## A Favor Every Other Saturday

Six days later, Martin invited Claire’s family to dinner for her younger sister Nora’s birthday.

Claire nearly declined. Nora lived out of state, though, and had flown in for the weekend. Claire wanted to see her. She told Ben they would stay for dinner and leave early if things became tense.

Vanessa barely spoke to them during the meal. Eli showed Lucy a game on his tablet, then snatched it back whenever she touched the screen. Claire moved Lucy beside her and carried on talking to Nora.

After cake, Martin asked Claire to come into the kitchen. Vanessa followed them. Ben remained in the living room with the children.

“We’ve discussed the trip,” Martin began. “We have a way to make this easier.”

Claire rested her hands on the back of a chair.

Vanessa spoke first. “I can have Sam and Lucy over every other Saturday. They’ll get to know Eli better, and you and Ben can have some time to yourselves. By September, everyone will be comfortable traveling together.”

Claire looked at her. Vanessa had never spent an afternoon alone with both her children. Sam disliked being around Eli, and Lucy still avoided him after he’d pulled apart one of her drawings during a visit.

“No,” Claire said.

Vanessa’s smile disappeared. “You didn’t even consider it.”

“I heard you.”

Martin lifted a hand. “There’s another option. If you’d rather keep the trip for yourselves, you could watch Eli every other Saturday until September. Vanessa and I would get a little time together, and then we’d let the trip go.”

Claire waited, thinking she had misunderstood him.

“You want me to take Eli to France,” she said slowly, “or spend my Saturdays looking after him?”

“You make it sound ugly,” Martin replied.

“How would you describe it?”

Vanessa folded her arms. “I’d call it family helping family. I’ve been exhausted for months.”

“I believe you’re exhausted,” Claire said. “But these aren’t choices I agreed to.”

“So what do you expect us to do?” Vanessa asked.

Claire had an answer. Hire a sitter. Ask Martin to take Eli out by himself. Find out why Eli struggled whenever another child told him no. She had suggested versions of all three before. Tonight, she knew Vanessa wanted her to solve the problem personally.

“I expect you to make a plan that doesn’t depend on me,” Claire said.

She went back into the living room. Ben stood when he saw her face. Nora offered no questions in front of the children. They collected the jackets and left.

In the car, Sam asked whether they had to visit again next weekend.

“No,” Claire said.

He leaned against the window. Lucy fell asleep before they reached home.

The next morning, Martin called. He said he was sorry the dinner had gone badly. He also said Vanessa had felt cornered and that Claire might have been more patient.

Claire listened until he finished.

“I need some space,” she said. “Please don’t call me about babysitting or the trip again.”

For the next several weeks, Martin sent photographs and short messages. Claire answered some of them. She stopped answering Vanessa’s calls.

One evening, Martin texted: *Eli doesn’t know about France. Vanessa wanted to tell him you said he couldn’t come, but I stopped her.*

Claire read it twice.

She was relieved Eli hadn’t been hurt by an invitation she had never made. She was also unsettled that anyone had considered telling a nine-year-old he had been refused a place on someone else’s holiday.