I thought my husband would be there for me when my mom passed away, but instead, he chose a vacation to Hawaii over my grief. Devastated, I faced the funeral alone. But when he returned, he walked into a situation he never expected\u2014a lesson he wouldn\u2019t soon forget.<\/p>\n
I was at work when the doctor\u2019s number flashed on my phone, and somehow, I knew what was coming. My heart sank even before I answered.<\/p>\n
Mom was gone. Just like that. One minute she was fighting a minor lung infection, and the next\u2026 nothing. My world stopped making sense.<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t remember much after that. One moment I was sitting in my cubicle, and the next I was home, fumbling with my keys, eyes blurred with tears. John\u2019s car was in the driveway, another one of his \u201cwork-from-home\u201d days, which usually meant ESPN muted in the background while he pretended to answer emails.<\/p>\n
\u201cJohn?\u201d My voice echoed through the house. \u201cI need you.\u201d<\/p>\n
He stepped into the kitchen, holding a coffee mug, looking mildly annoyed. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong? You look terrible.\u201d<\/p>\n
I tried to speak, but the words got tangled in my throat. I reached out to him, desperate for comfort. He sighed and gave me a quick, awkward pat on the back, like he was consoling a distant acquaintance.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy mom\u2026 she died, John. Mom\u2019s gone.\u201d<\/p>\n
His grip tightened for a moment. \u201cOh, wow. That\u2019s\u2026 I\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then, just as quickly, he pulled away. \u201cDo you want me to order takeout? Maybe Thai?\u201d<\/p>\n
I nodded, numb. The next day, reality hit hard. There was so much to handle\u2014planning the funeral, notifying family, and dealing with a lifetime of memories. As I sat at the kitchen table, buried in lists, I remembered our planned vacation.<\/p>\n
\u201cJohn, we\u2019ll need to cancel Hawaii,\u201d I said, looking up from my phone. \u201cThe funeral will probably be next week, and\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCancel?\u201d He lowered his newspaper, frowning. \u201cEdith, those tickets were non-refundable. We\u2019d lose a lot of money. Besides, I\u2019ve already booked my golf games.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"