Mom pulls me over to the sofa
and onto her lap.
“Not all changes are bad, honey.”
She smiles. “Dad found a job.”
“That’s the change?”
“One of the changes,” she says.
I knew it—now the bad news.
“Okay, what else?”
“Dad’s job is in this area.”
I want to cheer. “He’s moving back?”
“Back to the area, yes.”
“Back to us?”
“Not exactly. He’s moving in with
Aunt Darnell and Uncle Tim. For
the time being.”
“Aunt Darnell?” I squeal. “She hates Dad!”
“Darnell doesn’t hate your dad. She was
just mad at him for leaving us.
Is mad still.”
“Why there? Why not here?”
“Because they’re family,
and Dad and I still have some issues
to work through.”
“So, work through them here!” I tell her.
Parents can make things so complicated.
She smiles, jiggles my earlobe.
“And risk putting you through a second separation?”
She shakes her head. “No way.”
I jump up. “So, when is he coming? When do
I get to see him?”
Another earlobe jiggle. “Tomorrow.”