My ex-wife came to see our son. She ended up staying the night. I let her sleep on the couch. After midnight, I heard something I wasn’t supposed to hear.

Something about her tone felt off, but I stepped aside.

“Sure. Come in.”

Mason heard her voice and immediately ran toward the door. He practically launched himself at her, wrapping his arms around her waist. She laughed and hugged him tightly, and for a moment it felt like we had stepped backward in time.

I stood there watching them before returning to the kitchen to finish dinner.

“There’s extra pasta if you want some,” I called out.

She hesitated. “Are you sure?”

“It’s just pasta,” I replied.