He missed Thanksgiving, our anniversary, and our daughter Olive’s eighth birthday.
Sometimes he didn’t come home at all.
“We’re short-staffed, honey. Don’t wait for me.”
When he finally went to bed, he looked so exhausted that I swallowed every complaint I had been carrying inside.
One night, I woke up and saw him sitting on the edge of the bed. His shoulders were shaking.
“Ben?”
He wiped his face and turned toward me.
“Rough night, Chels. Go back to sleep.”
That Tuesday, when I saw him leave the house with his hospital ID in his pocket, I decided to surprise him.
I prepared his favorite lunch, packed a slice of apple pie, tucked in a little note, and drove to the hospital, imagining how happy he would be to see me.
Instead, I found Arnold crying.
“Where is Ben?” I asked.
Arnold hesitated.
“Chelsea, you need to talk to him.”
— I was just about to. Where is he? Isn’t he in the operating room?
He pointed toward the end of the hallway.
I headed there before he could say anything else.
The door to Ben’s office was ajar.
I pushed it open.
An open folder lay on his desk.
On one page was an address in Oregon.
On the other — a start date six weeks from now.
The office looked as though someone had started emptying it.
Two shelves were empty. Books were packed in boxes lined up along the wall. A photo of Olive and me was wrapped in paper, and the mug she had once painted for him was already packed away.
— Chelsea?
I turned around.
Ben stood in the doorway holding a cup of coffee.
First I looked at him, then at the boxes.
— You accepted a job in Oregon?
His expression changed.
— I was going to tell you everything!
— Chelsea, let me explain.
I picked up the lunch bag.
— I brought you your favorite sandwich and apple pie because I thought you were tired. And meanwhile, you were packing your office.
He put his coffee down.
— I haven’t finished packing yet.
— And that’s supposed to make me feel better, Ben?
— No.
— When were you going to tell Olive?
His lips tightened.
— You first.
— And when were you going to tell me?
— Tonight.
— After you applied?
He nodded.
— After the interview?
Another nod.
— After you accepted the job?
— Yes.
