His face tightened.
— I didn’t think you’d agree.
— Then you should have let me disagree.
— What else?
— I turned down another offer. They paid more, but the schedule was worse.
That made me stop.
— So it really was about you being home more.
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— Yes.
— Then why didn’t you trust me enough to tell me?
— I thought if I brought you a finished plan, you’d see that I really cared.
— No. I saw a husband who had already chosen the state, the job, and the start date without asking for my opinion. Stop treating Olive’s stability and my business like little details that can be dealt with after the biggest decision has already been made.
He lowered his eyes.
— And for now, don’t ask me to move.
— Chelsea…
— I’m not saying “no” to Oregon. I’m saying “no” to being simply taken there.
A few days later, Ben asked if I wanted to go to Oregon with him.
I refused.
Then I changed my mind.
Not for him.
For myself.
— I’ll go — I said. — But I’ll decide how much this move will cost us, not just what it might solve.
Oregon annoyed me by the fact that I didn’t hate it.
I wanted the trip to confirm every reason I should say “no.”
But instead, I liked the area, the parks, and even the bakery near our hotel.
That scared me more than I expected.
Because if I liked Oregon too, it meant Oregon wasn’t the problem.
The problem was that Ben had chosen it without me.
He noticed me watching families crossing the street with strollers and sports bags.
— You like it.
— I like that people look like they’re actually going somewhere.
— That’s some progress.
— Don’t ruin it.
That evening we had dinner with several people Ben would be working with.
Halfway through dinner, one of them smiled at him.
— Your wife must have been thrilled when you arranged Fridays off for yourself.
I turned to him.
— Fridays off?
Ben’s expression changed.
Outside the restaurant, I stopped him.
— What did you arrange?
— One Friday off a month for me and Olive.
— Why isn’t that in the documents you showed me?
He sighed.
— Because I did what I always do, Chels. I handled everything myself. I also tried to make sure we’d spend more time together.
— Why Fridays?
He hesitated.
— Olive said I’m always working when something interesting happens.
I looked at him.
— You remembered that.
— Of course.
— Then you need to start telling me about the things you remember before you build an entire plan around them.
The next morning, I went out alone.
I visited a coworking space and asked about suppliers, seasonal business, and the possibility of working remotely.
The move would be difficult.
But it wouldn’t destroy my career.
That evening, I spread my notes out in front of Ben.
— If we’re going to do this, we’ll do it together. We’re not moving until Olive finishes the school year. I’ll finish all the events I’ve already booked. We’ll create a budget so I can rebuild my business, and I’ll decide what the transition period will look like.
— Agreed.
— Your schedule stays the way you arranged it.
— Yes.
— And if the hospital starts taking all of our family’s time again, you won’t decide on your own how we deal with it.
He looked me in the eyes.
— I’ll talk to you first.
— Exactly.
Then he said:
— The start date can still be postponed.
I froze.
— You can delay it?
— I can ask.
— Then ask, Ben. Please.
For the first time since Oregon entered our family’s life, Ben didn’t present me with a finished plan.
He left room for me in it.
When we returned home, I heard Ben calling Oregon from the kitchen and admitting that he had taken on commitments too quickly.
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— I need to postpone the start date — he said. — Our daughter needs to finish the school year, and my wife has a business she can’t simply abandon six weeks from now.
I looked toward the doorway.
My business had finally become part of his plan.
When he finished the call, I asked:
— And?
— They need to discuss it.
— And if they say no?
Ben looked at me.
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— Then I’ll have to decide whether this job is worth accepting without the schedule we agreed on.
A week later, they agreed to postpone the date.
Ben came home with the news.
— They agreed to wait until summer.
I nodded.
He looked at me.
— I haven’t said “yes” yet, Ben. But everything is much easier now because we’re on the same side.
