Page 66 of One Hot Daddy

Claudia leans forward, her designer bracelets jingling softly."I know this is difficult, Fletcher.But I'm not here to disrupt your lives or try to take the children.I just want them to understand that leaving wasn't their fault."

"They already know that," I explain gently."Fletcher worked very hard to help them understand that your choices weren't a reflection on them.He did that by himself, before I even met him."

Marcus whispers to Claudia, and she nods in agreement with whatever he told her.Then she looks at Fletcher."Marcus and I will stay at a hotel for a few days in case you and Jennifer want to discuss the issue.No pressure, I promise."

Silence descends on us like an iron cloak.I guess none of us knows what to say.

"Does anybody care what we think?"

I watch as the adults freeze at the sound of Amelia's voice.My stepdaughter stands in the doorway, arms crossed, her face a perfect teenage mask of defiance.Behind her, Charlotte, Josh, and Henry peek out like curious meerkats.

Fletcher's eyebrows shoot up."How long have you lot been standing there?"

"Long enough," Amelia says, stepping fully into the room.The other children follow, forming a protective cluster."If you're going to talk about us, we should be part of the conversation."

I'm torn between pride at her courage and concern about the emotional bombshell that's about to drop.Fletcher looks like he might spontaneously combust.

"This is an adult discussion," he begins, but I touch his arm gently.

"They have a right to be heard," I whisper."This affects them more than anyone."

Claudia's eyes widen as she sweeps her gaze over the four children standing in the doorway.She rises halfway from her seat, then seems to think better of it and sinks back down.

"Hello, my darlings," she says, her voice trembling slightly."It's been such a long time, hasn't it?"

I watch Amelia's face harden at the term of endearment.Charlotte inches closer to her big sister, while Josh stares at his mother with scientific detachment, as if she's a specimen he's cataloging.Only Henry looks openly curious, his head tilted to one side.

"You're our mom?"Henry asks, stepping forward."The one who went to Australia?"

Claudia nods, tears welling in her eyes."Yes, sweetheart.I'm your biological mother.But I know Jennifer is your real mom, the one who takes care of you every day."

Her words hit me like a splash of cold water.Did she really just call me their "real mom"?The ache in my chest says she did.My eyes dart to Fletcher, who looks equally stunned by this unexpected acknowledgment.

Henry steps forward, his small face scrunched in confusion."But you're our first mom?"

"Yes, that's right."

Amelia's posture remains rigid, her gaze narrowed."You left us.You never even called."

"But she sent us cards and gifts for birthdays and holidays," Charlotte declares."Didn't she, Dad?"

Fletcher aims a tight smile at his youngest daughter."Yes, she did do that."

Henry tromps up to Claudia, tipping his head side to side as if he can't figure out what kind of species she is."What should we call you?We already have a mom."

"Just call me Claudia.Would that be all right?"

Henry shrugs."Sure, why not."

Marcus lays an arm around Claudia's shoulders."We should go to our hotel and give everyone a chance to process everything."He hands Fletcher a business card that has his company logo on it, but on the other side, he scrawled a phone number."Call anytime.No rush."

And just like that, our lives have changed.

Chapter Thirty-One

Fletcher

After today's events, we decide to treat the children to whatever they want for dinner this evening.That means chicken fingers for Henry, though his preferred choice was, of course, ice cream.I told him, "No, Henry.Real food only please.Dessert comes later."