I woke before dawn that morning, smoothing the wrinkles out of Lucas’s brand-new school shirt with extra care. It was his first day of first grade, a milestone I’d been quietly preparing for all summer. I wanted everything to be perfect—his clothes, his lunch, his smile.
Across the room, my husband Travis slept on the couch, an empty beer can tipped against the coffee table. It wasn’t unusual anymore, but I tried not to let it ruin the day. Lucas had been counting down for weeks, mostly for one reason.
