"Every weekend though."

The words hit Katrina like a water balloon catapulted at her back. She stopped going through the usual routine, packing Nori's bag. She studied his face, the crease formed between his eyebrows, the square rigidness of his shoulders as he folded his arms, peering at her with an intensity that alerted her that he was waiting for an answer to the statement. To give him a sound explanation to why she wasn't going to be in town, why she was going to New Orleans.

Katrina thought the reason was known when she informed him about Keir's new job. However, he must not have understood all the life changes that would go into effect because of it. There was a part of her that wanted to break down her reasoning for doing what she was doing. But that was Katrina that was still his wife and she was that anymore even though they were still married by law. They were separated. And separated Katrina knew he didn't need to understand.

"What does it have to do with you?" She earnestly asked going back to packing enough clothes for Nori to get her through the weekend.

"It's...just that..." Terrence shrugged with his arms still folded. "For the last three weekends you've been gone and I thought we'd at least have some family time."

Family time. She glanced over at Nori deep in slumber in the crib. "I don't know what type of game you're playing." She said slowly, closing the dresser drawer trying to make as little noise as possible; it was enough that he arrived five hours early but now he wanted to have a conversation during nap time. "But you are having family time. Time with your daughter because she is also your family."

"And so are you." He gestured toward her. "You're her mother which also makes you family and I thought we'd be important, too. Don't you think she needs time with both of us together?"

Katrina stopped gathering Nori's toys for tummy time, "So let me get this straight...when it's your time to be with her I have to be here but when it's my time with her you don't need to be with her." Her cool fingertips rested at her temple as she tried to comprehend his logic. "Why would I start her off with unrealistic standards of what you think family time is? You're not going to be here five days out of the week and those two days are my time to unwind and relax because for five days I'm a single parent."

"You're the reason you're a single parent." He airquoted. "You choose this so don't complain to me about it."

"Who said I was complaining?" She glanced around the room in search of evidence but none was found.

"You said for two days you get to unwind and relax." He threw up his arms as if he won a trial she didn't know they were conducting.

She stared at him as rage boiled in her chest, words formulated in her mind with the sheer purpose to verbal slay him. She wanted to spew venom so strong it would strike his heart, swim through his bloodstream, find its way to his brain and latch on like a hookworm reminding him to never again pose those words to her again.

Instead of doing that she decided to do what her therapist told her to do. She walked away. He didn't deserve her energy. Be it happiness or rage. Not when he was crossing a boundary she put in place. It was supposed to work, right. It was her doctor's advice. A Harvard educated, a former Cedar-Sinai doctor that started their own practice to work in a small town and be more accessible to a smaller clientele of patients, who had a waiting list for future patients. However, it didn't work.

He just followed her with hurried steps and comments about what he thinks is best for them and the two-letter word he loved to toss out so much.

She abruptly stopped in the kitchen, out of the earshot of her baby and whirled around. "There is no us!" She gestured between them. "I don't base my decision on what's best for you and I. But what's good for Nori and I. She and I are my 'us'.

"And Keir." He seethed the name as if it was vulgar.

"No!" She shouted and he shook his head not believing her. "She's my number one. I do what's best for her and then when she's good. I feed and restore myself with what is best for me."

"And that's him." He eyed her sharply, "No me."

She nodded. "You stopped being good for my mind and body when I learned you don't do what's best for me."

"That's low." He hissed. "I'm not good for you. Four years of marriage, a baby and because I cheated now I don't care about what's best for you."

She eyed him with frustration and wondered if he was listening to himself. "This is pointless. All you were meant to do was pick up your daughter, take her back to L.A. Spend time with her...daddy-daughter time and bring her back. That's it!" Her eyes dropped to Clive entering the kitchen. "But here you stand picking a battle with me so I would do what...change my mind, let you stay here and spend time with you."

He looked at her blankly. "It would be the sound decision. What a good mother would do. Instead of flying off to go fuck your boyfriend...you know since Nori is your number one."

A smile carved its way on her lips as she watched Clive curl on his bed. "Ten months ago what you thought about me mattered. Hell, six months ago I cared. But now." She shrugged. "I don't give a good got damn. You don't think I'm a good mother but I do and so does the state of California. And from here on out I'll be driving to L.A. and dropping her off."

"Okay. Okay. Trina. I'm sorry." He held up his hands in surrender. "I...you caught me off guard. I just didn't expect you to be gone again. I love it when the three of us are together." He placed his palms together. "Of course I think you're a good mother. You're excellent. So, excellent that she needs to hear your voice at night to settle down." He rested his hand on his chest with a sigh and remorse painting his features. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to upset you. I just miss being with you."

"I accept your apology." She nodded, her defenses dropping and the angry fizzing out of her body. "And I'm sorry too..." He smiled at her.

She continued. "I'm sorry that you have to go through that...the agony of missing me. I know how painful it is to miss someone—but that's not something for me to solve."

She sincerely smiled at him as his smile fell. "I'll get Nori up so ya'll can hit I-5 before traffic gets bad. Plus, I still need to pack because...you know...I'm flying out tomorrow to go fuck my boyfriend." She casually said before leaving the kitchen.

Why do you think it was easy for Katrina to accept Terrence's apology?

Why do you think she used his words in her final statement to him?

Do you think it's best if she dropped off Nori instead of him coming to her house to pick up the baby?