Love is like drifting snow

Christmas Eve. Sarah spent the whole day with our daughter, Chloe, at her childhood friend, Luke’s, house. I called her, only to be met with Chloe's scolding: "Mom's talking business with Luke, don't bother her!" They didn’t come home that night. Christmas morning, I looked at the Christmas dinner I’d slaved over while fighting a cold, and tears just streamed down my face. This time, I was really done.

My phone alarm dragged me awake. My body ached, my eyes were gritty. The room was freezing, and I pulled the covers tighter. Sarah hadn’t come home. She’d forgotten our plans. Chloe's words from the previous day echoed in my head. "Don't bother her." She’d called her own father a bother. It felt like a knife twisting in my gut. Chloe used to be so attached to me, always wanting me to carry her. When did that change? I guess around the time Sarah started taking her to Luke’s for “business” meetings. Luke and Sarah had known each other since they were kids, but he’d moved overseas right after high school. Last year, he came back, and Sarah, citing his international experience, hired him at her company. Yeah, that's when it all started.

My phone rang. It was Sarah. "Honey, after the meeting it got so late and cold, Chloe and I just stayed over."

"Okay."

There was a pause. She probably expected me to grill her. I used to, every time she stayed out all night. And every time, she’d have some excuse, followed by some elaborate attempt to appease me. Not anymore. I was done asking.

After a few seconds, she continued, "Honey, Luke's mom really wanted Chloe to spend the day with her at the amusement park. I couldn’t really say no." Luke’s mom, who Sarah said had always been so nice to her.

"Should we all go together?" I knew the answer, but a sliver of hope remained.

"Oh, John, don't be so petty. What’s the big deal about spending time with his mom?" Click. She hung up. She’d forgotten. We were supposed to take Chloe to the amusement park today. I rubbed my aching eyes and buried my face in the pillow.

I slept until three in the afternoon. The first thing I did was check my phone. No missed calls, no messages. My cold felt worse; I could barely breathe through my nose. I stumbled out of bed and made myself some cold medicine. While waiting for it to cool, I scrolled through social media. A photo stopped me cold. Luke, with his arm around Sarah’s waist, holding Chloe's hand. They looked like a family. We were supposed to be at the amusement park. Now they were there, and I was the outsider.

A knock startled me. Who could that be? I grabbed my jacket and rushed to the door.

"What took you so long?" Sarah stood there, holding Chloe, a look of annoyance on her face. I didn’t respond, reaching for Chloe.

"Why are you so quiet? Go get us some strawberry shortcake. I want the kind from that bakery downtown." She used to talk to me like this all the time. And I’d always run out and get her whatever she wanted. I loved her. I loved our daughter. It didn't matter. Win...