Leo's head swam as he parked in the long-term lot at Logan Airport. Ever since he hung up the phone with his mother, he wavered with uncertainty. Maggie Nelson's wisdom had persuaded him.

"Leo, I'm certain you won't regret being with her."

He had a list of arguments ranging from her mother might not let him in to he might not make it in time. He stayed up until two making flight and hotel arrangements, as well as booking a rental car. Then he emailed the Dwyer Mitchell human resource department requesting personal leave. Ex-wife didn't qualify for bereavement benefits. He also sent emails to both schools and teachers explaining the children's mother was sick and they had to leave town.

Whatever he forgot to do he could deal with from California. Zach had a key to the house. He would call Zach and Chelsea from the gate.

As they approached security, Isla looked pale. He frowned. "Are you okay?"

Her eyes pierced his. "I've never flown."

He should have known. "Just follow me. I need your license."

Once through security, he led them toward their gate. Isla's eyes darted around. Leo was accustomed to the long passageways filled with people. They passed many gates before they reached their own.

As soon as they sat, Riley wanted food. Leo sighed. "You just had breakfast."

Isla pulled out peanut butter crackers. Riley frowned, but took them. Isla pointed at the news stand across from their gate. "Can I go look?"

He nodded. "We have time."

Riley said, "I want to go too."

He waved his hand, too tired to argue and called his office. He asked for Chelsea first. "I'm taking my kids to California. Their mother is sick. HR knows. Text if you need me, but I don't have any appointments."

"Okay. I'll hold the fort."

"Thanks. Can you transfer me to Zach?"

"Hey man, where are you?"

"Logan. My ex is sick. We're heading to LA."

"Is that what was wrong yesterday?"

"Yeah. I'll keep you posted."

"I'll keep Chelsea busy." Leo's assistant had a reputation of sitting on her phone rather than taking initiative.

"Okay. Thanks." Isla and Riley crossed towards him. "Bye."

He hoped to hear from Percy before their flight took off. It was still early on the west coast, but he wanted to know if Autumn had held on overnight. He could be rushing to her funeral, but at least he tried.

Isla carried a book and Riley had candy. Isla tried to curb the sweets. Leo studied her face. She looked nauseous. When she sat down, he asked, "Are you okay?"

She shook her head. "This is new for me and I'm..."

Leo had never feared flying, but many people did. It was possible Isla had the fear of the unknown more than the flying. Thankfully, the mid morning flight wasn't booked, and he got four seats near each other. He would put the kids together across the aisle for takeoff. Leo didn't want them to pick up on Isla's nerves.

Just before boarding, Percy texted that she was holding on. Come straight to the hospital.

Leo hoped there wasn't a delay. Cross-country flights were long enough. He felt antsy and stood and paced waiting for their boarding call. Riley and Cody were busy eating red licorice. Cody would probably bounce in his seat for the next hour.

"Guys save some for later." Riley tucked it into her backpack without a single eye roll. While she had fussed over packing, he had pulled her into a hug. He told her he knew it was hard and confusing. "Rye, come here." She stood and let Leo hug her. "We're going to be okay."

Leo felt guilt creep in. They had a life which didn't involve Autumn to go home to. His grandmother died when he was away at college. After going home for the funeral, he went back to school, and it was easy to forget his sweet grandmother was gone. Riley lived life without thinking about her mother sleeping, so his gut told him she would be alright. He would talk to her to make her his priority.

The announcement came, and he said, "Grab your bags, that's us."

They waited in line before they entered the jetway. Flying had always given Leo a sense of excitement, but their trip was different. He wanted to be at LAX, and the long flight stood in his way.

He pointed to the double seats. "You two sit there. Cody, I'll buckle you in."

"We'll be right here." He let Isla sit down first and he took the aisle. A woman already sat in the window seat next to Isla's seat. He leaned in. "Buckle up. You can hold your book, but your bag stays under there, until we're in the air." She trembled. He reached for her hand. "It's okay. It's safer than driving a car."

She clung to his hand. He needed the comfort her hand provided too. Isla listened to the preflight instructions and looked at the card in the seatback. Leo hadn't focused on it in years. He often rationalized that his bad thing had happened. Unfortunately, it wasn't a one and done. Life wasn't always fair.

He held Isla's hand through takeoff. "See. We're flying. You can get into your bag. Did you sleep last night?"

"Not much."

"Take a nap then."

"You should sleep."

"I don't think I can."

Isla nodded and opened her book. It looked like a contemporary romance. Leo smiled thinking how far Isla had come. Eventually, he switched seats with Riley to give her a break from Cody. The boy played on his iPad. Leo tried working, but struggled to focus. Time stood still. Cody fell asleep. When he looked over Isla had too. Her face looked peaceful, but nothing like the way Autumn looked.

"Hey, Rye. Are you okay?"

She nodded. "Dad, what happens?"

"What, sweetie?"

"When she dies."

"We learn at church her soul goes to heaven." He would skip the Catholic belief of purgatory.

"No. What do I do?"

"Well, there will be a funeral. Probably at your grandmother's church." He felt resentment. "Riley, it's okay if you feel sad, but it is also okay if you don't. Whatever you feel is the right way for you."

She looked at him. "What do you feel?"

He paused. What should he share with his daughter? "Sad. Regret. Confused because I feel like we lost her a long time ago."

"What regret?"

"I wish she had died my wife. It's complicated."

"We can still love her."

"We'll always love her and keep our memories of her with us. Here and here." He pointed to his heart and forehead.

"Cody doesn't remember." She frowned.

"I know. It's our job to tell him about her."

"We have the book."

He nodded. "We do." They would always have photographic evidence of the family they were once upon a time.

Eventually, the longest flight in history ended. He sat with Isla for the landing. She relaxed when the plane came to a stop. Thankfully, there had been no turbulence. As soon as he was able, he turned his phone on. No message was good news.

Getting the rental car kept him preoccupied. Once in the car, he cursed LA and the traffic. It was early afternoon and people should be at work.

"I'll take you to the hotel and head out. There is a restaurant next to it. You can take them to eat. I don't know when I'll be back. We'll have a girl's bedroom and a boy's one." He splurged for a two-bedroom suite.

"Dad, we'll be fine. We lived in a hotel. Remember?"

"How could I forget?"

Riley kept busy telling Isla about the time before they closed on their house.

He had picked a hotel close to the hospital. When he went to check in, he felt the anxiety grow. Hopefully, his former mother-in-law wouldn't throw him out. With a kiss for his kids and a long look at Isla, he left with a room key card in his pocket. They would get to the room on their own.

Leo was no stranger to hospitals. As much as he hated the facility Autumn had been in, he hated hospitals more. With his phone out, he found his way based on Percy's direction. His pace slowed as he approached her room. His mother-in-law's voice crept into the hall as she pleaded with her daughter to get better for her. Before he met her mother, Autumn shared a story of her childhood. He often wished she hadn't because it colored his opinion of her mother.

Autumn, as a girl younger than Riley, got lost at a large fair. She had been frightened and scared. When reunited, her mother never consoled her, but told her how worried she had been. 'I thought I lost you. I can't lose you.'

Just as Leo entered the room, she said, "I can't lose you." Then she turned and frowned. "Why are you here?"

Leo opened his mouth, but Percy jumped up. "I called him. He deserves to be here."

She shook her head. "I won't let her go."

Leo took his eyes off the crying woman and looked at his wife. Her skin tone had changed and there was bloating. Percy pulled him aside.

"Her organs are slowly failing. There is no telling how long." He looked at his mother. "She won't give up."

Leo turned to his wife. "She's suffering. Look at her."

"You gave up your right to say anything."

He frowned. "I did. You choose your daughter over her children. They have been confused for three years. If you think I took the easy route you are wrong. I did it for her kids. I knew my wife better than you. She would have never wanted this."

"Leo is right. Even the doctor who was just here wanted you to let her go." Percy sighed.

"She can't come back." She never could. Leo scrubbed his face.

Percy cried. "Mom, it's hard enough living with what happened, but the way you cling to Autumn and ignore me hurts. When was the last time you asked about my life?"

Leo looked from Percy to his father. Autumn loved her dad, but the man was weak and controlled by his bully wife. He said, "Son, it wasn't your fault. Leo never blamed you and nor did I."

Leo shook his head. He blamed himself, but could he have changed the outcome?

Leo approached his wife and took the hand her mother wasn't clinging to. It had always been warm, but it felt cold. He brought it to his lips and shut his eyes. Her scent had faded, and it was replaced with the smell of the hospital. When he opened his eyes, his mother-in-law was staring at him. She had never liked him. Her list was long: "An English major, what a waste." "He's not from here. He'll take you away." "A Catholic. He might as well be an atheist."

"Where are my grandchildren?"

"Safe with their nanny. Please, please let her go."

She turned her back on him and sat down on a chair next to her husband. She left Leo alone with Autumn. He didn't fear she would open her eyes. If only her face wasn't distorted. The body in the bed hardly resembled the beautiful, vibrant wife and mother. The moment she saw Riley and then Cody her face lit up with pure joy. They waited to have a second child, but Cody took longer than expected. She had been discouraged, but it never got her down. There wasn't an explanation, and they stopped treating conceiving like a project. The day she found out she was pregnant was amazing. He had years of memories to hold on to.

"Please. She wouldn't want this. Please." He murmured to nobody. Maybe it was a prayer or begging. Either way, his words were true.

A nurse stepped in. "I see we have a new visitor."

"He divorced her."

Leo ignored her. "How long can she hold on like this?"

"Maybe days."

Leo shook his head. "Please God is calling her."

"She's not saved. She can't go."

Autumn had rebuked her mother's religion and never took Jesus into her heart. She believed, but like Leo hated the rules and black and white religion posed. What a full circle Leo had come? He quickly pushed his thought away.

"Mom, God has made her suffer enough. He'll take care of her."

Percy hated religion more than Autumn. Leo boldly said, "I think he has. What if all this time her soul was gone and you've been holding on to her empty body?" She's probably laughing at you.

Percy said, "Leo's right. She's not here."

The nurse had been watching them like a tennis match. She checked the IV and the machine with the constant beeping, before leaving.

"It doesn't work that way." The mother stared at her son.

Percy said, "Why not? What about the people who come back from near death? Maybe she fought to come back and lost, but left her body behind."

Leo had read a lot of fiction, but never one like the tale Percy spun.

Her face soured. "You just want to win."

Leo balled his free hand. "Win. None of us has won. Not me and definitely not Riley and Cody. This is not about you and me. It's about Autumn, beautiful, vibrant Autumn. Set her free so she can soar."

"Leo's right. My little girl wouldn't have wanted this."

She looked like an animal backed into a corner. "I want to see my grandchildren."

He nodded. "As long as you don't confuse them. They are happy in Boston."

No one said anything. The nurse quietly left and Leo sat by Autumn's side pleading silrntly. It was hard to know the difference. He looked up when his ex-mother-in-law whispered.

"Okay." She looked at Autumn.

"Okay, what?" Percy asked.

"Okay. It's time."

Leo sighed. It wasn't a decision to smile about but the vise on his heart lessened. His Autumn would finally find peace.

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