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The second I picked up the ringing phone and saw Griff’s name on the screen I knew something had gone wrong. I’d been watching the weather report all day and hoping the predicted storm wouldn’t hit until after he made it home.
Please let me be wrong.
“Shh.” I placed my finger on my lips for our two girls to quiet down and stop jumping on the bed in protest of their bedtime. “It’s Papa. You don’t want him to know you’re being naughty, do you?”
“Daddy, when is Papa coming home?” Charlotte asked, falling to her back on the bed with her arms and legs spread-eagled as if she was making a snow angel. Her younger-by-two-years sister Harper followed suit.
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out, honey. Let me talk to your papa.” I swiped the screen and brought the phone to my ear. “Griff?”
“Hey, baby.” His voice sounded strained and frustrated. Crackling over the line didn’t make me any more hopeful that he would get home tonight like he was supposed to.
“Where are you?” I tried to keep the worry out of my voice, not wanting to alarm the girls who were listening eagerly. Griff had been out of the state for work for a month. Although he usually came home on weekends, it wasn’t the same as actually having him home. We missed him.
“Stuck at the airport,” he said. “They’ve assigned us rooms at the hotel. Listen, baby, I tried. I really did, but no flights are taking off until the storm clears up.”
I closed my eyes, trying not to let my disappointment show, but my eyes stung. He didn’t go out of the state for work often, but given his recent promotion as project manager, he’d had to make the trip this time. I opened my eyes and glanced at the girls, tickling each other and giggling. They were looking forward to Griff being at their recital tomorrow. How was I going to break the news to them? He’d never missed a recital.
“Don’t worry about it,” I said, injecting hopeful cheer in my voice. “The important thing is that you’re safe. I know you’ll make it home as soon as you can.”
He was the most wonderful, attentive husband and father to our three kids. He’d wanted one, but we’d expanded faster than we’d thought, and we wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. Our family—including our found ones—was large and for people who never had that closeness, Griff and I loved every minute of it.
“Do you need me to break it to the girls?” he asked.
“We can do it together.”
“I feel awful about the whole thing.”
“Don’t. I’ll record their performance for you, then we can have a movie night when you get back. They love movie nights.”
“I guess that’ll work though nothing will replace me actually being there.”
“The school should be streaming it live as well. I’ll find out the link and send it to you.”
“Thank you, baby. You’re the best. I’ve never had a moment of regret with you, Scottie.”
I smiled. “Nor I you. I’m putting the girls to bed. You want to stay on the line while I read them a bedtime story?”
“Of course.”
“Girls, say hello to your father.” I handed them the phone and they immediately requested a video call with Griff. His handsome face filled the screen with a longer beard than he usually wore.
“Papa, we miss you!” Harper cried. “I can’t wait to show you my dance. I get to jump really really high.”
“And Ms. Jensen says I have the bestest voice in the choir!” Charlotte said.
I went through their bookcase, searching for the new book I’d bought them yesterday. “Papa can’t hear you when you’re talking over each other.”
“One at a time.” Griff chuckled, his laughter mingling with the girls’ excited chatter. I found the book I wanted, The Pengrooms, and returned to the bed, ruffling Harper’s hair as I sat down between them.
Griff was on the screen, his eyes soft and filled with love for his daughters. “Tell me everything. Papa has all night.”
Charlotte and Harper took turns telling Griff about their rehearsals, their costumes, and how much fun they were having learning their dances. Their voices were full of excitement and anticipation that only dampened a little when Griff and I broke the sad news about his absence from their recital.
“I’m sorry, but I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”
“Alright, girls. It’s getting late. Let’s hop under the sheets,” I said.
I settled the phone so that Griff could see both girls as well as hear me reading. His image flickered on screen, illuminating our bedtime routine in a warm glow. The girls snuggled into me as I began to read aloud, their eyes peeled to the page.
