“Where were you?” Howie asked as I walked in the door.
“What the fuck do you care?” I shot back.
“You had the kids – I didn't know where you were...I worried, that's all.”
“No need to worry – we were fine. I couldn't stand being in this house, so we stayed at a friend's house.”
Howie started to walk towards me, “It wasn't suppose to be like this. I didn't mean for you to find out like that.”
“Oh like you were going to be honest and tell me?” I snapped.
“I...I don't know how it happened,” Howie said. “I just ran into her again and...”
“I don't want to hear it any more. Let's face it Howie, things will never be the same again.”
“But they can be,” he said.
“No – they can't and they won't ever be.”
“But – I love you guys.”
“I love you too Howie, but it's not the same as it was. I don't know what changed, but something did. I think it's obvious that you're not happy and I'm not happy and we're just making each other miserable. It's not fair to the kids – we just, we just can't be together anymore,” I said as I headed upstairs with the kids.

I put the kids in the nursery and began to unpack our bags. Howie came and sat on the bed. “Now what?” he said. “Where do we go from here?”
“I don't know. I never thought this would happen. I always thought that we would be able to work it out.”
Howie got up and took an empty bag from my hand. “I could stay at my mom's house for awhile.”
“Are you sure?” I asked.
“Yeah – if this has to happen, I'd rather you guys stay here. The kids know this place as home. They should stay here.”
I left the room because I couldn't watch Howie pack his things. Part of me wanted to tell him to stay but I knew that he had to go. I went downstairs and called Amber.

Amber's View

“Hello,” I said picking up my cell phone as I maneuvered my way through traffic.
“Amber? Where are you?” She asked.
“I couldn't stay in the house any longer. I was going crazy thinking about AJ. I decided to check up on how the gallery is doing.” I said as I sped up to pass a slow moving car. "Did you go home?” I asked already sensing the answer.
There was a long silence on the other end. “It's over,” she said in a small whisper. “He's leaving. I don't know what to do, I can't stand to stay here and watch a part of my life walk out the door.”
“Honey, he was out the door along time ago.”
“I know but it doesn't make it hurt any less.”
“I know baby.” I could here her soft tears in the background. “Rhon go get the kids and meet me at the gallery in a half an hour.” I said not wanting her to go through this alone and actually needing someone myself.
“What are we going to do?” she asked her tears slowing down.
“I don't know honey but somehow we're going to get through this.”

Rhonda View

“Hey I gotta go. He's coming downstairs,” I said as I hung up on Amber.
“That Amber?” Howie asked already knowing that it was her.
“Yeah.”
“You're still going to let me see the kids, right?”
“Of course I will. No matter what happens between us, we'll always be their mom and dad. I couldn't keep them away from you.”
“But...what happens when I go on tour next month? How am I going to see them?”
“I guess I could bring them to see you,” I said.
We both stood in the kitchen not believing that this was actually happening. Howie picked up his bag and began to walk towards the door. He stopped in the foyer.
“Do we have to make this official right away?” he asked.
“I think it would hurt more to drag it out any longer,” I answered.
“Okay – so...how do you want to do this?”
“We don't have to decide right now – not at this very minute. We could talk about it another day.”
“If we have to do this,” Howie said, “I want to do this as civilized as possible. I don't want to hurt you anymore.”
“I agree.”
“I'll call you in a couple of days and we can talk,” Howie said. “If you need anything, just call me at my mom's.”
“Okay, I will.”
Howie turned and headed out the door.