He pulled out his phone and started making a mental list, then stopped. Who is he kidding? He had maybe $3,000 in savings, a modest military pension, and no job lined up beyond some vague promises from a construction company in [clears throat] the next town over. He couldn’t afford to renovate. He could barely afford to be here. But Cameron needed stability.
Cameron needed a home that didn’t change every few months. A school where he could make friends. A father who was actually present instead of deployed or distracted or drowning in his own failures. That was worth more than money. That was worth everything. Ethan set the phone down and walked to the kitchen window, looking out at the backyard.
The swing set was still there, rusted and leaning slightly to one side, but intact. He could fix that. He could fix a lot of things given enough time. A knock at the front door pulled him from his thoughts. He found Lena standing on the porch holding a casserole dish covered in aluminum foil. She’d changed into a clean shirt and put on a little makeup, though not much.
Lena had never been the type to wear much makeup, even in high school, when all the other girls were experimenting with eyeshadow and lip gloss. “Hi,” she said, and her voice was exactly as he remembered it. Soft, a little raspy, like she’d just woken up from a nap. “I thought you might be hungry. It’s just lasagna.
Nothing fancy, but I made too much and figured you probably haven’t had time to get groceries yet.” Ethan stared at her for a moment, caught off guard by the simple kindness of the gesture. You didn’t have to do that. I know. She held out the dish. But I wanted to. He took it, the warmth seeping through the foil into his hands. Thank you.
Really? This is Thank you. You’re welcome. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, a nervous gesture he remembered from when they were kids. How’s the house looking? like it’s been sitting empty for 2 years. That bad? Worse? She laughed. A genuine sound that made something in his chest ease. Well, if you need help with anything, painting, cleaning, whatever, just let me know.
I’ve got a pretty flexible schedule. What are you doing these days? Ethan asked, genuinely curious. I’m a therapist. I work from home mostly. See clients over video calls. It’s not glamorous, but it pays the bills. She paused. What about you? What are your plans? Still figuring that out, he admitted. I’ve got a lead on some construction work, but nothing solid yet.
Mostly, I’m just trying to get Cameron settled. Cameron’s your son? Yeah, he’s five. Ethan glanced back toward the stairs. He’s upstairs unpacking or making a mess. Hard to tell with him. I’d love to meet him sometime. I’m sure he’d like that. Ethan shifted his weight, suddenly aware of how long they’d been standing in the doorway.
Do you want to come in? I can’t offer you much. We don’t even have drinks yet, but no, that’s okay, Lena said quickly. I should let you get settled. I just wanted to say welcome home. Thanks, Lena, for the food and for He trailed off, not quite sure how to finish the sentence. She seemed to understand anyway. Anytime, Ethan. I mean it.
She turned to go, and Ethan watched her walk back across the street, her ponytail swaying with each step. She moved with the same easy grace she’d had as a teenager, like she was completely comfortable in her own skin in a way he’d never managed to be. Daddy, who was that? Ethan looked down to find Cameron standing beside him, his stuffed elephant tucked under one arm.
