Jacob was finishing his cup of coffee, which he didn’t really need with his nerves already shaking him, when his wife, Dina, walked over with the coffee pot.
“More?” She inquired sweetly, but he shook his head. He had enough coffee. He had enough in every sense, he realized, as he looked around the dining room. His older son, Michael, sat at the table, reading the back of a cereal box while he ate. Michael was in third grade and already labeled gifted. Jacob’s other son, Elijah, had not yet woken. He had only been born six months ago, but Jacob already had an unbreakable bond with him. The boys were close with Dina, too, but never lit up around her the way they did when Jacob got home. Perhaps it was because Jacob was almost never home, between work and other matters. It wasn’t that family wasn’t a priority for Jacob. He simply didn’t have the time to spare.
With that thought, Jacob checked his watch and noticed he had to leave now if he wanted to have time to stop for a cup of coffee before work. Jacob wasn’t looking forward to the coffee, but the woman he was meeting there. He grabbed his jacket and briefcase and kissed Michael on the top of his head.
“Have a good day, Michael,” Jacob smiled, then leaned in to kiss his wife, adding, “Love you both.” Jacob truly did love his family. They were the most important people in his life. Yet, somehow, he heard his wife’s question, “More?” repeating in his mind, and wondered why he still felt he needed more.
As Jacob made his way down the block, he imagined what his wife was doing. She was always caring for somebody. She was probably busy packing
