Grace gave her a washcloth. Wash her hair. Make it fun.
Brian wet Jason’s hair. He applied shampoo. His hands were clumsy. Unsure. And then, by accident, he made the soap rise up into a crest. A mohawk.
John burst out laughing. « Jason looks like a rock star! »
Brian blinked. Something loosened in his chest. He leaned in. « What about this? » He sculpted James’s hair into spikes.
The boys burst out laughing. « John! John! »
Brian straightened John’s hair. The three of them were laughing so hard they could barely breathe. And Brian, for the first time in 18 months, laughed with them. For real.
Grace stepped aside. A small smile touched her face. This was what they needed. What he needed.
The Last Sacrifice
Two weeks passed. Brian was coming home at six. He canceled trips. He told his assistant that his nights were non-negotiable. The boys noticed the change. They started running toward the door when they heard his car.
Grace watched. She saw Brian come back to life. She saw the distance between father and sons shrink.
And between bubble baths and stories, something else began to happen. Something neither of them said aloud. The touch of Brian’s hand as he folded the laundry. The way Grace caught him looking at her in the kitchen.
The call came on a Wednesday. Her sister’s name, Maya, appeared on the screen.
« Grace. We need help. » Grace’s stomach clenched. Marcus came in, but we can’t afford it. And Mom’s hospital sent another bill. We’re three months behind on rent.
—How much do you need?
—Fifteen thousand. At least.
Grace hung up. She stared into space. $15,000. Her salary barely covered it. She’d have to find a second job. Which meant leaving. Which meant leaving them.
That night, Grace was silent. After putting the children to bed, she sat at her desk, above the garage. She took out paper. She wrote.
Dear Mr. Churchill:
I deeply regret to inform you that I must resign from my position…
His hand trembled. …the most meaningful work of my life. His children will always have a piece of my heart.
Tears fell onto the paper. …but my family needs me. And I can’t be in two places at once.
He signed it. He folded it. He left it on Brian’s desk before he could change his mind.
The Shadow Attack
Brian found the letter at noon. He read it three times. The crumpled paper in his fist. He realized something that terrified him. It wasn’t just about the boys anymore. She needed him too.
Two weeks. Fourteen days before his children lost the only person who made them feel safe. Before he lost her.
He found her in the garden. The boys were asleep. Grace was sitting down.
« Why didn’t you tell me? » Brian held up the letter. « Your family? The money? Why didn’t you say anything? »
—Because it’s not their problem.
« It’s not my… » Brian stopped. He breathed. « She’s leaving because she needs $15,000. »
« I’m leaving because my family needs me, » her voice was firm, though pain lay beneath. « My brother started college. My mom is drowning in debt. I’m the oldest. This is what I’m doing. »
« And you’re going to stay away from the boys? From…? » He stopped. From what?
Grace looked him in the eyes. Brian couldn’t answer.
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