I already loved them, but I still needed answers from their father.
Lucas arrived that afternoon.
I knew his walk before I saw his face.
He was broader now, with a beard and tired eyes.
“Tell me what to do.”
“Hi, Mom.”
“Come inside.”
We stood facing each other.
“Did you leave because of our argument?” I asked.
He nodded.
“You told me I was throwing my future away.”
“Did you leave because of our argument?”
The night before he disappeared, he’d announced he wanted mechanic training instead of college. I’d saved for years for his education, and our argument had gone far beyond tuition.
“I said you were making a decision without a plan.”
“You said I’d end up begging you for money. You said I was wasting everything you’d worked for.”
“I was frightened you’d leave school and regret it.”
“You wouldn’t even let me explain the training program.”
