Then I typed one question.
“Did he tell you I had agreed to him living in both homes?”
A few minutes later, a reply appeared.
“No. He told me you both understood that your marriage was emotionally finished and that you were only sharing a home because of Kieran.”
I read the message twice.
Then I replied.
“Thank you for explaining.”
I believed she was telling me what Callum had led her to believe.
And although I had plenty of questions, Elena wasn’t the person who had stood beside me and promised to build a life together.
Callum was the one who owed me honesty.
Two days afterward, Callum came over after finishing work.
“Kieran’s almost done with dinner,” I told him. “The parenting schedule is on the refrigerator.”
He leaned closer and spoke quietly.
“You’ve been talking to Elena.”
“She contacted me.”
“You shouldn’t have questioned her about our relationship.”
“You told her our marriage had effectively ended while telling me you were still committed to it.”
Callum glanced nervously toward the hallway.
“Can we please not argue where Kieran might hear?”
I nodded.
“Absolutely. We’ll discuss it once he’s asleep.”
My agreement seemed to surprise him.
That evening, Callum handled the entire bedtime routine.
He helped Kieran take his bath.
Packed his school backpack.
Read the familiar dinosaur story.
