We did not settle our divorce that evening.

We had hurt each other in ways Derek had not invented.

But he had found those hurts and used them.

He told me Ethan wanted to take Lily.

He encouraged Ethan to believe I was shutting him out.

Sometimes he offered to pass a message for us, then supplied his own explanation of what the other person meant.

I remembered thanking him for helping us communicate.

Ethan remembered being told I was too upset to speak.