More snow from the same system is due this afternoon, lasting into the evening. As much as another ten inches. The Weather Channel has named the storm Jayden, but given its timing, it feels a lot more like a Cora.

I call Alec and ask him if he has Micah tonight. He says he does, and when I ask if Max can have a sleepover, he agrees before even asking why. I’m poised to tell him my prepared excuse about my father being ill and not wanting Max to be exposed but instead say nothing. It feels good not lying.

I fix Max grilled cheese for lunch and tell him about the sleepover. His reaction is what I expect.

“What? Why? I barely know Micah.”

“Well, this is a good chance to change that,” I tell him.

“But why?”

“Because I have a meeting tonight.” This is the truth after all.

“Can’t I just stay here?”

“No,” I say, using a tone that’s firm but calm. “You guys can maybe watch a movie. Stay up a little later than usual. Could be another snow day tomorrow.”

He studies my face, knowing something’s wrong, something’s different, but he can’t figure out what. Normally this is the point where he’d start whining about having to do something he doesn’t want, and maybe that’s coming, but in the moment, he’s silent and observational.

I decide to tell him more. Not about tonight but about the future beyond that.

“I’m thinking maybe we should go back to Wisconsin.”

Max’s eyes grow wide. “To visit?”

“No, to live. Move back there. Back home.”

“Really?” He smiles but holds something back, as if I might tell him I’m just kidding. The thought of doing something like that breaks my heart.

“Yeah, really. Would you like that?”

“Yes.”

“Not the same place,” I say. “Not the apartment. But back to the same area. To your regular school.”

He leaps out of his chair and starts jumping around like a cartoon character. There’s not much subtlety about Max. When he’s sad, he’ll sometimes throw himself on the floor in despair. Often when he’s happy, he’ll literally jump up and down for joy.

He stops for a moment. “When? When can we go?”

“Soon. Real soon.”

Another Snoopy happy dance and I’m smiling, my cheeks stretching. A sensation I’ve grown too accustomed to living without.

I reach out and pull him in toward me. In my ear, he says, “Just you and me. Back home. That’s all I wanted.”

That’s enough for the tears to start spilling. Silent tears he can’t see. In this moment, I see a future. A life beyond tomorrow. Even happiness.

I found out Riley was cheating on me in January, and thoughts of a happy future have eluded me until now. What a long and wearisome abstinence.

Max gives me an extra squeeze, one so hard it hurts, but I don’t complain.

“Why?” he asks.

“What do you mean?”

“Why are we going back?”