’s just complicated.”
“How do I prove that to her if I can’t find her?”
“You prove it by handling this situation the way you should have handled it from the beginning. You take care of your son. You confront his mother about what she did and why. You get to the bottom of how she manipulated both of you. You clean up the mess instead of trying to manage around it.” Mrs. Parker paused. “And then you show up for Chloe when she comes back,ready to build something real with her. Something that includes complete honesty.”
“Are you sure she’s coming back?”
“She left a note asking you to be moved out when she returned, didn’t she? She’s not running away forever, Sam. She thought she was giving you space to move out.”
After Chloe’s mom hung up, I sat at the kitchen table feeling like I’d just been given a roadmap for fixing the biggest mistake of my life.
At least I knew where to start. I called Jenna and arranged to meet her at 9:30 AM.
“I’m coming with you,” Harper said immediately when I told her what I’d done. You shouldn’t face this alone, and you need a witness to whatever conversation you’re about to have.” Harper was already reaching for her purse. “Plus, someone needs to be thinking clearly about Leo’s wellbeing in all this.” She pulled out her phone and typed quickly, then looked up. “Just letting Jack know where we’re going and why.”
She was right. I had no idea how Jenna would react to what I had to say, and having a third party present — someone calm and thinking clearly — made sense.
“Thank you,” I said. “For staying here last night, for helping me think through this, for–”
“For doing what friends do when someone they care about is in crisis,” Harper finished. “That’s what people who love you do, Sam. They show up. They help carry the weight. They don’t let you handle the hard stuff alone. You were there for me during the viper years when I needed someone. Now it’s my turn.”
They don’t let you handle the hard stuff alone.
I thought about those last two months of Harper’s pregnancy when Jack had completely disappeared to spend time with the viper. I’d been the one Harper called when the contractions started. I’d driven her to the hospital, held her hand throughlabor, and cut Emma’s cord. I’d helped Harper navigate those early weeks of new motherhood while Jack figured out how to be the man his family needed. I’d also been there for Jack, helping steer him back to his family.
If I’d remembered those lessons weeks ago, if I’d trusted Chloe enough to include her in the crisis from the beginning, none of this would have happened.
But I could do it now. Starting with accepting Harper’s help and Erin Parker’s guidance about how to prove myself worthy of her daughter’s love.
“Let’s go see my son,” I said.
Leo was watching cartoons on the TV when Jenna opened the door, and his face lit up when he saw me.
“Sam-Sam! Mommy said you were coming today!” He bounced off the bed and ran to hug my legs, but then hesitated halfway across the room, his eyes darting to Harper. “Who’s that?”
“This is my friend Harper,” I said gently, crouching down to his level. “She’s really nice. She has a little girl named Emma who’s four, just like you.”
Leo studied Harper for a long moment, then looked back at me. “Is she staying?”
“Just for a little bit. I brought you something.” I held up a small gift bag.
Leo’s eyes went wide. “For me?”
“For you.” I pulled out the bright red toy truck I’d picked up on the way over. “I thought you might like it.”
Leo’s face lit up completely, and for a moment, I saw pure, uninhibited joy. Then something shifted — a wariness creeping in as he looked from the truck to me to his mother.
“It’s yours, buddy.” I handed him the truck. “You can play with it whenever you want.”
Leo took it carefully, holding it like it might disappear if he wasn’t careful enough. “Thank you, Sam-Sam,” he whispered, then looked at Jenna. “Can I play with it now, Mommy?”
