My husband, Tyler, has been a commercial pilot for almost nine years, but our 7-year-old son, Mason, had never actually been a passenger on a plane his dad was flying.

 

Not for embarrassing himself.

 

For hurting him.

 

“I should never have made you feel like you weren’t important to me,” Tyler said. “You are my son, and I love you. What happened between your mom and me was never your fault.”

 

Mason studied him for a long moment.

 

“Why did you say she meant everything to you?”

 

Tyler swallowed.

 

“Because I made selfish choices, buddy. I thought I could keep different parts of my life separate, and I hurt people

 

who trusted me.”

 

“Did you forget about me?”

 

Tyler’s eyes filled with tears.

 

“No. But I acted in ways that made it seem like I did, and I’m sorry.”

 

Mason looked down at the table.

 

Then he reached into his backpack and pulled out the original drawing. I had found it in the hotel room after our trip, beneath the bed where it had fallen when he unpacked.

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