But this doesn’t mean we’re back together. It means you get a chance to prove you’re not the same selfish man who walked out on us.”
Two days later, Daniel came home from the hospital.
He was on crutches, but his spirits were slightly better until he saw his father standing there.
“Dad? Mom… what is he doing here?”
“He’s staying with us for a while, sweetie.
Until we figure things out.”
Mark tried to help him out of the car, but Daniel pulled away.
“I got it, Dad.”
That night at dinner, the tension was unbearable.
Mark tried to make conversation. “So, Daniel, maybe when you’re healed up, we can throw a ball around.”
Daniel set down his fork. “I can’t play sports anymore.
My knee’s permanently damaged.”
“Right. Sorry. I forgot.”
Daniel looked at me.
“Mom, can Coach Charles visit tomorrow?”
Mark didn’t like that.
“Why do you need to see your coach?”
“Because he actually cares about me.”
“Where were you for the past three years then?”
Mark’s face went red. “I’m here now. I’m trying.”
“You’re only here because you had nowhere else to go.
Mom told me everything.”
“Daniel, that’s not true.”
“Mom, you should’ve married someone like Coach Charles. Someone who actually shows up. Not someone who abandons his family the second things get hard.”
Mark slammed his hand on the table.
“This isn’t your house!” Daniel shouted back.
“It’s Mom’s.”
I stood up.
“Mark, leave. Now.”
“Grace, he’s being ungrateful…”
“He’s being honest. You don’t get to walk back into our lives and demand respect.”
Mark stood up.
“You’re choosing his side over mine?”
He grabbed his coat and walked out, slamming the door behind him.
The next day, I called my lawyer and filed for divorce. I should’ve done it years ago, but my only concern back then was protecting my son.
No more second chances.
Over the next few months, Charles visited often.
He and Daniel would sit in the backyard, talking about soccer, school, and life.
I watched them from the kitchen window, my heart full.
One afternoon, after Daniel went inside to do homework, Charles and I sat on the porch together.
“Of course.”
