Chapter 2 - ETHAN’S CHEEKI took Ethan to urgent care that evening.
His cheek needed no treatment beyond ice.
No fracture.
No concussion.
No mark by the following morning except faint swelling.
Physically, he was okay.
Emotionally, he was not.
The nurse asked what happened.
Ethan looked at me.
I said:
“You can tell her.”
“Grandma hit me.”
The nurse wrote it down.
“Why?”
“Because I wanted Mr. Chomp.”
He held the dinosaur against his chest.
The nurse smiled gently.
“Who’s Mr. Chomp?”
Ethan held him up.
“My best dinosaur.”
“One eye?”
“He lost it fighting a T-Rex.”
Good.
He could still tell stories.
Then:
“Did anyone hit Grandma?”
Ethan looked at me again.
I swallowed.
“Mom did.”
The nurse looked toward me.
“I did.”
I did not hide it.
“And I used clippers on her hair after Ethan was already behind me.”
No excuse.
The nurse documented that too.
On the drive to the hotel, Ethan was quiet.
Then:
“Mom?”
“Yes?”
“Are you and Dad divorced?”
“No.”
“Because you threw the ring?”
“We’re having a very serious problem.”
He stared out the window.
“Did Daddy know Grandma was taking my room?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“He said temporary.”
“I heard.”
“Does temporary mean I get it back?”
I gripped the wheel.
“Yes.”
I did not know what the courts or house situation would become.
But that answer?
Yes.
May you like
His room would never again belong to Linda.
Even if I had to sell the house.
