She paused at the threshold. "And honestly, how can you put a price tag on someone's dream? You still don't understand him at all."
I didn't respond. I got up and gave Noah his medicine.
After they left, Noah looked crestfallen too.
"Daddy's leaving already? He hasn't been home in so long. I miss him."
I let out a heavy sigh and pulled him close.
"It's okay, sweetheart. Mommy will always be right here with you."
Corey didn't show up again, not even once, all the way through Noah's discharge. Like he was punishing me with his absence.
I went back to work and scheduled a meeting with a client.
The meeting spot happened to be a café near the mall. After we wrapped up, the client pointed through the glass window with an amused grin.
"Kids these days. So much energy."
I followed his gaze toward the mall's outdoor stage and froze for a second.
It was Corey's band.
What were the odds.
The last pounding notes faded, and as the crowd broke into applause, Letitia rose on her tiptoes, threw herself into Corey's arms, and kissed him hard.
The audience went still for a beat, then erupted into louder cheers.
Something flickered inside me, faint as a breeze across still water. Then it was gone.