Vacant(19)

I glance to Emily as she listens to Erin on the other end of the line. Her smile softens and then her face turns grim. I suddenly wonder if there is a problem. I look up in the rear-view mirror at Tanner. He's sitting stock still and perfectly straight in the seat, looking out the window. Mark can tell something is wrong, but he stays silent waiting for us to say something.

"Oh."

Then, Emily nods as if Erin can see her. Her eyes are turning glassy and I know what that means. I pull over to the side of the road. Tanner begins to rock since the car has stopped and then starts to moan. The longer we sit still, the louder his moans get.

I reach for Emily's hand, my silent question waiting for verification.

"She passed at 3:12 p.m. It's like she knew, Ethan." Emily begins to cry while Tanner groans. "She knew he was okay."

I think Tanner knows, too. People assume he doesn't understand because he can't express it, but I think he does.

Now, I'm torn. Do I comfort my wife or my new son? "Let's move to the back seat," I whisper.

We sit on the shoulder of Route 35, in the back seat of our two-year-old Corolla, embracing each other. Emily and I sandwich our boys between us as Tanner continues to rock and hum.

"This, too, shall pass," my wife whispers as she - we - hold our new family together and continue living.