Skip to content The Truth Noah Had Been Carrying
Jessica finally spoke.
“I told him the truth.”
“What truth?” Matt asked.
“That you’re happier when he’s here.”
Matt’s voice became quiet.
“Jessica, that isn’t his responsibility.”
“I never said it was.”
“You just did.”
I stood outside the window, barely breathing.
Then Jessica continued.
“I told Noah that if he chose to go back to Rachel, things would become difficult here. I told him you would be lonely again.”
“You told a twelve-year-old that?”
“I was trying to make him understand what was at stake.”
“No. You were making him responsible for our marriage.”
Silence.
Then I heard Noah.
“Dad?”
My heart broke.
He had been listening.
Matt immediately softened his voice.
“Noah, buddy, come downstairs.”
Footsteps moved across the floor.
A few seconds later, I heard him ask:
“Are you and Jessica going to get divorced if I leave?”
“No.”
“But she said…”
“I know what she said. And she was wrong.”
Noah started crying.
“I just wanted to help.”
I couldn’t stay outside any longer.
I knocked on the door.
Everything became silent.
Matt opened it.
The moment he saw me, his face changed.
“Rachel.”
“Is Noah here?”
He stepped aside.
Noah stood halfway down the stairs, his eyes red.
The moment he saw me, he ran into my arms.
I held him tightly.
He buried his face against my shoulder.
“I’m sorry, Mom.”
I kissed his hair.
“You don’t have anything to apologize for.”
“But I said I wanted to stay.”
“I know.”
“I thought Dad needed me.”
Matt closed his eyes….