My husband came home and said, “I’m in love with another woman, but I still love you, so I’ll just live in both houses” — I thought he was joking until he began packing, so I taught him a lesson he never expected from me.

 

“You’ve taught Kieran to hate me.”

 

“You taught him that promises mean nothing.

 

I’m teaching him they do.”

 

Callum’s shoulders dropped.

 

“I still love my son,” he said.

 

“Then become someone he can safely love.”

 

The officer touched his elbow.

 

Callum walked through the door without looking back.

 

That evening, Kieran returned from his supervised visit carrying a paper boat.

 

He placed

it on the kitchen table and climbed into my lap.

 

“Daddy said he might not see me at home for a long time.”

 

“That’s true.”

 

“Is it because I told Grandma about the phone?”

 

I held him tighter.

 

“No, sweetheart.

I knelt so Kieran could see my face.

“Families do not break because children tell the truth,” I said.

“Adults sometimes make wrong choices, and adults must fix them.”