“What I see is a pattern here,” he retorted unpleasantly.

“Oh?” I asked with mock interest. “Do tell.”

Then Mickey told.

“First time I laid eyes on you, your ex was up in your face, cursing at you, threatening you, shouting right at you and acting like a total fucking dick. It’s obvious he’s rich and up his own ass and didn’t give a shit you were alone, and because of that, you probably felt unsafe. It was just as obvious you were lettin’ him use you as his punching bag. Even if no woman deserves the way he was speakin’ to you, he just kept right on punching. Now, you know that guy you just made a date with is a total asshole and you made that date anyway. So that’s your pattern. You open yourself up for assholes to shit all over you. And if that’s the way you like it, baby, then no way in fuck I’m gonna get in there to show you there’s another way.”

Before I could retort, he turned on his boot and prowled away.

I glared at him as he did it then jerked toward my car.

I stopped dead because Olympia and Martine were standing at the sidewalk at the front bumper of my car.

Martine was staring after Mickey incredulously.

My baby girl was staring at me, her eyes big and shocked, her face ashen.

“Honey,” I said softly, hurrying her way.

“Dad shouted at you?” she whispered.

I stopped at the curb. “He—”

I got no further because Martine grabbed her hand and yanked her away, saying, “Let’s go, sweetie.”

I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to stop them. But Martine clearly didn’t want to be stopped, and if I tried it might cause a scene.

So I couldn’t stop them.

Thus, powerless (as usual), I stood at the curb watching my daughter’s stepmom drag her away as she stayed turned, her eyes on me.

I lifted my hand and waved.

Martine pulled her into the street behind a parked SUV and I lost sight of her.

I closed my eyes, drawing in a deep breath, and opened them, turning to my car.

I got in and dug in my purse to get out my phone.

When I had it, I texted my daughter.

Just to finish, I texted, it wasn’t as bad as all that. I’m okay. Your father was just sharing the lay of the land after I arrived in Maine. It’s done with and I’m good. I love you, Pippa. See you in a couple of weeks and looking forward to it, honey.

I sent the text then decided to send more.

And it’s worth a repeat that those shorts really look cute on you, sweets, I typed in.