The manager looked at the twins. “You’re right. This should never have happened.”
Patricia scoffed. “He broke the rules.”
“No,” the manager said. “He responded to a lack of facilities. You escalated it.”
The hallway fell quiet.
Patricia had wanted me to become the problem. Now everyone could see she was.
The manager turned to me. “Sir, we have a private staff room nearby. There’s a clean table, chairs, and privacy.”
My throat tightened. “Thank you. I just need them dry and calm.”
Paige stepped toward her mother. “You owe him an apology.”
Patricia’s mouth opened. “I owe him?”
“Yes,” Paige said. “You told a grieving father his babies needed a mother. You threatened his housing. Then you called security on him for changing diapers.”
Patricia looked around.
“I didn’t know about your wife at first,” she said stiffly.
I held Ivy and Lily closer. “You shouldn’t have needed to.”
Her face went pale.
Paige’s voice softened. “Mom, I love you. But if you ever treat Lucas like he’s less important than me in our child’s life, we’re going to have a problem.”
“No,” Paige said. “I’d protect my child from someone who thinks fathers are backup parents.”
Patricia had nothing left to say.
For the first time since she had walked into that restroom, Patricia looked small. Not because anyone had shouted louder, but because everyone had finally heard her clearly.
—
In the staff room, I finished zipping Lily’s sleeper.
Paige verscheen in de deuropening met mijn doekjes. “Deze zijn eruit gevallen.”
“Het spijt me voor mijn moeder.”
“Je hebt het niet gedaan.”
Lucas stond naast haar. “Ik zorg ervoor dat de klacht wordt gehoord.”
“Zet er ook mijn naam op,” zei ik, terwijl ik naar mijn dochters keek. “Ik wil niet dat er weer een vader in die gang staat zoals ik deed.”
—
Later kocht ik de gele slaapzakken.
Thuis legde ik ze in hun wiegjes.
Ik kuste mijn trouwring.
