The Silver Rows
There were more forks than I could count.
They had been placed in perfect lines, carefully hidden between the mattress and the bed frame.
The sight of them made my throat close.
Alex burst into tears.
“Please leave them there!”
I turned toward him.
He stood in his dinosaur pajamas with tears running down his cheeks, both hands stretched toward the bed.
“Why do you need them?” I asked.
“Daddy and me need them.”
“For what?”
“Daddy said.”
“What did Daddy say?”
His crying grew louder.
“He told me not to tell anyone.”
I felt cold.
“Even me?”
Alex nodded.
“Even you.”
I knelt in front of him and gently took his hands.
“You can always tell me anything. I’m your mother.”
“But it’s Daddy’s secret.”
I wanted to remove every fork, but Alex was so distressed that I could not bring myself to do it.
I lowered the mattress, replaced the sheet, and tucked him into bed.
Then I stepped into the hallway and called my husband.
