Page 160 of The Widower
We started watching TV, but tonight I planned to do something different. I needed to be both a father and a partner again—get back to doing the things I’d been putting off.
“Go watch a movie with the kids. I’ve got something to take care of.”
“Oh? What?”
“None of your business.”She leaned in and kissed me.
“Rude… I thought I’d changed you.”
I got up from the bed, but not before teasing her one last time. “I just went back to being myself—and you still manage to annoy me for half the day.”
“Oh, really? Then stay single!”
Two pillows flew in my direction, but Isabelle’s bright smile never faded.
I couldn’t help but think how damn lucky I was to have her by my side.
ISABELLE CAMPBELL
Since I’d been kicked out by Colin, I went to watch The Incredibles 2 with the kids—who, of course, spent more time chatting than actually watching the movie.
“Why were you and my dad yelling last night?”
“Oh, he just gets on my nerves sometimes. And he tickles me, which makes me scream because I’m… well, a little too sensitive.”
“Oh, okay. My dad’s been acting weird lately, but I like it.”
“Weird?”
“Yeah. He’s been really affectionate.”
“He’s just trying to make up for lost time.”
“He even plays video games with me now.And I know he loses on purpose.”
I smiled. That was such a Colin thing to do.
“Can I tell you a secret?”
“Of course you can.”
“I never thought I’d have a mom again.”
Kids… they always find the most random moments to break your heart and rearrange your emotions completely.
“I’ll never replace your mom, Joshua. But I’ll do my best to love you more and more every single day.And I don’t ever want you to feel like you have to call me Mom.”
“But I want to call you Mom!You do everything my mom used to do.And I can tell you love my dad, Hanna, and me too. So yeah—you’re my mom!”
He said it with so much conviction it actually startled me.
“Okay,” I said softly, lowering my head as tears welled up.“In my heart, you’re already my son.”
I hugged him tightly and closed my eyes. We stayed like that for a few seconds before—
“Mom! Mom! There’s a monster in front of us!”Hanna shouted.
I opened my eyes and saw a man wearing a mask.For a moment, I panicked—until Joshua said, “Oh no! We have to run! We’ve got thirty seconds!”
