I was scheduled to fly out for a two-day business conference — and, two days before, the conference was quietly shifted to a virtual format.

I told no one.

I let the whole household continue to believe I would be gone.

On the appointed evening, I packed a suit bag, loaded it into my car with some ceremony, and drove to my office parking garage, where I left the car.

Then I took a cab back to my own neighborhood, and slipped in through the side gate just as dusk was falling, and let myself into the guest room to wait.

Theo was safe at my parents’ house for the night; I had made certain of that first, because whatever was about to happen, my son was not going to be anywhere near it.