Their credit cards were already close to the limit.
The expensive SUV payment was late.
Their mortgage had recently adjusted upward.
The dining-out stopped.
The wine deliveries stopped.
The house cleaner stopped coming as often.
Then the arguments started.
Melissa called me three weeks later.
Her voice sounded different.
Not angry.
Tired.
“Mom?”
“Yes?”
“Would you like to see Noah Sunday?”
I closed my eyes.
“Yes.”
We met at a park near the river.
Noah saw me before I saw him.
“Grandma!”
He ran across the grass and wrapped both arms around my waist.
I nearly lost my balance.
I did not care.
I held him.
He smelled like sunscreen and peanut-butter crackers.
“Where did you go?” he asked.
I looked over his head at Melissa.
She stood several yards away.
