Through the Door, Partially Closed

Got back late from the B&N and had something to eat. About 11:45 got a call from the little boy's mom. She sounded distressed and asked to talk to my son. I thought, "OMG, I wonder what's happened," as I handed him the phone. He'd been asleep and reached for the cordless as I handed it through the partially closed door.

I stood there as he started to talk. I wasn't going to leave until I knew. Even if he'd closed the door fully, I'd still have stood there. Then I saw the beginning of a smirk on his face. "It's OK, buddy, Poppa will come get you," he said to his son. Then, to the little boy's mom, "My dad's leaving right now to come pick him up."

When I got to the house, she could hardly talk. The little boy was in his pajamas and she helped him get into his winter coat and boots. He started for the door and I said, "Hey, give your mommy a kiss good-bye." She hesitated and then said, "Bye, I love you." It was the first time I'd heard her say it that way.

I said to her, "Are you OK?" She looked at me and then looked away and I knew that she was not...