I read it twice. Then locked my phone.
Mom watched me. “You aren’t answering?”
“No.”
“What are you planning?”
I smiled toward the front door. “Something memorable.”
“What are you planning?”
***
An hour later, I pulled a little chalkboard out of the hall closet. It usually hung in the kitchen with grocery reminders.
That day, I wrote something different.
WELCOME TO TREVOR’S ALL-INCLUSIVE PARENT RESORT
Underneath, I listed the amenities.
Sunrise Bottle Service
Bottomless Formula Refills
Daily Diaper Duty
Midnight Entertainment
Late Checkout Not Available
I wrote something different.
Mom laughed so hard she had to wipe tears from her eyes.
Frank looked at the sign and said, “I like the last one.”
He settled into Trevor’s favorite recliner with one baby sleeping peacefully against his chest. The other lay beside him in the bassinet.
At exactly 4:17, the front door opened.
“I’M HOME GIRLS!”
Trevor rolled his suitcase inside wearing sunglasses on top of his head.
His skin was tan. He smelled like sunscreen.
“I’M HOME GIRLS!”
“I missed…” He froze.
His suitcase slipped from his hand and hit the hardwood floor.
His eyes locked on the man sitting in his recliner.
“DAD?? No…”
