AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Twenty-Three
Emery
I’d picked the kids up last Sunday, and Henry hadn’t said more than a few words to me. The kids gushed about their trip to Phoenix, the plane ride, and their grandparents’ pool. The dog got high praise too.
Henry must’ve hated that.
They asked about my Thanksgiving and Holden, but I told them I had a nice holiday and left it at that. I’d tell them that Holden and I weren’t seeing each other anymore, but I’d have to do it when I trusted myself not to cry. Sunday, and Monday, had not been that day.
I parked in the driveway. A message from Henry flashed on my phone screen.I’d like to have the kids this weekend.
I ground my teeth together and replied.We have plans.
I was going to take them Christmas shopping for each other and so they could pick out gifts for their dad and my mom. They were with him the weekend after this weekend, and that didn’t leave much more time before Christmas.
My phone rang. Henry.
I closed my eyes. Better to take the call out here than inside where the kids could see.
As soon as I answered, he said, “Come on, Emery. You get them all week.”
“I get them ready for school and day care and then I feed them supper and get them to bed. I like to have weekends with them too.”
“It’s just one extra weekend.”
I knew I’d regret saying this. “Those are the terms of our custody agreement, Henry.”
“So you’re not willing to work with me on this?”
Typical of him to turn it around on me. “We have plans, Henry.”
“So you’re not willing to work with me on this?”
“Henry—”
“What you’re saying is”—he spoke slower this time—“that you’re not willing to work with me on seeing the kids more often?”
Dread clawed up my spine until the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. “Are you recording me or something?”
“Why? Are you afraid of saying something that would make it sound like you’re not willing to give me more time with my kids? That you moved them away from their school and where I lived with little notice?”
Those were the details he was using to revisit mediation. I wasn’t rising to the bait. “Goodbye, Henry.”
I hung up on his sputtering. He tried calling back, but I ignored it.
Inside, Mom was sitting with Riley and Afton on the couch, reading books. Landon was driving his race cars around the carpet and listening. Avery was bent over her jewelry-making kit.
Landon popped his head up. “Is Holden coming tonight?”
Shit. It was Tuesday, and I’d been trying all day not to think about how Holden usually brought us dinner on Tuesdays. “Um…Holden won’t be visiting too much anymore.” The kids and my mom blinked at me. I rushed on. “He’s going to miss seeing you guys regularly.”
Landon’s mouth dropped open. “You two broke up?”
How did I handle this? They were going to blame me.Iblamed me. I steeled myself for the truth. “I told him we should quit seeing each other, yes.”
A chorus ofwhys rang out, and Riley’s eyes got round, filling with tears. She might not understand what was going on, but she was absorbing the feelings.
I fought my own tears. At some point, I would quit feeling like the villain in this story, but I didn’t think it’d be soon. “He’s still in town. He’ll always be your friend. He just won’t be over as much.”
