Chapter 22 - A New Routine
By the second year after Marianne returned, Melusine had two homes.
Not because we divorced.
Because Marianne still kept her accessible apartment.
Our marriage was rebuilding.
She needed a space adapted around rehabilitation.
She also liked having somewhere that belonged entirely to the life she built after injury.
At first I took that personally.
Then stopped.
Melusine stayed there one night a week.
Then two.
Eventually Marianne spent more time at our house too.
No dramatic move-in day.
A toothbrush appeared.
Then clothes.
Then books.
Then her terrible herbal tea.
One morning I realized half the bathroom belonged to her again.
No announcement.
The apartment remained.
Marianne kept it.
Security mattered to her differently now.
Choice mattered.
I had once assumed marriage meant one house.
Five years of separation taught us to ask instead.
Our daughter adjusted better than adults predicted.
Kids care about routine more than architecture.
Tuesday:
Mommy’s apartment.
Thursday:
Dad’s house.
Saturday:
depends.
She learned both routes.
Kept pajamas in both.
May you like
Complained equally about bedtime everywhere.
Healthy.
