“Sharon, where ARE you??”
“The fridge is EMPTY.”
“Why is the electricity off?”
“Where are my clothes?! I have a meeting!”
After a little while, I replied: “Relax, babe! Since I don’t work, I figured you wouldn’t mind holding down the fort while I took a little break too.”
His answer came quickly: “I GET IT, OKAY? I was wrong. Please just come home!”
When Lily and I returned, the house was a mess—dishes piled up, laundry everywhere, and takeout containers stacked high. Keith looked like he hadn’t slept in days.
“You’re back,” he said with relief.
“Looks like you had a relaxing vacation,” I said, surveying the chaos.
“I was wrong,” he admitted. “I had no idea how much you actually do.”
I handed him a folded piece of paper. “Chore list. From now on, we split everything fifty-fifty.”
He hesitated. “Everything?”
“You said I don’t work,” I reminded him. “So you shouldn’t mind doing half.”
He nodded. “Fair.”
“Great,” I said. “Because I booked a spa day for Saturday. You’re on Lily duty.”
Keith gently picked Lily up, hugging her close. “Hey, sweetheart. Daddy missed you.” Then he looked at me, sincere. “I’ll do better. I promise.”
“You will,” I said with a smile. “Because next time you tell me I don’t work, I won’t just take the baby. I’ll take the Wi-Fi and the dog too.”
He laughed. “Message received.”
I headed to the bathroom, ready for my first peaceful shower in days. “Dinner’s on you tonight. Good luck.”
Behind me, I heard him whisper to Lily, “Your mom is brilliant. But let’s keep that between us—I’m already in enough trouble.”
I smiled to myself. Message delivered. Lesson learned.