“A lot of the time.”
“I really thought he’d help.”
“You need to come home. Everything is falling apart.”
“I know. But the project was still yours to finish. Next time, don’t leave yourself depending on someone else’s promise.”
He was quiet again.
“I should’ve started the slides earlier,” he admitted.
“Next time, you will.”
The next day, Eric called.
“Do you know how much takeout costs?”
“You need to come home. Everything is falling apart.”
“Then start taking care of it.”
“Do you know how much takeout costs?”
“Yes. I managed our budget.”
“Apparently, you managed everything.”
That Thursday, Nigel sent me a photograph of his school uniform hanging to dry.
That was the first honest thing he’d said.
For years, he’d called those things easy. Now he wanted me back.
I refused.
That Thursday, Nigel sent me a photograph of his school uniform hanging to dry.
Underneath, he’d written:
Did it myself. Checked the label this time.
The following Sunday, his sister invited everyone to dinner, supposedly to discuss the situation.
I hadn’t reminded him.
Then Eric started telling our relatives I’d abandoned Nigel.
The following Sunday, his sister invited everyone to dinner, supposedly to discuss the situation.
When I arrived, Eric was already complaining.
“She’s destroying our family because she doesn’t want to be a wife anymore.”
“Marriage requires compromise.”
His mother looked at me.
“Marriage requires compromise.”
“I agree.”
“Then why won’t you come home?”
“Because compromise requires two people.”
“She’s making me sound abusive because I don’t vacuum.”
Eric scoffed.
“She’s making me sound abusive because I don’t vacuum.”
Before I could answer, Nigel stood.
“Stop it, Dad.”
Everyone turned.
“I said cleaning was humiliating. Dad laughed. He told me men shouldn’t have to do it.”
Nigel’s hands were shaking.
“I said cleaning was humiliating. Dad laughed. He told me men shouldn’t have to do it.”
Eric frowned.
“Son, sit down.”
“No.”
“Mom asked us to help. We went fishing and left everything for her.”
Nigel looked at his grandmother.
“Mom asked us to help. We went fishing and left everything for her.”
Then he faced Eric.
“You keep saying Mom abandoned me. But she calls every day. She helps with school. She sees me every weekend.”
His voice cracked.
Nobody defended Eric.
“You promised to help me with my project, then went golfing. And when you came home, you couldn’t even remember I was waiting for you.”
Eric went pale.
“Nigel, that’s unfair.”
“Maybe. But it’s true.”
Later, outside, he hugged me for the first time since I’d moved.
Nobody defended Eric.
I reached for Nigel’s hand.
He held it.
Later, outside, he hugged me for the first time since I’d moved.
“I’m sorry, Mom.”
“I thought doing chores made me less of a man.”
“It’s okay, honey. I’m just happy to see you act like a gentleman.”
“I thought doing chores made me less of a man.”
I held him a little tighter.
“Can you teach me to cook?” he asked.
Eric and I are separating, with our lawyers working through the practical arrangements.
“Absolutely.”
That was three months ago.
Eric and I are separating, with our lawyers working through the practical arrangements.
Nigel spends regular time with both of us.
He cleaned the kitchen afterward without being asked.
Last Saturday, he made spaghetti at my apartment.
He cleaned the kitchen afterward without being asked.
When I thanked him, he shrugged.
“We both ate.”
