Right after my husband left for his business trip, my six-year-old gripped my hand and quietly said, “Mom… we can’t go back home. This morning I heard Dad on the phone, talking about something that involves us and it didn’t sound right.” So we didn’t go back.

“This meeting in Houston is crucial for the firm,” Dominic said as he pulled me into a practiced hug.

I nodded and smiled because smiling kept the gears of our life moving smoothly. “Of course, we will be fine here,” I replied.

Toby’s grip tightened until it hurt. Dominic crouched in front of him and placed both hands on the boy’s shoulders.

“You take care of your mother for me, all right?” Dominic said with a warm tone.

Toby did not answer him. He just nodded with an intensity that made my stomach twist into knots.

It was the kind of look you give someone when you are afraid you will never see them again. Dominic kissed Toby’s forehead and then kissed my cheek.

“Love you both,” he said before turning toward the security line.

He blended into the river of travelers without looking back once. I watched until his dark head disappeared into the crowd.

Only then did I let out a breath I had been holding for an hour. “Okay, let’s go to the car,” I said softly.

We started walking toward the parking deck as our footsteps echoed against the polished tile. The shops were closing and the flight boards flickered with final call announcements.