Chapter 2

"Is Sophie still mad at me?"

It was after eleven when Ethan finally came home.

I was in the kitchen cleaning up the pizza the kids hadn't finished.

"She's asleep."

"Maya's fine." He took off his coat. "The doctor said they were Braxton Hicks contractions and sent her home to rest."

I put the plates in the dishwasher.

"So you missed the entire concert."

Ethan frowned.

"Claire, I already explained. She thought she might be going into preterm labor. I couldn't just leave her alone at the hospital."

"I didn't ask you to leave her there. I asked why you couldn't even send us one text."

"I didn't have a chance."

I looked at him.

"Sophie waited for you all night."

Ethan was silent for a few seconds, then his voice softened.

"I'll apologize to her tomorrow."

"What about her science fair last month?"

He visibly paused.

"What?"

"The day you went to help Maya put together the crib."

His expression stiffened.

"Sophie told you?"

I didn't answer.

Ethan rubbed his forehead.

"Maya's crib was delivered early that day. She's pregnant. There was no way she could move it by herself."

"And you didn't tell me you'd promised Sophie you'd be at her science fair, either."

"At least our kids have both of us." He looked at me. "Maya has no one."

There it was again.

As if having me meant our children could simply do with less of their father.

The next morning, Ethan drove Sophie to school.

When he came back, he left his phone on the kitchen island and went upstairs to change.

The screen suddenly lit up.

Maya—OB Appointment, 10:30 AM

I had only meant to glance at it.

But his calendar was still open on the screen.

Friday: Maya—Prenatal Class.

Next Tuesday: Maya—32-Week Checkup.

There were more after that. A hospital tour, prenatal classes, even her due date.

Every single one had a reminder set.

I stared at those entries and suddenly thought of Noah.

Next Thursday was Family Reading Day at his school.

Just yesterday at breakfast, he had asked Ethan if he could come.

Ethan had said, "Remind me."

I flipped to next Thursday.

Blank.

Not a single word.

Footsteps sounded on the stairs.

I put the phone down.

Ethan walked into the kitchen and picked up his coffee.

"I'll be home early tonight."

"What's happening next Thursday?"

He paused.

"Next Thursday?"

"At Noah's school."

His expression gave me my answer.

"Right. Reading Day," he said quickly. "I remember."

"It's not on your calendar."

Ethan looked at his phone.

"You went through my calendar?"

"The screen lit up."

His brows drew together.

Just then, the phone buzzed again.

Maya had sent him an ultrasound photo.

Underneath it was a message:

Thanks for always being there. I don't know what I'd do without you.

Ethan immediately picked up his phone.

"She's just thanking me for going to the hospital with her yesterday."

I hadn't asked.

But he was already explaining.

I watched him slip the phone into his pocket and suddenly realized it wasn't her message that truly bothered me.

It was his calendar.

Every one of Maya's checkups. Every class. Even the date her baby hadn't been born yet.

He remembered them all.

But the two hours Noah needed his father sitting in a classroom next week weren't even on there.

Instead, Ethan expected us to remind him.