From Daddy to Uncle

At midnight, exhausted from packing, I collapsed onto the bed.

My phone buzzed. A message from Leonardo. He also sent several photos. Valentina and Lily were posing with Sofia's doll. Lily was hugging it like a new best friend.

"Lily loves the doll. Valentina made me text you to say thank you."

Midnight. My husband was with another woman, and she was using Leonardo to thank me.

I laughed dryly. I was not even angry anymore. What was the point?

I typed back. "You are welcome. But I did not give it to Valentina. And by the way, that doll was Sofia's favorite birthday gift. Sofia treated that doll like a sister. She was waiting for you to play tea party with her and the doll. Bring it back."

Then I turned off my phone and went to sleep.

I did not care what Leonardo's face looked like when Leonardo read that message.

The next morning, Leonardo came home early. Eight o'clock, which was rare for Leonardo.

Leonardo walked in, took off his jacket, and stopped cold when he saw the suitcases lined up in the living room. "Do you need that many bags for a trip?"

I was helping Sofia get dressed and did not look up. "We are going far."

Leonardo looked at Sofia. Sofia nodded. Leonardo's expression relaxed. Leonardo tossed his jacket aside and pulled out three tickets to Adventure Park.

"You have been mad that I never took Sofia to Adventure Park, right? I bought tickets for today. The three of us are going."

Leonardo held the tickets out proudly, like Leonardo was showing off a trophy.

I almost thought I had misheard. It had been nearly a month, and suddenly Leonardo remembered?

Then I thought about the string of unread messages on my phone this morning. Ah. A guilt offering.

I said nothing and kept dressing Sofia.

But Sofia was excited. Sofia's eyes darted to me. "Mom, I want to go."

I smiled and was about to answer when Leonardo added hesitantly, "There is just one thing. Valentina knows we are having a family day tomorrow. Just cooking at home, nothing fancy. But Valentina is worried Lily will feel left out, so maybe we can do our family day another time."

Sofia froze. The light in Sofia's eyes dimmed visibly.

"Oh," Sofia said quietly. Sofia lowered her head, her shoulders slumping.

Leonardo did not notice. "It is just one small request. I thought about it, and it should not be a big deal. We can have our family day another day. Right, Sofia?"

Leonardo did not know that tomorrow, Sofia and I would be gone.

This was Leonardo's last chance.

Neither of us said anything. We just nodded.

"Fine."

"Okay."

Leonardo exhaled in relief. "I will go tell Valentina. Three o'clock at Adventure Park. See you there."

Leonardo turned and walked toward the door. Just before Leonardo reached it, Leonardo looked back. "Nina, Sofia, you are the best."

We did not answer.

After Leonardo left, Sofia picked up the lilies Leonardo had brought yesterday. Sofia walked to the trash can and dropped them in. No hesitation.

"Mom," Sofia said. "I do not want to see Uncle Leonardo anymore. Can we leave early?"

I changed our flights. To today. Three o'clock.

After confirming the tickets, I started making final preparations.

At eight in the morning, I made breakfast in that house for the last time. Simple scrambled eggs and toast. Sofia ate quietly.

At nine thirty, I picked up the signed divorce papers from my lawyer. The first line read "Child custody belongs to the mother."

While I was there, I saw Valentina's newest post. Photos of a cozy home cooked meal. Valentina, Leonardo, and Lily sitting around a table with pasta and wine. The caption said, "Family dinner night. Lily helped set the table. So grateful for this little family."

Sofia was folding paper airplanes beside me. Sofia glanced at the post, said nothing, and only urged, "Mom, sign the papers already."

At eleven thirty, we finished a light lunch, grabbed our bags, and took a taxi to the airport. We were two hours early.

In the taxi, Sofia held her tablet and scrolled through old photos of Leonardo. There was one from Sofia's baptism. Leonardo was holding her in a white gown in front of the church, smiling at the camera. Another from Sofia's third birthday, both of them wearing matching pirate hats at a themed party. And a video from two years ago, before Valentina reappeared, of Leonardo pushing Sofia on a swing at the park, laughing every time Sofia shouted "Higher, Daddy."

Sofia watched them again and again. Sofia did not cry, but the sadness filled the whole car.

I sat beside Sofia and said nothing.

At one thirty, we were about to go through security. Leonardo called.

"Nina, can you tell Sofia I am sorry? Lily has a high fever. One hundred four degrees. I have to take her to the hospital. I do not know if I can make it by three. If you do not see me, just go home. Tell Sofia I am sorry."

Leonardo hung up before Leonardo could hear the airport announcements in the background.

"Let us go," I said, taking Sofia's hand.

Sofia nodded. Sofia selected all the photos of Leonardo and hit delete.

At three o'clock, the plane took off.

I put headphones on Sofia and watched the clouds outside the window. I let out a long, slow breath.

Goodbye, Leonardo.

Meanwhile, Leonardo ran out of the hospital ignoring Valentina's pleas and sped toward Adventure Park.