I drive home and when I get inside, I don’t know why I’m surprised that it sounds like a party.
“Where are all my favorite people?” I call.
“Daddy!” Levi yells, running to wrap his arms around my legs.
He leads me to the kitchen where Elle and my parents are, and I watch them interacting for a moment before they look up and see me. Dad is chopping vegetables. My mom is stirring something on the stove and Elle is working on a dessert.
“Hey, son,” Dad says.
I squeeze his shoulder and my mom is right next to him.
“Hey, Mama.” I pause to kiss her on the cheek before I reach Elle.
“Welcome home,” Mama says.
Elle grins at me over her shoulder. I turn her around to face me before I give her a quick kiss and wrap my arms around her.
“How are you doing?” I ask.
“I’m doing good.Really,” she says. “Don't worry about me. I'm happier than I’ve ever been.”
“I know you loved being on the team so much. I can't stand that you're out, just like that. It feels wrong.”
“You’re not on the team anymore?” Mama asks.
“I was fired today,” Elle says softly.
“No. Because of the two of you? That’s so silly…” She shakes her head.
Elle’s phone rings and she waves it off, but then it rings again. I move so she can get to it if she wants to, but she doesn’t make it in time. After the third time, she hustles to answer.
“Hello?” The color drains from her face.
She holds onto the counter and I move by her and put my hand on her back to let her know I'm here.
“Does it seem like just one person or, like, a lot?” she asks. “Oh, God,” she squeaks. “Okay.Okay,”she says softer as she exhales. She pauses and takes a deep breath. “I’ll be okay.”
And now I'm really freaking out. What the hell is going on?
“Yeah. I'll let you know. I want to talk to the girls…hopefully before they hear about it from anyone else.” She puts her hand on her head and closes her eyes.
“Baby, are you okay?” I whisper, unable to take it any longer.
She looks up at me and I can’t read her expression, but she nods.
On the phone, she says, “Okay, I'll call you later. Love you. Bye.”
When she gets off, she takes a deep breath and her eyes flicker down to her phone as she seems to try to take calming breaths or something.
“Are you hyperventilating?” I ask.
“I have something to tell you.” Her eyes meet mine again.
“Okay.” She’s scaring me. “Should I sit down?”
“Yes.” She takes my hand.
I expect her to lead me into the living room to sit down on the couch, but she takes me up the stairs and down the hall to the room she’s using as an office. She’s arranged the bookshelves a little, but they’re mostly empty. And it looks like she’s worked on her desk since I’ve been in here. Her oversized chair is next to the lamp and shelves and she motions for me to sit there. When I try to tug her onto my lap, she shakes her head.
