I keep waiting for the sound of the door, for his voice, for any sign that maybe he still remembers how to show up for us.
But the house stays still. And all I can do is sit there, clutching my phone, and pretend I still believe he will.
“Ceci.”
I wake to Colin’s voice in my ear, his warm hand cupping my cheek. For a second, I lean into it, letting myself sink into the comfort. Until the thought slams into me.
Alicia.
My eyes snap open to find him leaning over me. I pull away instantly, pushing myself upright on the couch.
“What time is it?” I mumble, still half-asleep.
He glances at his watch, taking just long enough to make me wonder if he’s forgotten how to read the thing.
“About nine forty.”
“Perfect timing to pick Alicia up from the party… and, conveniently, not enough time to actually see her before she leaves.” The irony in my voice is plain.
He closes his eyes, dragging in a slow breath.
“I’m sorry. There was an emergency I couldn’t avoid. Otherwise I would have come earlier.”
I tilt my head at him, studying him carefully. “Interesting. That’s the exact same lie I told her.”
His eyes widen a fraction. “What do you mean?”
“Exactly what you heard, Colin. I lied to our daughter. I told her you’d texted about an emergency you couldn’t get out of. Because no matter how old she gets, she’ll always put you on a pedestal… and thinking you don’t care would hurt her far more than she’ll ever let on.”
His shoulders sag as he steps closer, hands coming up to cradle my face.
“Don’t say that. You know I love our kids, and you, more than anything,” he murmurs, brushing a kiss against my cheek. “I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to her. To all of you.”
He keeps going, placing soft kisses along my face. My nose, my cheekbone, my eyelids, my forehead. I close my eyes and breathe out slowly.
“I lied to her, Colin.”
“I know, love.”
“I hate lies. And Ethan could tell I was lying. What am I teaching him… watching me scramble to smooth things over, once again, because you weren’t here?”
He rests his forehead against mine, the tip of his nose brushing mine.
“I’m really sorry, Ceci. What else do you want me to say?”
I step back, just enough to look him straight in the eyes.
“Be here for them. Time is moving, and you’re missing pieces of their lives. The company will survive. But our children change with every season.”
A smile tugs at his lips. “Did I ever tell you how much I love that lyrical tone of yours?”
I wrinkle my nose at him and move to step away, but he pulls me in, kissing me. Slow at first, tasting, coaxing… then deeper, his tongue brushing against mine, his arms gathering me tight against his chest.
When I feel him guiding me toward the stairs, his intention clear, I break the kiss, pressing my palms flat against his chest as I push him back.
“I have to pick Alicia up from prom soon.”
He lets his head rest against my shoulder with a frustrated sigh. “I’ll take you,” he murmurs, kissing my forehead before stepping back.
