This is Life Pal

ays did. Jordan had taken the two, Benjamin and Bethany for a walk, and that was a rare moment of peace for their mother. She loved the silence when the hous

l she found Honey. With a soft sigh, she tapped

adn't heard from them in a while.

familiar sound of Stanley's voice, th

had always been babe or sweetheart to him-those simple names that had once meant ever

ing to keep her voice light

quickly, as if trying to brush off

asn't sure if she wanted them back just yet. It was hard to explain, but she enjoy

the words slipping out more easily than

ce softened, but there was a strange hesita

to ignore it. Work-it was always work. The same excuse

," she said, her voice a little tighter now. "Yo

c. "It's just that... the places I've been, there's no signal. An

use more times than she could count, and it didn't quite add up. But she kept h

we switch to a video call? The kids really want to see yo

silence between them stre

ort video calls," he finally said, almost too quickl

dy creeping in. How many next times had ther

st... I don't want the kids to feel like you're slipping away, Stan. Y

tant. "I'll make more of an effort, okay

ly comes first. That was the phrase. But the way he said it, like a p

he kids. Maybe they were on the way back. Maybe

question sounding more genuin

stly, Jordan... she's been struggling a bit. She talks about you all the time. And Bet

"I miss them too, you know? It's j

she wanted to say. This wasn't just about him being busy. This was ab

too. You keep saying you'll make an effort, but... when? When is that g

l make it up to you. I'll make more of a

background. A woman's voice. It was low, but clear en

skipped a bea

sked, her voice a little

rkmates," he replied quick

ded too close. Too familiar. Her mind raced.

sure?" sh

f he was eager to end the conversation. "I'll try to make it

her off the phone. She wasn't done yet. There were things she

he said, her voice sharp.

pted, cutting her off. "I'm in a m

word. The screen went blank, and the silence of

in her chest, and the weight of the conversation pressed down on her.

d to herself. "Is it r

no answer. No