“I expect nothing from you, Ethan,” I said, my tone hardening just enough to let him know the conversation was drawing to a close. “You wanted a vacation from your family. Enjoy every single second of your quiet, peaceful getaway. Don’t worry about us—we’ll be right here, surviving just fine without you. Goodbye, Ethan.”
Before he could stammer out another syllable of protest or demand, I pressed the red end-call button, plunging the room back into a quiet, beautiful stillness. I set the phone down on the coffee table, looked down at the three gorgeous, peaceful faces of our babies, and took my first deep, unhurried breath in six weeks. The house was silent, the burden was momentarily shared across an ocean, and for the first time since they were born, I felt completely in control.
