Inside was the sweater she had been knitting for Eric.
It had taken almost a year. She was finally down to the last sleeve.
Just a bit more, and it would be finished.
It wasn’t even nine o’clock yet.
“I can finish it tonight,” Hadley murmured to herself. ?s s
With that, she sat down, pulled out her knitting needles, and picked up where she had left off.
For several days in a row, Eric didn’t come home.
No calls. No messages. Not a single word to Hadley.
One afternoon at lunch, Hadley noticed Joy barely touching her food. The girl pushed her spoon around the plate, seemingly distracted.
“What’s wrong?” Hadley asked, watching her closely. “Aren’t you hungry, Joy?”
“Mommy.” Joy looked up with wide, round eyes and a little pout. Her lips formed a perfect O. “Is Daddy not coming home? I miss him.”
Hadley froze. So that was it.
“Mommy.” Joy scooted closer and curled up in her mother’s arms. “Is Daddy too busy?”
Hadley nodded and brushed Joy’s hair back gently. “Yes, he is.”
“Can I call Daddy?”
Hadley paused. After a brief moment, she reached for her phone. “Let’s give it a try. If Daddy’s not too busy, he’ll probably pick up.”
“Okay!” Joy’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Mommy, call him now!”
“Alright.” Hadley unlocked her phone and dialed Eric’s number. The call connected. One ring. Two rings. Just as the third began, his voice came through.
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“Hello?”
“Daddy!” Before Hadley could even speak, Joy had snatched the phone and chirped into it. “It’s Joy!”
Eric’s voice immediately softened. “Joy.”
“Daddy, I miss you! I haven’t seen you in so many days!” Joy complained, her cute voice filled with grievance.
“It’s my fault. I’m sorry, Joy,” Eric earnestly apologized. “How about this? Tonight, Daddy will come home and spend the whole evening with you. Do you like that?”
“Really?” Joy’s face lit up, her smile stretching from ear to ear. “You promise? I’ll wait for you at home!”
“Yes, I promise.”
“Mommy says you’re very busy! You should get back to work now. Bye-bye, Daddy!”
“Alright, Joy. Bye-bye.”
“Mommy.” Joy handed the phone back to Hadley. “I’m done talking! Now it’s your turn!”
Without waiting for a reply, the little girl hopped off the chair and ran to her playroom.
Hadley stared at the phone in her hand.
.
.
.