Eric’s breath caught in his throat as he stared at the officer. His mind raced with every worst-case scenario.
“Sir, your wife was involved in an incident,” the officer said, his tone calm but firm.
“What happened?” Eric asked, gripping the doorframe to steady himself.
The officer hesitated before answering. “She was found sitting alone on a park bench, visibly distressed. A concerned passerby called us, thinking she might need help. When we approached, she seemed disoriented, said she didn’t want to go home.”
Eric swallowed hard. His earlier outburst replayed in his mind, each cruel word landing like a blow to his own chest. He had driven her away—pushed her to the point where she didn’t want to return.
“Where is she now?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
“She’s in the patrol car,” the officer said. “She insisted she was fine, but she didn’t want to come inside without speaking to us first.”
Eric’s shoulders slumped. He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. “Can I talk to her?”
The officer gave him a nod before stepping aside.
When Eric stepped onto the porch, Cora was sitting in the backseat of the patrol car, her arms wrapped around herself. She looked up at him, eyes red-rimmed but still sharp.
“Cora…” Eric began, stepping closer.
She shook her head. “No. Not yet.” Her voice wavered but held firm. “Do you even realize how much tonight meant to me? How hard I tried?”
Eric opened his mouth, but guilt silenced him.
“I wanted us to feel like us again,” she continued. “But instead of seeing that, you tore me down. You made me feel small. And worst of all, you did it in front of our children.”
His chest tightened. He thought of the babies crying, of how his frustration had turned into anger. He had let the stress, the exhaustion, and his own feelings of inadequacy boil over onto the one person who didn’t deserve it.
“I know I messed up,” he admitted, his voice thick with regret. “I was frustrated, but that doesn’t excuse how I treated you. I was wrong, Cora.”
Silence hung between them.
Finally, she exhaled. “I’m going to stay at my sister’s tonight. I need time to think.”
Eric’s heart clenched, but he didn’t argue. She deserved that. More than that, she deserved a husband who didn’t take her for granted.
“I understand,” he said. “But please, just know—I love you. And I’ll do whatever it takes to fix this.”
Cora studied him for a long moment, then nodded. She turned to the officer. “Can you take me to my sister’s house?”
“Of course,” the officer replied.
As the car pulled away, Eric stood on the porch, watching until the taillights disappeared into the night. The weight of his actions settled over him. He had a lot to make right, but this time, he wouldn’t fail her.
Inside, the house was quiet except for the soft murmurs of their children stirring in their crib. Eric walked over to them, gently placing a hand on each tiny back, feeling the steady rise and fall of their breathing. He had lashed out at the person who gave everything for their family. And if he wanted to be the husband and father they deserved, he needed to change.
The next morning, he woke up early. He cleaned the kitchen, tidied the house, and made breakfast—small gestures, but they were a start. Then he picked up his phone and sent a message to Cora:
“I’m sorry. I’m not expecting you to forgive me overnight, but I need you to know I’m going to be better—for you, for our kids, for us. Take your time. I love you.”
Hours passed before she responded, and when she did, it was simple:
“I hope so.”
It wasn’t a resolution, but it was a beginning. And for now, that was enough.