Matt said he would run us home, so the kids and I grabbed our things. "I wish you would stay." Madelyn hugged me.

"It's just not the right time for Hudson. I don't want to add to his stress. He also hasn't seen Jake in a few days." I said.

"That woman needs to leave, and that's what Hudson is telling her right now," Chloe said.

"Thanks for having us, Jason, Madelyn. Feel free to call and arrange something for the kids." We walked toward the side of the house so we wouldn't interrupt Hudson and his wife.

The door opened. "Joey? What are you doing?"

"It's fine, Hudson. Matt is taking us home, we'll see you later." I started to walk away, but he caught up to me.

"No, she's leaving, and I don't want you to go." He said.

"Don't you think the kids have been through enough today? They don't need this drama, and neither do I, Hudson. Please don't think I'm angry, I just need some time." I said.

I pulled her away from everyone as my heart raced.. "What kind of time?"

"This is just too much, Hudson. I want you with the kids, but maybe you should figure your life out so we no longer have these moments. Jake needs you too."

"Joey."

"No, get it figured out. What happens with her isn't my business. This is just more stress on all of us, go back to D.C., and we will talk about visits with the kids." I said.

"I'm not leaving yet. I just got you back, I'm not going anywhere. Our kids need their father." He said.

"You're right, they do, and that includes Jake." She said.

"No, you are not invited back here!" I heard Madelyn say, and the beautiful Hannah steps outside.

"See? You have other matters to attend to right now. The kids don't need to witness this, don't you agree?" I asked him.

"No, I didn't ask for this, Joey. It's settled, and I'm divorced from that woman." He said.

I shook my head. "Jake came out and told me he is here to take you home. She's telling him things, and you need to settle that, Hudson. You and I were over many years ago, and you owe us nothing, you owe them everything. We will be fine, and the door is always open to seeing the kids." I said.

He pulled me into a hug. "Don't go, Joey, please don't push me away."

"Nice! Right in front of your son." Hannah came walking up.

"I swear to God Hannah, you are walking a fine line." He said.

"Come on kids, let's go." I started to walk away, and Matt walked toward me with the kids.

"Homewrecker," Hannah said, but I didn't stop and kept walking.

"See, even she knows when it's not her place, Hudson." I didn't hear the rest, and just left with Matt.

"Mom, you should have stood up to that horrible woman." Serenity knows all.

"It's not my place."

"Dad loves you," Mason said

"Don't go getting any wild ideas, what we had ended years ago." I said.

I just looked out the window, as Matt drove quietly.

"Did it ever really end, Mom? You just disappeared one day." Serenity asked.

"One day, seventeen years ago," I said.

"Whatever, Mason and I are going out tonight." She said.

"No extra hour tonight, you stayed out too late last night." I said.

I sat back and thought seriously about a vacation with the kids. When we got home, the kids left and I sat on my laptop with a glass of wine and just did it. My first act after receiving my freedom. A trip to Hawaii, just the three of us.

My phone buzzed with a text.

"I'm coming over." It's Hudson.

"No, please don't. I really need some space."

Then my phone rang.

"Why?" He asked.

"Because, I need some peace for a little while. Why is that so much to ask? The kids and I are taking a trip, so go back to D.C. and put your life in order."

"There's nothing to put in order, but you and the kids." He said.

"What do you want from me, Hudson? I'm exhausted from everything, and I just want some time alone with the kids. You have a life and a career in D.C. We need to adjust to our lives without Jackson." I said.