Veronica overapologized for small errors. Trust returned through receipts, asking before inviting guests, honest equipment budgets and accepting no. Six weeks later, Luis sent a postcard showing a desert road beneath an immense blue sky. Its brief message teased Manuel for being stubborn and invited a Sunday call. Dad reread it three times, then sat while Mom leaned over his shoulder to read it too.
“He still sounds like himself,” Mom observed. Dad chuckled.
“I was thinking the same.”
On Sunday Dad sat beside the telephone five minutes before four.
“We can video call,” Derek suggested.
“No.”
“Why?”
“I don’t want to see how old he got until I hear his voice.”
We didn’t fully understand Dad’s refusal, but honored it. He dialed at four; when Mom tried to leave him alone, he held her wrist.
“Stay.”
She sat with him while the rest of us pretended not to listen.
