Whatever else I could not give her, whatever the divorce would cost us, whatever her father would or would not become, I could give her that: a home in which she was wanted, wholly and without reservation, the center and not the scheduling conflict.

It was the one thing I was absolutely certain I could deliver, and I have delivered it every day since, and I will deliver it for as long as I am alive to do it.

And then, once I was sure she was truly asleep and Clara was there to watch over her, I asked Mason to drive me back to the apartment.

Not to fight.