The sun was setting as I pulled into my ex-wife Goldie’s driveway, casting long shadows across the perfectly manicured lawn. I’m Nathaniel, 38 years old, and this used to be my home too. Now, it’s just another reminder of how much has changed…

Goldie and I split up eight months ago, but we’ve been trying our best to keep things civil for our kids, Sarah and Jack. They’re 7 and 5, just little ones really, caught in the middle of this mess we’ve made.

We’ve managed to co-parent without too much drama so far, you know? Taking turns for school pickups, coordinating weekend plans, the whole nine yards. But man, nothing could’ve prepared me for what went down that evening.

I was swinging by to grab some documents I’d forgotten during my last visit. As I killed the engine, I spotted Sarah and Jack sitting out front, fundraising. They had a little table set up, loaded with cookies and an assortment of toys.

My heart swelled with pride. Look at my kids, taking initiative!

I climbed out of the car, my knees creaking a bit. Getting old, I guess. I strolled over, ruffling Jack’s hair as I approached. “Hey, what’s all this, champ?”

Sarah’s face lit up like a Christmas tree. “We’re raising money for a special cause, Daddy!”

I grinned, reaching for my wallet. “Well, I can’t say no to that. How much for a cookie?”

Jack held up three fingers. “Three dollars!”

I raised an eyebrow. “Three bucks for a cookie? That’s some fancy baking you’ve got going on here.”

Sarah nodded solemnly. “It’s for something really important, Daddy.”

I was about to ask what this important cause was when I realized something was off. Goldie hadn’t come out to say hello. That was weird. She usually pops out to at least wave, even if we’re not on the best terms.

I figured she must be tied up inside, so I decided to investigate myself.

“Be right back, kiddos,” I said, heading for the front door. “Save me a cookie, okay?”

I stepped into the house, hit by a wave of nostalgia. The familiar scent of Goldie’s favorite candles… the sound of the old grandfather clock ticking away in the living room. It was like stepping back in time.

“Hey,” I called out, my voice echoing in the hallway. “What are the kids raising money for?”

Goldie appeared from the kitchen, looking frazzled, and she had that pinched look she gets when she’s stressed. There was a smudge of flour on her cheek, probably from baking those three-dollar cookies.

“What?” she asked, confusion clear in her voice. “I thought they were just playing in the backyard.”

I frowned, gesturing towards the front door. “Well, no, they’re out front with a table set up, raising money for something. You didn’t know?”

She sighed, rubbing her temples. I recognized that gesture. It’s what she does when she’s trying to ward off a headache.

“I’ve been busy packing your stuff and dealing with those documents you needed. I didn’t realize what they were up to.”

We started bickering then, old habits dying hard. I accused her of not paying attention, she fired back about me always criticizing her parenting. But then we both caught ourselves. This wasn’t helping anyone, least of all the kids.

“Look,” I said, taking a deep breath. “Let’s just go see what they’re doing, okay?”

Goldie nodded, wiping her hands on her jeans. “Yeah, you’re right. Let’s go.”

As we headed for the door, I couldn’t help but notice the stack of boxes in the corner. My stuff from the attic, ready to be moved out. Another reminder that this wasn’t my home anymore.

We stepped out onto the porch, the evening air cool against my skin. I knelt down next to the table, trying to keep my voice light.

“Hey, guys. What exactly are you raising money for?”

Jack looked at me with those big, innocent eyes of his. The same eyes that used to light up when I’d come home from work, the eyes that would plead for just one more bedtime story.

“We’re raising money to buy a new Daddy!” he revealed.

My stomach dropped like I’d just missed a step going downstairs. “WHAT?? Did you just say you’re trying to buy a new… DADDY??”

I glanced at Goldie. Her face had gone pale and her eyes were wide with shock. “God, no, no,” she said, her voice shaky. “Where did you get that ridiculous idea?”

“Mommy said that Daddy is sick in the head, so we need a new one,” Sarah piped up.

It felt like someone had punched me in the gut. I looked at Goldie, and I could see the horror dawning on her face too.

Our kids had completely misunderstood what was going on with the divorce. They thought it meant I was going away forever and that they needed to replace me.

Goldie knelt down and gently took their hands. Her voice was soft, the way it used to be when she’d comfort them after a nightmare.

“No, sweeties, that’s not what I meant. Daddy isn’t sick, and we DON’T need a new one. We just aren’t going to live together anymore, but Daddy will always be your Daddy.”

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. “That’s right,” I managed to say. “I’ll always be here for you. We’re still a family, just a little different now. You don’t need to raise money for a new Daddy, guys. I’m always your DADDY!”

The look of confusion on their faces broke my heart. How had we messed up so badly that our kids thought they needed to replace me?

We spent the next hour sitting on those front steps, trying to explain to Sarah and Jack what divorce really meant.

The sun had set completely now, the porch light casting a soft glow over us. We reassured them over and over that both of us loved them more than anything in the world, and that nothing would ever change that.

“But if Daddy’s not sick,” Sarah said, her brow furrowed in concentration, “why can’t he live with us anymore?”

I felt my heart breaking all over again. How do you explain something like this to a kid?

“Sometimes,” I started, choosing my words carefully, “grown-ups decide they can’t live together anymore. But that doesn’t change how much we love you.”

Jack’s lower lip trembled, and I saw tears forming in his eyes. “Did we do something bad?”

“No!” Goldie and I said in unison. I pulled him into a hug, feeling his small body shake with sobs. “This has nothing to do with you guys. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“We just want things to go back to normal,” Sarah whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks.

I glanced at Goldie, and I could see she was fighting back tears too. “I know, sweetheart,” she said, her voice a ragged whisper. “But sometimes change can be good. We’re going to find a new normal, okay?”

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“But why?” Jack asked, his voice muffled against my shirt. “Why can’t you just love each other again?”

That question hit me like a ton of bricks. How do you explain to a five-year-old that sometimes love just isn’t enough?