“Come on, Tracy. This isn’t the time?—”
“It’s exactly the time. Don’t pretend like this is some kind of shock to you. We’ve been out of sync for a long time, and that nearly cost us our son. I don’t want you here.”
“You sure as fuck wanted me here when you were a single mother.”
“That was a long time ago, wasn’t it? Back when you would’ve killed to protect our kids. That guy would’ve never allowed an eleven-year-old to run around this city on his own. Now… I don’t even know who you are anymore.”
“That is so not fair.”
“It isn’t? Really? When I told you it was wrong to let him go out with his friends at eleven, you said I was overreacting, that I was hysterical, that I was hovering and turning him into a mama’s boy. Remember all that disrespectful shit you said to me when I sounded the alarm about our child being too young for that kind of freedom? Remember how you told me I’ve been a helicopter mother since Brooke was assaulted? Is that ringing any bells?”
“I shouldn’t have said that stuff. I’m sorry.”
“Fuck you and your Monday-morning-quarterback apology. I want you out of here. I can’t bear to look at you.”
“You can’t be serious. You’re going to throw away twenty years of marriage over a mistake?”
“A mistake? Is that how you see an egregious lack of judgment? I can’t take the chance that you’ll allow something like this again, against my wishes. You made me completely powerless in this situation by agreeing with what he wanted. How could I say no after you’d said yes? What happened to our united front that we always said was so critical? You opened the door, and Ethan walked right through it like I hadn’t said no. I have two children to protect, and we’re not at all on the same page about how to do that, so I want you to go.”
“And not see my kids anymore?”
“I never said that, but you’re not making any more big decisions for them. That much is for certain.”
“And how do you propose to eliminate me from decision-making for them?”
“By getting a lawyer, divorcing you and suing for full custody, with visitation for you.”
He stared at her, incredulous. “You can’t be serious.”
“I am as serious as I have ever been about anything. Our marriage is over. I no longer trust your judgment, and I no longer love you the way I once did.”
“Do you honestly think I don’t feel sick about what’s happened?”
“I’m sure you do. Too bad you didn’t listen to me when I told you what could happen. No, I was overwrought, hysterical, overprotective. And I was fucking right, so please, do us all a big favor and get the fuck out of here before I have you thrown out.”
“With what army?”
She gave him a look that she hoped reminded him of who her sister was and what she did for a living.
“Sam won’t force me out of my own home.”
“You don’t think so? If I ask her to, she’ll do it. Don’t mistake her affection for you as greater than her loyalty toward me and the kids. If I call her and tell her I want you out of here and you’re refusing to go, she’ll do something about it. Let’s not go there. Our family has already had enough negative attention thanks to you. Do the right thing and go quietly.”
She stared him down as he waited for her to change her mind, to soften her directive, to take back what she’d said. None of that was going to happen. This wasn’t about being right. It was about keeping their kids safe.
“I can’t believe you’re so quick to throw away more than twenty years together and the family we’ve built because I made a mistake.”
“If that’s how you see it, then I’m definitely doing the right thing. I’ve said everything I have to say to you. My next move will be to call Sam and ask for her help.”
They were engaged in another stare-down when Ethan came into the kitchen.
His pale face and haunted eyes only added to her fury. Her child had been changed forever by this incident, and his father was calling it a “mistake.”
“What’s going on?” he asked, glancing between them.
“Nothing, honey,” Tracy said as she went to him. “Let’s get you back to bed. You need to be resting.”
“Why are you fighting?”
