“Mostly.”
I looked toward the living room.
Luna was kicking under the play gym. Bodhi was chewing on the corner of a cloth book. Soleil had started to fuss in her seat.
“You booked a five-day trip without talking to me?”
“Jason booked the rental weeks ago.”
“Weeks?”
I looked toward the living room.
Ryan shrugged.
“Then we need to arrange help. I need help.”
He laughed.
“Why?”
“Because I can’t care for three infants alone for five days.”
“You do it every day.”
“And I need help every day.”
“Then we need to arrange help. I need help.”
He shut the fridge harder than necessary.
“I work. I pay the bills. I need a break.”
“What about me?”
“What about you?”
“I thought we’d take a family vacation when the babies were older. Maybe for their first birthday.”
Ryan actually laughed in my face.
“What about me?”
“But have you earned a vacation?”
The kitchen went silent.
Even Soleil stopped fussing for a second.
I stared at him.
“What did you say?”
“You heard me.”
“What did you say?”
“I take care of three babies all day and all night.”
“You don’t work.”
“I left my job because we agreed I would stay home.”
“And I’m the one paying for everything.”
He swept one hand around the room as if he’d purchased the walls, the babies, and me.
My voice shook.
“You don’t work.”
“I nearly died bringing them home.”
“I know.”
“No, you know it happened. You don’t act like it mattered.”
Ryan grabbed his phone.
“I’m going, Shannon. You haven’t earned a break, and I’m not arguing about it.”
He walked upstairs.
I stood there with Soleil’s bottle in my hand.
“I nearly died bringing them home.”
***
For months, I’d wondered how to make him understand.
That afternoon, I realized he already knew.
He just didn’t care enough to help.
***
The next morning, Ian and Jason pulled into the driveway, honking.
Ryan posed with Luna, then handed her back before she could grab his collar.
“Try not to make me feel guilty while I’m gone,” he said.
I realized he already knew.
