I had been gone for five days, but nothing prepared me for what I saw when I opened the door: my wife juggling dinner and our sick toddler, while my mother and sister sat nearby on their phones.

“Since Tuesday night,” she whispered. “High fever. Coughing. Barely sleeping.”

Ethan slowly looked toward his mother and sister.

“And both of you have been here this whole time?”

Patricia barely glanced up. “We came to keep Lauren company.”

Melissa pulled one earbud out. “What?”

Lauren lowered her eyes immediately while Noah coughed harder against her shoulder.

Ethan quietly set his suitcase down by the wall.

“Keep her company?”

Patricia sighed dramatically like he was already being unreasonable.

“Oh, don’t start, Ethan. We helped.”

“With what?”

His tone sharpened instantly.

Patricia lifted her chin defensively.

“I watched Noah yesterday while Lauren showered.”