It was Sunday night.
Ayana was asleep and I finished cleaning the house.
It was almost 11 at night when they got home.
"There are my men, how was it?"
"It was awesome mom." Ethan said.
"Yea, first we set up the tent, then we gathered fire wood and we went fishing I the river."
"Really?"
"Yea, it was funny."
"Funny?" I asked confused.
"Yea, Orimitsu fell in the river."
"What?"
"Go out your things away boys then jump in the shower fast." Orimitsu said.
The boy were talking to each other as they went to their rooms.
"You fell into the river?" I look at him laughing.
"Yea, Ethan's fishing line got stuck in a tree. I was getting it loose when I fell in."
"Thank you." I said hugging him.
"For what?"
"For taking the boys camping. It really made their weekend."
"I would do anything for the boys,and Ayana. You know that." He said kissing me.
"Eww, OK you need a shower river man." I said laughing.
The next few weeks were the same with Kunihiko.
Excuse after excuse for why the kids couldn't go see him.
"Gah!" I said slamming the phone down. "He is pissing me off." I said.
"He still making excuses?" Orimitsu asked.
"Yes, and I know its because of Grace. She can't stand the fact that he is still talking with me because of the kids."
"Maybe you should call Vince, see about getting full custody."
I just looked at him.
"What are you talking about?"
"Babe, he hasn't seen the kids in over 2 months. He hasn't even tried. He just keeps making excuses."
"I know but...full custody? Isn't that a bit much?"
"It is up to you Anne."
"I know." I said starting breakfast. "It' just...I know it all has to do with Grace. She doesn't like that me and Kunihiko are still talking."
"That is ridiculous."
"I know. Let me think about it?" I said looking at Orimitsu.
"Of course. I have to go to work." He said kissing me.
"Be careful."
"Aren't I always?"
"How did we meet again?" I said raising an eyebrow.
"Good point. Love you."
"Love you too."
Monday I was at work when Danielle stopped me.
"Dr. Kikuchi, you ex husband is on line 3."
"OK, thanks."
I walk into the break room.
"This is Dr. Kikuchi."
"Anne, its me."
"I'm at work Kunihiko, what do you want?"
"Listen, I know I did take the kids this weekend. But I was wondering if I could take them this week."
"Are you serious?"
"Anne..."
"No, you don't take them on the weekend when its your time. Now you want me to let them see you during my time during then week? You must be out of your mind."
"Anne, this is the only time I can have them."
"Why is that?"
"You know why."
"Because Grace doesn't like having the kids over. That is just stupid and you know it. These are your kids, they deserve to have their father in their life no matter what she says. She doesn't have a say in what happens to them."
"Anne, you are not being fair."
"Fair? You want to talk about fair. How fair is it that they kids can't see their father at all because of what your stupid wife says? How do you think they have been feeling? Their own father not wanting to see them? I'm tired of trying to keep them calm when they start crying and getting upset every weekend when you cancel. I am done with having them get their hopes up."
"Anne..."
I hung up before he could finish.
I walked back out of the break room where Danielle was waiting for me.
"Everything OK?"
"No, I am about ready to...never mind." I said grabbing a chart from her hands. "Talk to me." I said reading the chart.
I finally got home around 1am.
Everyone was already in bed except Orimitsu.
"Hey." He said as I walked in.
"What are you still doing up?"
"I wanted to wait up for you."
"Everything ok?" I said sitting on the couch taking my shoes off.
"You tell me?"
"Huh?" I said looking at him.
"I got a call from Kunihiko. He was yelling at me, saying that I was the one turning they kids and you against him."
"Seriously?" I said laying back against the couch.
"What happened?"
"He called at work today asking if he could take the kids this week wince he didn't get them this weekend."
"What did you say?"
"I told him he must be nuts. It was his fault that he didn't see the kids. I told him it was stupid that he didn't see the kids because of Grace. I told him that I was tired of trying to keep them calm whenever they were let down by him. Whenever they get angry and start crying. I told him I was done with trying to make him seem like it wasn't his fault."
"Anne…" he started to say.
"Go ahead and go to bed. I will be there in a few minutes."
"Ok." He said kissing my forehead and going to bed.
I grabbed my phone.
"Hey, is there a time we can meet up. I wanted to talk to you."