Chapter 18 - Colorado
They moved six weeks later.
Thomas slept through most of the flight.
Caleb did not.
He pressed his face against the airplane window and announced every cloud.
Noah held the teddy bear.
Anna sat between the boys while Daniel held the baby.
The symmetry made her smile.
The last time she had been in an airport, she was trying to leave her marriage.
This time, they were leaving together.
Fort Carson welcomed them with mountains.
Real mountains.
Not distant postcard shapes.
Massive walls of blue and gray against an enormous sky.
Caleb stared.
“Do we live there?”
Daniel laughed.
“Near there.”
Their rental house was smaller than the old one.
Anna loved it immediately.
The kitchen had too little storage.
Daniel hated that immediately.
They both decided it was fair.
The first weeks were chaos.
Boxes.
School enrollment.
Baby appointments.
Daniel’s new role.
Anna’s maternity leave.
Sleep deprivation.
They argued.
More than once.
But the arguments were different.
They finished them.
One night, Daniel came home late.
Anna was furious.
He had promised six.
It was nearly eight.
She stood in the kitchen holding Thomas.
“You said six.”
“I know.”
“No text.”
“My phone died.”
“You have a charger in the car.”
Daniel stopped.
The old reflex appeared.
Explain.
Defend.
Then he exhaled.
“You’re right.”
Anna blinked.
He continued.
“I should have found a way to contact you.”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry.”
She stared.
“That’s it?”
“What else?”
“I had an entire argument prepared.”
Daniel smiled.
“Do you want to use it?”
“Maybe.”
He took Thomas.
Anna handed the baby over.
Then she said the sentence she had promised herself she would say.
“I was scared.”
Daniel looked at her.
“When you didn’t call, I went back to the airport in my head.”
His expression softened.
“I’m sorry.”
She nodded.
“I know you didn’t do it intentionally.”
“But it affected you anyway.”
“Yes.”
He kissed her forehead.
“Next time, I borrow a phone.”
“Correct.”
Progress.
Not perfection.
Anna started remote onboarding for St. Anne’s.
The Castle Rock program moved faster than expected.
Her future manager called.
“We may need you there twice a week once you return.”
Anna looked at the map.
Forty-five minutes.
Manageable.
For the first time in years, her career felt real.
Daniel noticed the change.
“You’re happier.”
She looked at him.
“I am.”
“Good.”
“You’re not allowed to take credit.”
“I wasn’t.”
“You were thinking it.”
“I was thinking I make excellent coffee.”
“You make average coffee.”
“Hostile household.”
They laughed.
Evelyn visited after two months.
She stayed in a hotel.
Her choice.
Anna appreciated it.
The first evening was tense.
Then Thomas spit up on Evelyn’s blouse.
Everyone laughed.
Even Evelyn.
Noah showed her his new room.
Caleb showed her the mountains.
Daniel watched carefully.
Boundaries remained.
But love was returning in a healthier shape.
That night, Evelyn sat with Anna on the porch.
“I owe you something.”
Anna looked at her.
“You already apologized.”
“Not this.”
Evelyn folded her hands.
“I was jealous.”
Anna stared.
“Of me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Daniel started asking you questions he used to ask me.”
Anna had not expected that.
Evelyn continued.
“What do you think?”
“Should I take this?”
“What would you do?”
She smiled sadly.
“I told myself he was becoming weak.”
“But really.”
“He was becoming independent from me.”
Anna let the truth settle.
Evelyn looked at her.
“That frightened me.”
Anna nodded.
“I understand fear.”
“I know.”
“But understanding isn’t permission.”
“No.”
Evelyn looked toward the house.
“I know that now.”
Anna believed her.
Not completely.
But enough.
When Evelyn left, Daniel asked, “How was it?”
Anna smiled.
“New strange.”
He remembered the phrase.
“Good strange?”
“Better.”
Months passed.
Thomas grew.
Caleb stopped asking when Daniel would leave.
Noah stopped checking the stairs at sunrise.
Daniel traveled twice.
Three days each.
Both times, there were calendars.
Calls.
Clear plans.
No surprises.
The first trip still hurt.
But Anna did not feel abandoned.
There was a difference.
One evening, Daniel returned from work and found Anna on the porch.
“What?”
He asked.
She held up her phone.
St. Anne’s had promoted her into the Castle Rock project.
His face lit up.
“You got it?”
“I got it.”
He hugged her.
Anna laughed.
“You’re crushing me.”
“Sorry.”
Daniel pulled back.
“I’m proud of you.”
Anna looked toward the mountains.
“So am I.”
The words surprised her.
Daniel smiled.
“Good.”
May you like
For years, she had been proud of surviving.
Now she was proud of building.
