Page 12 of When We Were Young
His eyes found the beginning of the story.
Noah Carter turned in a stunning three-touchdown performance Saturday in a 21–7 win over Western Michigan. Carter, a freshman...
That’s as far as he got before it hit him.
The house had gotten quiet. Aiden and Olivia weren’t making any noise in the kitchen. He couldn’t hear Emily’s voice, either. A quick look at his phone told him what had happened. Emily must’ve put them to bed. Without telling him.
Noah set the box on the floor and burst through the bedroom door. “Emily?” Was she serious? How could she do this? Didn’t she think he’d want this final piece of normal? The chance to help them brush their teeth and climb into their pajamas? A last time to pray with them and kiss them good night?
Anger stirred Noah’s hurting soul as he walked through the empty kitchen and down the hallway to the kids’ part of the house. First door on the left was the playroom.
Noah shot a look inside. Nothing. The place was empty, toys cleaned up, stacked in their bins and on the shelves.Come on, Emily Are you serious?He clenched his jaw and walked toward the bedroom. Sure Emily could blame this on him, and maybe it was his fault. But it was hers, too. She hadn’t smiled at him in months. And now this?
A few feet from the doorway, Noah heard Emily’s voice. He stopped. His heart beat so hard he could barely hear her.
“I already told you, Aiden.” She sounded patient. Like her world wasn’t falling apart. “Daddy’s busy. He’s packing.”
“Why is he packing?” Their son’s voice was tight with fear. “Where is he going?”
Olivia began to whimper. “Where Dada?”
“Kids, it’s going to be okay.” Again Emily sounded fine. Like she was explaining why they had to clean the playroom. “Daddy has to go away.”
“No!” Aiden raised his voice. “No, Mommy, please. I don’t want Daddy to go away.” He was crying now. “Tell him to stay! Please!”
Noah felt his anger triple. What was she doing? He grabbed a quick breath and burst into the room. He ignored Emily. Couldn’t look at her.
Instead he went straight to Aiden.
Their little boy was out of bed and running to him. “Daddy!” He held out both arms. “Hold me, Daddy. Please, hold me.”
Noah swept him up and cradled him. Like he used to do when Aiden was a baby. The child buried his head in Noah’s shoulder. He spoke in muffled words that Noah could understand for one reason alone. Aiden was his.
“Mommy... she said you’re packing. You’re going away!”
“I’m sorry, Aiden, buddy. Mommy didn’t explain it very well.” He looked over his shoulder and glared at Emily. She was sitting on the edge of Olivia’s bed, but she wouldn’t make eye contact. Just stared at her folded hands.
Noah shook his head. When had she become his adversary?
“Dada?” Olivia sat near her pillow. Her eyes welled up with tears. She held both hands up. “Go?”
How was he supposed to deal with this? He kept Aiden tight in his arms and sat on the edge of the boy’s bed. “First... Daddy is never leaving you and Livi.” He could feel Aiden’s tears soaking through his paramedic shirt. Noah stroked his son’s hair and his little back. “Never, ever, ever.”
The child’s sobs still shook his body. But gradually he lifted his tearstained face to Noah. “Wh-why are you packing?” He rubbed his fists over his cheeks. “Why?”
What was he supposed to say to that? How could he tell his little boy that Mommy and Daddy could no longer live together? Or that Emily had stopped respecting him months ago?
Noah felt the pressure on his heart double. Gravity weighed against him, mocking him. He searched for the right words. But he settled for the only thing he could think to say. “Daddy is going to live in another house. But that doesn’t mean we won’t be together.” Noah kissed the top of Aiden’s head. How many times had he done this, held his son and comforted him?
And how could he do this at the end of a hard day if he didn’t live here?
Noah’s words seem to land on Aiden. “So... you’re moving to another house?” He leaned back and studied Noah’s face. “Why would you do that? You’re a’pposed to live here.”
For a brief few seconds, Emily looked up. Noah could feel her accusing eyes on him. As if she was interested in the answer, too. Like somehow she really thought this was all his fault.
He kept his focus on Aiden.Don’t cry,he told himself.Stay strong. “It’s just something I have to do, buddy. So everyone will be happier.” His words sounded ridiculous. Something he had to do? Leave his family? “But I’ll still see you.” He looked past Aiden to Olivia. “I’ll still see you, too, baby girl.”
Olivia didn’t say anything. Tears still made her eyes wet, but she wasn’t crying. She had no real idea what was happening. Emily held her hand, and for a minute the room was quiet. Just the occasional quick breaths from Aiden.
