It had been about six months since your divorce from Claire. If it had been a normal divorce, it wouldn't have been a problem; you wouldn't have seen each other again, but with twins involved?

Oh yes. The children. They're four years old. They stay with Grace during the week and with you on weekends.

Grace hadn't been particularly affected by your divorce, or so she seemed. She'd openly refused everything you suggested, like dinners where you wanted to talk about the children. Definitely dinners where you'd try to reconcile with her rather than talk about the children.

Friday. You came to pick up the children.

Grace opened the door, watched the children run toward you, and exhaled through her nose. She crossed her arms over her chest as you picked them up. As she handed you their backpacks, you asked about dinner again. Oh my God. Again?

Grace sighed and looked at you. She tucked her hair behind her ear. She wasn't being rude because the children were there; she wasn't that kind of person anyway. She looked at you with a warning gaze and raised her eyebrows. She exhaled before speaking, "No."