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<\/p>\nWhen our kids fell ill and couldn\u2019t go on our planned family vacation, my husband just ditched us and went alone. What he didn\u2019t know was that his little \u201cme time\u201d getaway would cost him way more than he bargained for.<\/p>\n
I trudged through the front door at 8:30 p.m., my feet throbbing after a grueling twelve-hour shift at the hospital. The cacophony hit me like a wall: cartoons blaring from the TV, Zach and Penny shrieking as they chased each other around the living room.<\/p>\n
And there was Garrett, sprawled on the couch like a beached whale, beer in hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, babe,\u201d he called out, not bothering to look up from his phone. \u201cRough day?\u201d<\/p>\n
I bit back a sarcastic reply. \u201cYou could say that. The ER was a madhouse.\u201d I glanced at the disaster zone of toys and snack wrappers surrounding him. \u201cDid you feed the kids dinner?\u201d<\/p>\n
Garrett shrugged. \u201cThey had some chips earlier. I figured you\u2019d want to cook when you got home.\u201d<\/p>\n
I closed my eyes, counting to ten. This had become our new normal over the past few years. I\u2019d come home from saving lives to find a house in chaos and a husband who couldn\u2019t be bothered to lift a finger.<\/p>\n
\u201cMommy!\u201d Penny latched onto my leg, her blonde pigtails askew. \u201cI\u2019m starving!\u201d<\/p>\n
I forced a smile. \u201cOkay, sweetie. Let\u2019s get you both some real food.\u201d<\/p>\n
As I reheated leftovers, my mind drifted to our upcoming beach vacation. Maybe a change of scenery would help us reconnect, remind Garrett why we fell in love in the first place.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, you packed for the trip yet?\u201d I asked, setting plates in front of the kids.<\/p>\n
Garrett grunted. \u201cNah, I\u2019ll throw some stuff in a bag tomorrow. No big deal.\u201d<\/p>\n
I sighed. \u201cWe leave in two days, Garrett. A little planning wouldn\u2019t kill you.\u201d<\/p>\n
He rolled his eyes. \u201cRelax, it\u2019ll be fine. You worry too much.\u201d<\/p>\n
The night before our flight, I woke to the sound of retching. Zach was hunched over the toilet, his face pale and clammy. Within an hour, Penny was sick too.<\/p>\n
I gently broke the news to Garrett over breakfast. \u201cWe\u2019ll have to postpone the trip. The kids have a nasty stomach bug.\u201d<\/p>\n
He froze, fork halfway to his mouth. \u201cWhat? No way. I\u2019ve been looking forward to this for months!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know, but they\u2019re too sick to travel. We can reschedule\u201d<\/p>\n
Garrett\u2019s jaw clenched. \u201cI\u2019m still going.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at him, sure I\u2019d misheard. \u201cExcuse me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou heard me. I need this break, Nora. Work\u2019s been insane lately.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd my job isn\u2019t?\u201d I snapped. \u201cI\u2019m a nurse, Garrett. I deal with real emergencies every day.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"