The question surprised me.

I thought about those first months with four infants, about my sister sleeping on the couch, about the supervisor who changed my shift when an appointment ran late, about the nights I believed I would never feel rested again.

“Not all at once,” I said.

“I kept doing what needed doing.

I accepted help.

And eventually I noticed I was making decisions without imagining how he’d criticize them.”

Vanessa nodded slowly.