**** All names changed to protect me.

Julie called last night at 9:30. "What time are you leaving tomorrow?" RED FLAG. Do not answer this question!!

It's Vito's birthday this weekend and we're having a BBQ up at his mother's house. We're leaving right after I finish work. And after I bake the cake. And pack. It's a busy time at work right now and I'm tired but looking forward to his birthday and, hopefully, a drama free weekend. I have no idea when we're leaving.

Turns out Julie wants us to stop by the house and pick up Kelly and take her to the party.

"Noooo." he says. "I don't want to do that Julie. Why can't you bring her?"

"You know I can't go the house!"

Julie has, for the fourth time, left her husband and this time, she got a restraining order. WHAT!? A restraining order? Good Lord.

"Well, okay. So have Mike bring her over to the house."
"He can't." pause "Why can't you do this? You're going past the house anyway!"

Technically the house is about 20 minutes out of the way and it's never just picking someone up.

"Julie, why can't Mike bring her?"
"He just can't."
"Why!"
"Because I had him arrested!!"

That's when I turn my head and say "Oh good Lord."

"Is that Amy? I heard 'Oh good Lord.' "

For the next several minutes I hear the transition from a general question asked in a mild manner to the volume of her voice rising as she switches tactics to a more manipulative tone. She explains that Mike made her feel uncomfortable and that he violated the restraining order by coming to close to her and so she had him arrested.

After five minutes of Vito saying he doesn't want to and Julie getting more and more angry, demanding and loud I finally ask for the phone.

"Julie, listen, I don't know what time we're leaving. I have to work until at least 5 and then I have to pack and bake a cake for the party so..."

"Fine. Thank you! THANK YOU!! FUCK you! FUCK your party" Click.

Hum..

I turned to Vito and said "We don't have to pick up Kelly tomorrow."