Eleven minutes and forty-three seconds, actually.
Sky
NOW WE DON’T HAVE TO CHOOSE!
we can do Xmas eve dinner with you, breakfast with dad, lunch with you, dinner with him, etc.
Addie
Or whatever arrangement works best for you.
The point is, we can see both of you without the long drive.
I stared at the screen until the words began to blur.
Twelve minutes.
There was a time when it was twelve seconds—the time it’d take me to walk down the hall to the living room recliner he dozed off in while watching the evening news. Gradually, the seconds between us became minutes. Then miles. Until the distance could have spanned the Pacific Ocean.
My ex-husband, whom I hadn’t seen in two years, was twelve minutes away—eleven minutes and forty-three seconds, if we were being precise. Close enough that I could probably see the smoke rising from his chimney if I looked hard enough.
Sky
we know it’s unconventional
Addie
But this way,everyone gets time together. We don’t lose a whole day traveling, and neither of you has to be alone on Christmas.
Everyone gets time together. As if we were a functional, divorced family who could handle proximity without imploding. Like two years of silence could be bridged by good intentions and a meticulously scheduled meal itinerary.
You said he lived down by Durango?—
I deleted the text and tried again.
You’re out of your goddamned minds if you think I’m going to?—
Eleven minutes and forty-three seconds is not FIVE HOURS LIKE YOU TOLD ME WHEN YOU GOT ME TO AGREE TO THIS STUPID TRIP?—
Christmas is canceled?—
No more DashPass, and you can forget about the Netflix login?—
I deleted each one before sending, smashing the little x in the corner of my screen like I wanted to do with their heads. Teddy and I hadn’t had a reason to speak to each other since the divorce was finalized. Our daughters were in their twenties and more than capable of communicating with their father without a middleman.
After several long, deep breaths, I managed to type:
Me
Wow. That’s very thoughtful of you both. I’m sure we can make it work.
Sky
YAY!!!!!!!
mom you’re the BEST
this is going to be perfect
