ZOE:I want to come home.
ZOE:Can you please come get me???
My chest tightens so fast it's like my lungs forget what they're supposed to do.
I stare at the screen, thumb hovering, my heart doing that awful split thing it always does when my kids are hurting. Half of me is ready to sprint out the door and scoop her up, and half of me is reminding myself that it's important the kids spend quality time with their father.
Even if it means they have to spend time with Jasmine.
I type.
ME:What happened?
A pause. Then three dots. Then another pause.
ZOE:She keeps calling us a family. She's not my family.
ZOE:And she keeps touching Matthew's hair and calling him sweetheart.
ZOE:She even asked me to be bridesmaid at her and dad’s wedding. I said hard pass.
I close my eyes. Of course she does.
And I get it. I do. I'm not a fan of her either. But like it or not, she is going to be Zoe's stepmother, and if Zoe pushes her away, she'll end up pushing her dad away, too.
And it's not like Mitchell is making loads of effort to be in the kids' lives as it is. I'm afraid if Zoe acts out with Jasmine, Mitchell will stop trying altogether.
Abandon them, for real. I hate that I'm thinking that way. I hate that I have to.
I type, forcing my hands to stay steady.
ME:I'm sorry, baby. I know it's hard, but you have to try your best to get along with Jasmine.
ZOE:She stole Dad from us. She’s a housebreaker.
I close my eyes and inhale deeply. I understand why Zoe thinks Jasmine is to blame for the divorce, but the truth is, she’s not the one who did the housebreaking. Mitchell is.
Jasmine is just an opportunistic woman who saw a chance of hooking her wagon to a wealthy man.
ME:You're with your dad for spring break. Try to enjoy it, okay? You'll be home soon.
There’s a long pause.
ZOE:Wow.
ZOE:Okay. Never mind.
And that's it.
No heart emoji. No "love you." No argument.
Just… okay.
It worries me, but I tell myself that Zoe is safe. She’s with her dad in Boston. She will be grateful in the long run that I didn’t come and pick her up.
I set my phone face down on the table. This is one thing hiring Dennis won't solve. Zoe's feelings toward her dad and Jasmine aren't a problem that will be solved anytime soon.
Still, I hope I'm making the right decision by refusing to bring her home.
