“I felt that way every time one of them coughed when they were tiny,” I said.

He stared at me.

“And I wasn’t here.”

“No.”

For once, neither of us rushed to soften the truth.

He looked down at Quinn, asleep against his chest.

“I don’t know why I was so sure I could just show up and be a good dad,” he said.

“Because showing up is the visible part.