He doesn't respond right away, but he pulls you into his arms and hugs you tightly. "You're scaring me, honey," you say nervously. He lets go and walks by you into the house, and you follow him into the living room.
"I thought she wanted this to be over as much as I do," he starts, sprawling backward onto the couch. "She tried to give me once a month visitation, which is just bullshit. We're supposed to split custody. Seeing my kids once a month is not an option. Then she agreed to the original schedule, but only if I agreed to allow a stipulation that would prevent you from having any contact with the kids."
"What? Me? Lindsey, we're not... I'm not even..." You stammer for a minute, trying to wrap your brain around this. "Can she do that?"
"According to my lawyer, yes."
"Did you agree to it?"
"Of course I didn't fucking agree to it," he says angrily, leaning forward and running his hand over his face in exasperation. "Why the hell would I let her dictate who I can and can't have in my home?"
"But your kids..."
"Stevie, listen to me. Kristen knows how I feel about you. She's known it since we got married. I didn't think she'd be this vindictive - it's not like she's an innocent party." He's rambling, and you let him, still standing, clenching and unclenching your fists as he speaks. "She wants to hurt me. She knows you and the kids are really the only way to do that."
"I'm not going to let you choose between me and your kids."
"I'm not going to! Her request is asinine. She's probably talking to her idiot friends and getting advice. Lord knows most of them have a few divorces under their belts. They're professionals."
"Lindsey, you can't stay here."
"What?"
"I'm not kidding. Not right now. This is going to look horrible. If anyone finds out..."
"Will you stop? I need to be with you right now and that's the end of it."
"No, Lindsey. No. We moved too fast. You have to get your kids first."
"If I go, she's getting her way. We can't let her win."
"This isn't a fucking game! None of us are winning!" You're yelling now, fighting the panic rising in your chest. "Lindsey, I will not be responsible for her taking your kids from you. If I need to be out of the picture for you to get them then that's just what has to happen."
"This is bullshit. This whole thing is bullshit. You're never going to be 'out of the picture.' She's just going to drag it out even longer and try to get in the way. That's all this is. She wants to hurt me. We'll get her to back down."
"Then it'll resolve itself and you'll be able to come back. I won't let you risk them for me."
"I'm not leaving."
"Fine. You can have the condo. I'm going," you say, and you mean it. You turn and head to your room, grabbing a spare suitcase and opening it on your bed.
He barges in after you, yelling now. "You aren't going anywhere! What the fuck, Stevie! She's just making threats. She can't actually do this."
"Then why were you so upset? You wouldn't have been that upset if you didn't think there was a chance you'd have to choose." He doesn't argue, and you go back to throwing things into your suitcase.
"I just got you back," he says, his voice a little desperate.
"If this really is just bullshit it'll blow over quickly." There's doubt in his eyes. Why is there doubt in his eyes? He's not sure this will actually blow over. You feel like you're about to lose it and you grab the phone and start to call Karen, quickly realizing you left her in Europe. Frustrated, you call your brother and he agrees to come get you. You aren't sure where you're going yet, but you can't be here.
