My son sobbed the entire drive to his grandmother’s house. “Daddy, please don’t leave me here.” My wife snapped, “You’re babying him.” I left him anyway. Three hours later, a neighbor called. “Your little boy ran to my house shaking. He’s hiding under my bed and won’t stop crying.”

Owen clutched the seat belt buckle with both hands as if it were the only thing tethering him to safety. “Please, Mommy.”

“Do not start.”

William was out of the car in an instant. “I’ve got him.”

Marsha glared but stepped aside. William knelt on the driveway beside the open door. “Hey,” he said softly. “Buddy. Look at me.”

Owen looked up, eyes huge and wet.

William unbuckled him carefully. When he lifted him out, Owen wrapped around his neck with such force William nearly lost his balance. The child’s heart hammered against his chest. William held him tight and closed his eyes for one second too long.

“I love you,” he whispered into Owen’s hair. “I’ll pick you up Sunday evening. Okay? Just two days.”

“Promise?” Owen asked, voice muffled against his neck.

“I promise.”