Twelve Months Later, Ethan Came Back With a Sleeping Newborn and a Broken Suitcase

Richard in a dark suit, holding a baby wrapped in white.

He was smiling at the camera in a way I hadn’t seen in years.

On the back, someone had written the date in blue ink.

“Where did you get these?” I asked.

“From his desk,” Ethan said.

“The suitcase too.

I had to fix the handle.”

The green pacifier was still in my coat pocket.