Garrett would come home from work and scoop Nora up, spinning her around till she laughed nonstop. We’d have family movie nights on Fridays, all three of us on the couch with popcorn and blankets.
“We’re so lucky,” I’d tell him as we watched Nora sleep in her crib. “Look what we built together.”
He’d squeeze my hand and nod. “This is exactly what I always wanted.”
Now, at 35, my days were all about kindergarten drop-offs, ballet classes, and bedtime stories. I loved being Nora’s mom and Garrett’s wife.
Having a safe, comfy routine made me think we’d made it. I believed our life was perfect and we were building something worth keeping. I didn’t see the problems hiding underneath.
That all changed on a normal Tuesday afternoon.
I was folding laundry in the hall when I froze. From Nora’s room came a soft whisper, her little voice saying words that made my stomach drop. I’ll never forget that sound.
“Don’t worry, Teddy. Mommy won’t be mad. Daddy said she’ll never find out.”
My heart skipped.
