Their voices were rising.
“Stop,” I said.
They both looked at me.
“The children are in this house.”
Vanessa glanced toward the hallway and lowered her voice.
“I wasn’t trying to hurt them.”
“Then why did Brooks think he might be living with me?”
Her face fell.
“What?”
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“He asked me over breakfast.”
Vanessa looked toward the hallway again.
“I told him things might change.”
“You told him to pack his important things.”
“I didn’t know what Eric was going to do.”
Eric gave a short, incredulous laugh.
“So you packed the kids, bought me an airline ticket, and decided you’d surprise me with a choice?”
Vanessa’s eyes filled.
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“You wouldn’t make one.”
The room went quiet.
She looked at him.
“For eight months, I’ve asked you what we’re doing. I’ve asked if you’re going to keep working every night. I’ve asked if we can move. I’ve asked if you can transfer. Every time, you say later.”
“I have responsibilities.”
“So do I.”
“I know that.”
“No, you don’t.”
She pointed toward him.
“Do you know how many dinners you’ve missed this month?”
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Eric’s expression turned grim.
“This isn’t about dinner.”
“You’re right. It’s about everything being later. Vacation, later. Moving, later. Having one weekend where you aren’t checking your phone, later.”
She swallowed.
“I got tired of waiting for later.”
I understood her anger more than I wanted to.
Eric had always been responsible, almost to a fault.
After his father died, he’d become even more determined to provide for everyone around him.
Work was how he solved problems.
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Unfortunately, work was also how he avoided them.
But understanding Vanessa’s pain did not make what she’d done acceptable.
Eric held up the tablet.
“So what was the plan?”
Vanessa hesitated.
“You were going to meet us at the airport.”
“Again, how was I supposed to know?”
“I was going to call you when I had the kids.”
“And then?”
She looked down.
“I was going to tell you the truth.”
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“Which was?”
She lifted her eyes.
“Come with us or don’t.”
Nobody moved.
Eric stared at her.
“You bought a plane ticket and packed our children so you could give me an ultimatum at the airport?”
“I needed you to finally choose.”
“You didn’t want me to choose.”
His voice had gone quiet.
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“You wanted the answer you’d already chosen.”
Vanessa flinched.
“I wanted you to choose us.”
