“What do you mean the hotel where they were? Didn’t you book rooms for them in the same one with you? God Almighty! What have you done, Wyatt?” She raised her voice.

“I was teaching them a lesson.” His tone turned cold and harsh. “I didn’t intend to leave them here all night, just until bedtime to show them how good they have it when they’re with me.”

“You sorry son of a bitch!” She’d finally had enough. “They were terrified out of their minds! They called me, so Mack and I went and got them. We had to kick the roaches and rats out of the way to get to them, but they’re safe now.” She stopped for a breath. “And just so you know, we left the cold, burned pizza there for the mice. We got them burgers on the way home.”

“Don’t you get all self-righteous with me.” His voice got louder and louder. “You took them to Comfort when they misbehaved. I wasn’t doing anything worse than that.”

“I didn’t leave them alone in a cheap motel, and I damn sure didn’t leave them to scrounge money for a nasty pizza, or tell them I wouldn’t be back to get them until checkout time the next day!” Her voice sounded like an owl’s screech in her own ears. She hoped that it pierced through his ears and into his brain like a knife.

“Tell them we’ll try again next weekend,” he said. “Victoria’s business in San Antonio won’t be over for two more weeks.”

“Over my dead body,” Lily said. “When the kids decide they want to see you again, it will be supervised visits right here at our convenience.”

“I can take you back to court for visitation or maybe even custody,” he threatened.

“Go ahead,” she told him. “Both kids are old enough now to tell the judge where they want to live. And we do have pictures of the vermin in the room where you left them. I imagine that you’ll be spending your money for nothing.”

A long silence on the other end made her hold the phone out. That’s when she found out that he’d ended the call, but Lily wasn’t finished. She called him right back.

“Hello, Lily,” Victoria answered in a cool, calm voice.

“Give the phone to Wyatt,” Lily demanded.

“What you did is inexcusable,” Victoria said. “But it has shown us that you’re a bitch. You should have called us and told us you were taking the children.”

“Is that the pot calling the kettle black? Why should I call you? You let him leave them in that dangerous place,” Lily said.

“Honey, it was my idea.” Victoria chuckled. “Those ungrateful little snots needed a lesson in manners. You damn sure don’t teach them much out there in the boonies.”