I went to surprise my husband at work — but his colleague asked me with tears in his eyes, “He hasn’t told you anything, has he?

You like it.”

“I like that people seem to walk places.”

“That’s progress.”

“You like it.”

“Don’t ruin it.”

***

That evening, we had dinner with a few people Ben would work with.

Halfway through the meal, someone smiled at him.

“Your wife must’ve been thrilled when you negotiated Fridays.”

I turned.

“Fridays?”

Ben’s expression changed.

“Don’t ruin it.”

Outside the restaurant, I stopped him.

“What did you negotiate?”

“One Friday off every month, for me and Olive.”

“Why didn’t that make it into the paperwork you gave me?”

He exhaled.

 

“Because I was doing what I always do, Chels. Figuring it out alone. I was also trying to be home.”

“What did you negotiate?”

“Why Fridays?”

He hesitated.

“Olive said I always work on fun days.”

I looked at him.

“You remembered that.”

“Of course.”

“Then start telling me the things you remember before you build a solution around

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