I kept going.
The biggest shift occurred a week later.
Sean showed up to pick up the kids and mentioned an extended visit.
“Thought I’d take them for a bit longer this time,” he said casually. “A couple of weeks.”
“That’s not what we agreed on.”
“They’re excited. It’ll be fine. They’ll enjoy it.”
I shook my head. “What about school?”
“They can miss a little.”
“Where will they be staying?”
He frowned. “With me.”
“It’ll be fine.”
“Who else will be there?”
“Cat—”
“And why are you telling them before talking to me?” I added.
That stopped him.
For the first time, Sean didn’t have an easy answer.
He looked at me differently then.
As if he didn’t recognize who he was talking to.
“Forget it,” he said after a moment. “We’ll stick to the usual schedule.”
He backed off.
Just like that.
That stopped him.
That night, Peter sat across from me at the kitchen table.
“You’re doing it. Standing your ground.”
I sighed. “I should’ve done it sooner.”
“You’re doing it now. That’s what matters.”
He paused, then added something I didn’t expect.
“When you’re ready, you don’t have to stay married to me. I won’t fight it. That was never the point.”
“What? Then what was?”
He met my eyes.
“Making sure you got here.”
