With a nod to Alice and Jasper, we speedwalk home.
Three houses up.
Bella has Mase, who's hungry and wet.
No diaper bag.
Easy excuse to slip away.
While she takes our daughter upstairs to change, I make Masie a bottle of formula before pulling out the stuff for spaghetti and garlic bread.
When my girls reappear, Bella and I exchange duties—Masie for cooking—without having to discuss it.
Tomato and herbs fill the room.
Masie gulping down her bottle fills my heart.
Everything I ever wanted is right here in this room.
It's time to reach for it.