I watched Willa’s sleeping face through the window.

“I spent years believing big gestures were how you showed love.

Now I think the smaller promises count more.”

Elena brushed a loose strand of hair from her cheek.

“I learned that a long time ago.”

On the drive back to my hotel, I thought about Willa saying she liked knowing I would come.

A child needed predictability far more than a wealthy father.

The realization was humbling because it was so ordinary, and because I’d spent much of my adult life treating ordinary needs as interruptions.