My phone lit up in a meeting with Anita and the other executives. I shut if off, ignoring it. Then it lit up again, and I straightened up.

"Hey guys," I said. "I need to check in with the kids."

"The kids, or Kayla?" Anita sneered.

"Both," I said. "Let's take five, ok?"

"Why should we stop business because your Twinkie is needy."
God Anita was bitter.

"Because I am the vice president, and you're a temp," I replied.

"Ouch," one of the other employees said. "Ice cold, Mr. McKay!"

She didn't reply, but just sat there with her mouth wide open. I stepped outside, opening my phone.

              "Kayla," I said. "Is everything ok?"

"We're all safe," she said. "But...Greta was here."

"What? We have restraining order."

"She just showed up. But I sent the girls upstairs. She said she is in a twelve step program, and she wants you back."

"God, that's ridiculous. She probably wants a new car."

"Well, she said she wants to meet and at least discuss visitation rights."

"She terminated her parental rights during the divorce." I said.

"Look, I am just relaying the message," Kayla said, her voice maintaining the odd calmness to it.

"Are you really ok?"

                  "Yes, I am," Kayla said. "She just... she said some things about us and it got to me. I don't know..."

"Kayla... I love you."

"I love you too," she said. "Which is why I am being honest here. Greta wants to meet with you at 'your place', wherever that is. She wants to talk."

"Too bad," I replied.

"Dean...Look, I hate her too. But what if she really has changed? I don't think we can move forward until you know for sure. And if she is better, maybe she can at least see the girls."

"And you're ok with this?"

"I have to be," She said. "Look, I will tell the girls you're working late."

"You're being too understanding...I will make this up to you, soon."

"Ok," she said.

"Kayla, seriously, are you ok?"

                  "If you want to choose her," Kayla's voice said, almost strained. "I'd understand. I'll still be here for the girls...I would understand. She was your wife."

"Kayla, I love you," I said. "Nothing Greta could say or do will change that. I need you. I am going for the girls. My marriage ended years ago."

"Ok," she said.

I hung up and Anita was standing there, glaring at me.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing," Anita said. "It's just, you're twinkie seems a bit emotional."

"She is not a twinkie," I shot out.

"Well, if you ever need a night with a real woman, I am available."

"Anita, go back to work before I fire you for sexual harassment."

"Yes boss," she smirked. "But the offer still stands."

I just shook my head. Other than Kayla, I was a magnet for crazy women.

*

*

*

             I went to the restaurant, my stomach in knots. God what was I doing here? I had no idea. I approached the hostess.

"I am looking for the McKay reservation," I said.

"Oh," she said, typing away. "You're in suite 213. Here is your key for the night."

"No, you must be mistaken," I said. "I don't need a room. I am here for dinner."

"Mrs. McKay wants to dine in her room," The hostess said.

I took the key and shook my head. This woman was setting a trap. Luckily, I was well prepared for her antics. I pulled out my phone and opened a recording app I had purchased. I push record before knocking on the door. If she had any ideas about blackmailing me with some fabrication about what happened tonight, she would be mistaken. I would prove the truth. Nothing was going to happen.

                   She opened the door and smiled. Greta had gone back to her darker hair, but now it was cut short. She wore a black satin robe, and I shook my head.

"You need to get dressed," I said. "Nothing is happening between us."

"Oh, no, I wasn't trying to seduce you," she giggled. "I spilled some coffee on my dress, so I figured we could eat in here. All of my other clothes are out for a laundry service. It's all innocent, I swear."

"Whatever," I said. "I'm here to discuss our daughters. I am with Kayla now, and I am happy. We are not up for discussion."

"Wow, you've changed. Whatever happened to your 'once married, always married' motto?"

"Your multiple affairs, negligence, and selfishness."

"Well, fine," she said. "Let's discuss the girls."

She shut the door behind me and I sighed. We both sat down at a small table in her room. Her room was quite tidy, but it also felt lived in. How long had she been in this hotel?

"I want to see them," she said. "One of my sponsors is a lawyer, and they drafted a custody proposal. It is a commonly used plan for recovering alcoholics."

"Alcoholic?"

"Yeah," she said. "God, you never even knew. All those years, I was functionally drunk. Why do you think I kicked you out of the bedroom? I didn't want you to find the bottles. So many bottles Dean."

                   "So what, you went to rehab and now I just forgive you?"

"No." She said. "But the girls need me. They have Kayla, who is fine. But I will always be their mom. They need to have me in their lives, even in a small way. I'd like to get to know them now that I am here, and present."

"Give me the agreement," I snapped.

I took and looked at it. It called for monthly visitation at a family psychologist's office. The girls would each get one hour with Greta, and then spend the four of them would spend an hour in therapy.

"This isn't terrible," I said. "I'd be at every session, waiting outside."

"I agree," Greta said. "I just...I can't be a total failure. I need to do something right in my life."

"I understand," I replied. "But can I ask you something?"

"Of course," she said.

                     "Why now? Why didn't you decide to go to rehab or make a change before? I begged you, for five years. I needed you, as a wife and a mom. I waited and waited."

"I guess I thought you'd always wait," She said. "And then you didn't. It was a wakeup call."

"No, it wasn't. After I left you, you ran around with men and ruined your daughter's birthday. You were a monster."

"Fine!" she said. "Don't believe me. But it's true. Dean, I miss you."

"I am not up for discussion."

"Because you love Kayla? Honey, she is rebound. I swear, I can give you everything she can."

"No, Greta, you can't."

"No, maybe I can't be as perfect or whatever. But I can try harder and be better than before. And in terms of us, I can be better."

"Not an option," I said.

"We can have sex every night, rain or shine," she said. "And I'll do things I never did before."

                      "Greta, stop..."

She stopped up, quickly and without hesitation pulling off her robe.

"I know I am not twenty-four," she said, her body fully on display. "But I look good. I feel good too, Dean. Don't you want to remember?"

"No. put your clothes on or I leave."

She laid back on the bed, spreading open her thighs.

"Dean, baby," she said. "What if we were together just one more time? I'd never tell."

"No," I said, practically running for the door. "And officially, no on the girls either."

"What?"

                         "You still can't put them first. You choose to try to seduce me, even though you knew it would piss me off. Sex is still more important than them. Maybe you are recovering from the booze, but you're still a god damn narcissist."

"But I am their mom..."

"And when they are eighteen, they can make the choice to see you if they chose. Until then, only women who can be role models are allowed in their lives."

"You'll regret this, Dean."

"No, Greta, I won't."

I slammed the door behind me.

*

*

*

                   I came home to find the girls eating pizza in the kitchen.

"Hey guys," I said. "Where's Kayla?"

"She is downstairs," Kari said. "She is feeling sick or something."

"Oh, ok," I said. "I'll go check on her."

I went downstairs, hearing Adele playing softly in the background. I knocked on Kayla's door, but she didn't respond.

"Honey," I said. "I am coming in."

I opened the door, seeing her on her bed. She had gone through a box of tissues, and her face was bright red.

"Kayla, are you ok?"

"Don't," she said. "I don't want to talk."

"Why are you crying?"

                "You should know why," she said. "You know what you did."

"Excuse me," I replied.

"Look, I will save you the trouble. I get it, ok. You're reconciling with your wife. I am will move out, but maybe the girls can come over anytime. I mean, I will live next door. So I can just live there, alone, wishing I was their mom. I will watch you have your fucked up marriage with Greta and just deal. I am a grownup. I can handle it."

"Why do you think I am back with Greta?"

"She sent me her little victory message," Kayla sniffled. "I thought you'd at least have the balls to tell me yourself."

"Tell you what?" I asked. "There is nothing to tell."

                    She handed me her phone, which was opened to an image. The image featured Greta laying down, buck naked. I stood up a few feet away, looking as if I wanted to pounce on her body. The photograph mistook my rage for lust.

"You slept with Greta," Kayla rasped. "I thought...I thought you loved me. I thought we were actually going to get married. God, I am an idiot."

I opened my mouth to speak, unable to find the words. Suddenly, I had a memory resounding in my voice. Greta had told me I would regret rejecting her. I guess she had her revenge now.