Chapter 28 - The Father's Sacrifice
The reality of sole custody meant that our lives had to fundamentally change.
Carlos sat at the kitchen table late that night, looking over his taxi shift schedules and a pile of household bills.
"I cannot drive the night shifts anymore, Mama,"
Carlos said quietly, rubbing his tired eyes.
"If I am gone for fourteen hours a day, I am not raising them. I am just funding them."
"How will we pay the mortgage, Carlos?"
I asked gently, sitting across from him.
"I spoke to the taxi syndicate today,"
Carlos explained, a look of profound resolve on his face.
"I am selling my premium airport medallion. It will give us a massive lump sum of cash to pay off our debts. I am taking a local daytime dispatcher job at the warehouse down the street."
"You will make half the money,"
I warned him softly.
"I don't care about the money,"
May you like
Carlos stated fiercely, looking toward the ceiling where his sons were sleeping.
"I care about being here when they wake up. I care about making their breakfast, and driving them to school, and tucking them into bed. I missed their childhood trying to pay for a woman who despised them. I am taking my life back."
