“I didn’t know there was one.”
“I’ll send you the information.”
“Thank you.”
I glanced at the clock.
She was due at work in less than twenty-four hours.
I understood her anxiety.
“Did you explain the situation to Colin?” I asked.
“Some of it.”
“He’s their father. He needs to be part of the solution.”
Heather sighed.
“I know. We’ve been struggling with schedules since we separated.”
Their circumstances were complicated, but that didn’t make finding childcare impossible.
Nor did it automatically transfer responsibility to me.
After a brief silence, Heather spoke again.
“Natalie, I need to apologize properly.”
“You already apologized.”
“Not for everything.”
I sat down.
“I’m listening.”
She inhaled.
“When Seth told me you wanted to stay home, I was relieved. So relieved that I didn’t ask the questions I should have.”
I waited.
“I knew it was a huge amount of work. I knew it would save me a lot of money. And I didn’t stop to think about what you were giving up.”
