school at three.
I used to leave early enough to pick her up, then complete my work from home. After transferring departments, that was no longer possible.
Ryan worked across town and rarely got home before six.
For two weeks, we survived on after-school care, favors from other parents, and what little patience I had left.
One night, Ryan said, “Maybe Melissa can handle it?”
I stared at him. He stared back.
Then we both said, “No.”
Emma adored Ryan’s sister, Melissa.
Unfortunately, Melissa could be forty minutes late because she’d stopped for coffee while already running late.
There was also the babysitting incident.
Melissa had let Emma watch IT because, according to Melissa, Emma had promised she “wouldn’t get scared.”
Emma slept between Ryan and me for four nights and still deeply distrusted balloons.
So we kept searching.
