I sat in a stupor in the taxi going home. Elliot’s mother and Aaron came with me. We didn’t talk. I felt nauseous.
Devon and Alex got home from school. They could read what happened in my face. I took them into the TV room to sit on the couch with me.
“Elliot’s gone,” I said.
“I’m so sorry, Mommy,” Devon said through her tears.
We sat there, our arms around each other, crying. Then Aaron walked in.
“We’re still a family,” he said. “We love you guys.”
What a perfect thing to say.
We hugged.
Then we dispersed to recover. Aaron, Kate and Max went to their mom’s house. Elliot’s mother wanted to be in her apartment alone.
That night my children took care of me.
Alex built a fire. Devon drew me a hot bath. They unplugged the phone. They put on music. They ordered sesame chicken. They poured me a glass of wine.