I looked at the children and felt my chest tighten.
I walked toward them.
“Hey.”
June looked up.
“Are we staying here?”
I crouched beside her.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart. Not this time.”
Her little face fell.
“But Daddy said this was your house.”
“It is.”
“So why can’t we stay?”
I glanced at Kevin.
Then back at her.
“Because having a house doesn’t mean I have to let everyone stay whenever they want.”
June nodded slowly.
Children understand boundaries much faster than adults who have benefited from their absence.
I stood.
“I booked a hotel in Asheville for tonight.”
Kevin blinked.
“What?”
“I knew you might come anyway.”
“You booked a hotel?”
“Yes.”
“For us?”
“For the children.”
He looked insulted.
“You think we’re going to stay at some hotel after driving all this way?”
“You can make your own decision.”
Marcus handed Kevin a small envelope.
