No.”

The conversation had begun to sound like the night before he vanished, and I felt myself resisting the resemblance.

I wanted to reassure him so quickly that he would never think of leaving again.

I could do that.

I could also spend the rest of my life giving an answer I did not mean whenever he became uncomfortable.

“I’ll help with what Emma and Chloe need,” I said.

“Diapers, feeding supplies, clothes.