“Listen, there’s been a change in plans. The kids can’t come here tomorrow.”

My blood iced over, and then boiled. “Why not?”

“Because Kimmy is having a difficult pregnancy and she needs peace and quiet.”

“So leave her alone while you take the kids to Aspen like you fucking promised.”

“I can’t leave her alone—she’s pregnant, and she doesn’t want to be alone.”

“Do I need to remind you of all the times you traveled for work when I was pregnant?” I seethed.

“Look, I’m trying to be better this time. Do things differently.”

I had all kinds of things to say about that, but I let it go. “So bring her along. She needs to learn to get along with your children.”

“I suggested that, but she feels it would be too much. The last time Whitney was here, she was very disrespectful to Kimmy.”

I snorted. “Says who? Kimmy?”

“Yes.”

“Well, tough. Whitney’s your daughter, Brett. If she’s being needlessly disrespectful, discipline her.”

“Look, Sylvia,” he said in that arrogant, know-it-all tone that drove me nuts, “the kids need to stay with you for the rest of their break. That’s all there is to it.”

I inhaled through my nose and exhaled through my mouth, trying to gain control of my anger and not lose my shit that he was telling me how it was—again.

“Fine with me. So tell them,” I said coolly. “Call Whitney’s cell phone right now.”

“Yeah, well, the thing is, I was kind of hoping you would tell them. I’m actually at work right now, and—”

I burst out laughing, but it wasn’t funny. “You’re fucking crazy. I’m not telling them.”

“Sylvia, this isn’t the time to be vengeful.”

“Oh, I’m not vengeful,” I told him, although my hands shook with fury. “I don’t give a shit what happens to you, good or bad. But I’m not doing you any favors. You don’t want them to come tomorrow, you tell them that. I’m not crushing their feelings as a favor to you. No fucking way.”

“You know, I didn’t have to let you take them out of the state,” he spat. “I didn’t fight you on anything so it would make this easier on you. Can’t you do this one thing for me?”

“Gee, let me think—no. Fuck no. You’re on your own, Brett. Just like you wanted.” I hung up, threw my phone on my bed, and put my head in my hands. My entire body was trembling with rage. I wanted to vomit. I wanted to kick him in the balls. I wanted to scream so loud, he’d hear it. I wanted to crawl into my bed, hide beneath the covers, and not come out.

But I couldn’t.