After he left, I turned toward Logan.
Then I hugged him.
At first, he stiffened in surprise.
Teenage boys aren’t always comfortable with unexpected affection.
But after a moment, he wrapped his arms around me.
“Mom, it’s okay.”
I shook my head.
“No, sweetheart. I’ve been so worried about you.”
He looked confused.
“Why?”
“Because I thought I was losing you.”
His expression softened.
I continued.
“I thought I was the only one trying to keep this family together.”
He looked at Andrew, who was still standing beside us.
Then he looked back at me.
“No, Mom.”
He smiled faintly.
“We’re doing it together.”
That afternoon, after Andrew fell asleep, Logan and I sat on the back porch.
The old wooden swing set Daniel had built years earlier stood in the yard.
For a while, neither of us spoke.
Then I asked, “How did you know what to do?”
