I stayed nearby as father and son talked. Leo, feeling more relaxed now, was starting to yawn, his eyes drooping.
“I think I can sleep now,” he said, and passed me the phone. “Daddy wants to talk to you.”
After saying goodnight to Leo, I stepped out of the room with the phone. I took the call off speakerphone and brought the phone to my ear.
“I hope that was okay,” I said.
“It was,” he assured me. “It was good to hear his voice. And yours. Things weren’t quite the same without you here.”
If this was his way of telling me he missed me, I hated how effective it was. Truthfully, I missed him too, more than I wanted to admit to anyone, even myself.
“I’ve become accustomed to seeing you every day. Today, I felt your absence,” he said.
I closed my eyes, actively pushing back the feelings
