Three years old and Evan asked the question I was dreading.
Driving home from Tyler's birthday party. Evan is quiet in the backseat staring out the window.
Tyler's parents were there together. Laughing. Holding hands. Cutting cake as a team. I saw Evan watching them. I saw those wheels turning.
"Mama?"
Hands tighten on the wheel. "Yes, baby?"
"Why doesn't Daddy live with us?"
There it is. The question I've been avoiding for months.
"That's complicated, sweetheart."
"What does complicated mean?"
How do I explain this? That his father and I were never really together? That we made him but couldn't make us? That Caleb walked away and I'm still not sure I can forgive him?
"It means grown ups have reasons that are hard to explain."
Silence. Then, "Tyler's mommy and daddy live togethe
