Vanessa was threatening to keep the children away at Christmas.

Your mother was beside herself.”

I let him finish.

In the past, I would have rushed to make room for everyone’s feelings until mine disappeared.

Tonight, I wanted to hear exactly what he was asking.

“I expected you to keep your promise,” I said.

“And if you couldn’t, I expected you to admit that the choice was yours.”

“I didn’t have a choice.”