“Under control for now.”

He carried the napkins to the children and returned the tray to the kitchen.

When he came back, he brought another bowl of cut strawberries rather than waiting for me to notice the first one was nearly empty.

I did not want our daughter’s birthday to become an examination he had to pass.

I still noticed the absence of the old expectation that someone else should approve his work before he did it.

He was their father.