“Can’t we just rub whiskey on his gums? Isn’t that what we’re supposed to do?”

She laughed a little at my suggestion. “If you’re from the old school.” She turned her chair to better face me. She wore yoga pants and flip-flops with my old Ferncroft College sweatshirt. “You know, if you want to make it up to me for being late and missing diaper duty, we can watch that movie tonight. The one about the former FBI agent who tracks down missing kids? I feel tired but not quite as exhausted as I normally do, so I’ve got a chance to stay awake until the end.”

I wished more than anything the night could have been a normal one. The two of us could have curled up together on the couch and watched a movie, even if one or both of us ended up falling asleep halfway through. I even wouldn’t have minded if Henry woke us up, or if I changed a dirty diaper or took the trash out.

All of those very normal things sounded too good to be true. Because they were.

I picked up a napkin and wiped my hands.

“Oh, crap. I’m sorry. I forgot I promised Eric and Ron I’d play basketball with them tonight. At the Y. They’re down a man, and I’m on their sub list. The game’s at nine forty-five.”

“Really? That late?”

“Yes, really. The league goes late on Thursday, and I’ve been telling them no for a long time. Kind of like you were telling Holly and Kate no for so long about the girls’ weekend until they practically forced you to say yes.”

“You got me to say yes.”

She let out a long, disappointed sigh. And she placed her hand on the book, absently riffling the pages, the only sound in the quiet kitchen. Lately our ability to find time to spend together was always compromised by work, Henry, and the accompanying exhaustion. We’d been trying to find a good night to watch a movie together for over a week, and my encounter with Blake had ruined it, like an infection spreading through every aspect of my life.

“Can we try for tomorrow?” I asked. “I’ll be sure to get home early. Maybe Henry will go down earlier.”

“It’s okay,” she said with a wave of her hand. “Don’t worry about it.” She didn’t sound convincing as she nodded at the book. “I need to finish this for book club next week anyway. And it’s actually good. Someone picked a book I like for a change.”

I went over to her again and placed my arm on her shoulder, pulling her close. “I’m sorry, Amanda. Really. I’d bail, but I promised, and they need another guy. And I’ve been putting them off for so long.”

“And you’re such a good basketball player.”