moved into an apartment rather than take on the higher rent.
Tessa left not long afterward.
Eric’s life got smaller for a while.
What mattered to me was what he did next.
Over the following months, support payments began arriving regularly, and Eric kept showing up for scheduled visits.
I didn’t comfort him about it.
Sometimes he was stiff and uncertain with Chloe. Sometimes she screamed until I took her back.
I didn’t comfort him about it.
He kept returning anyway.
