“Do you like it?” I ask.

“How… When…?” She stammers.

“While you were downstairs intent on making a toy farmhouse, I was up hear putting the furniture together. I hired a professional to do the painting and completed the final touches when you were in the hospital.”

“Your important meeting you couldn’t miss?”

I nod, answering her implied question. Tears slowly start to trickle down her cheeks. I put Cahal down in his crib and move over to her. I wrap her in my arms and kiss the top of her head.

“It’s okay, Beagchaithnini sneachta.” I rub her back.

“It’s so wonderful, Landon. You’re so kind and thoughtful.”

I smile down at her. “It pales in comparison to your kindness, Beagchaithnini sneachta. Now why don’t you go take a rest while our son sleeps?”

Our son. The words seem surreal.

Brooke gives me a slight nod, and we exit the room. I head downstairs to work in my office while my wife and baby nap. I have been neglecting my work for the last week and do not see much work getting done soon.

Brooke

I do not take a nap as Landon suggested. Instead, I pull out my laptop and book a flight. I am leaving at two a.m. Then I pull out my suitcase. I pack only essential things, comfy clothes, my photo album that I have slowly been filling with pictures of Landon, Sonia, and me. I need to print off a couple photos of Cahal so I could add him to it. I throw in my toiletries then stash my suitcase back in the closet. I put my passport in my purse, along with a book.

On the top dresser draw, underneath my PJs, I pull out my new debit and credit card I had set up a couple months ago. I have been slowly adding money into my new account and have built up quite a little nest egg. I put my old cards on my bedside table and switch my phone out for the burner one I got for emergencies. Then I text Sonia, asking her to come over later today. So we could say goodbye.

After I am all prepared for tonight, I go and get Cahal from his crib. He is squawking in hunger, so I bring him down to the kitchen to prepare a bottle. Cahal starts guzzling the milk down greedily as he snuggles into me. I smile down at him, and tears burned in my eyes. I am going to miss everything.

“He certainly has an appetite.”

I look up at the sound of Landon’s voice. He is leaning in the entryway. “He gets it from you.” I joke.

Landon saunters over to me, wrapping his arms around me from behind. He rests his chin on my shoulder so he could watch his son eat.

“He has your eyes,” he mumbled. I hum in response. We fall into silence as we watch our son eat.

When he finishes his bottle, I put him on my shoulder and start to gently burp him. Landon takes the bottle and starts to clean it.