Communication is almost always confusing. I focus on clarifying and reducing confusion.
Personally, I believe you should have engaged W with full eye contact and focused on listening. If that was not possible, A quick "I am running late. text me. bye"
Here is another option:
H"Sorry, Sounds like you felt ignored. I was running late to pick up D. I will be home by X:XX."
or
H"No. I will be home by X:XX"
or
H:"yes" (Any reason you should not trust D18 to watch the younger kids?? Your wife trusts her)
To be honest, I let my emotions get in the way. I didn't answer yes/no when I walked out (I was in a hurry for certain) because I didn't want her to go on her trip without me being able to see her before she left. Which now that I'm staying and we have to pick up kids, will probably happen anyways.
Things got better when I got home, we talked about a retreat D15 is going this weekend and she went shopping for some supplies for her. This morning she just texted to see how D5 was doing as I was dropping her off to school.
