“Look,” Valerie started. “I recently got married, and my new husband wants children. I would prefer not to push out another one of those...lovely little humans, and why should I have to when I have five I can take home?”
Jalen gritted her teeth. “They aren’t puppies. You can’t just come around when you feel like it. Get them when you decide you’re ready to be a parent. It’s not happening. Besides, I did this the right way. I have legal custody.”
Valerie smirked at Jalen. “And I’m their biological mother. A court’s goal is always to reunite with the biological parent.”
Jalen felt her anger rise. She was always pissed off when she saw her egg donor. Especially because she popped up at the most inopportune times. She always left her younger sisters shattered when she disappeared again. Aside from Kodi, who, like Jalen, had gotten used to it and the disappointment had turned to relief over the years whenever she left.
“A court will look at your absentee parenting style and rule against you.”
“I know you’d like to believe that, but they’ll give me my kids back.”
“Those are my kids!” Jalen told her before lowering her voice. “They’re my kids. I’ve raised them, taken care of them. I’ve been there at every milestone. It will be a cold day in hell before I let you have them.”
“You’re right,” Valerie responded. “Kodi and Landon are a bit old for the family I’m wanting to form for my husband. On top of that, they’re at the age where they can choose where they want to stay. Mikal and the twins, however, are not.” Valerie smiled, and Jalen’s heart sank into her stomach.
“You can’t do that.”
“I can because I have a wealthy man who loves me and wants me to be happy and will get me the best lawyer money can buy to do so.”
“So does she.” Jalen heard, and a second later Rohan stepped beside her. “And I don’t take well to her being threatened. Mother or not, I’d be careful if I were you.”
“You should leave, Valerie.” Jalen glanced to her left as Vega arrived.
“Vega, what are you doing here?” Valerie asked in surprise.
“I’m celebrating my potential child’s birthday,” he told her. “I’m trying to be the parent you never allowed me the chance to be.”
“None of the girls are yours,” Valerie lied.
Vega chuckled. “I’ll let you live in that delusion, but you should know, if you pursue this, if you try to take Jalen to court, you’ll be fighting us both. So, I suggest you leave...now.”
She watched as Valerie glared at Vega before turning and going back to her vehicle, calling over her shoulder, “I’ll see you later.”
“Don’t let her get to you,” Vega stated, placing his hand on her shoulder. “You know how she is.” With that, he walked away, leaving her and Rohan alone.
Rohan pulled her into his arms, and she wrapped hers around his waist, breathing in the scent of his cologne. She felt drained. She always did when dealing with her egg donor. Jalen didn’t even know how Valerie knew where they were.
“You’re shaking, baby,” Rohan said.
“She just has this effect. She puts me in a place I never want to be, but I always end up there.” She paused. “You…heard everything she said before you came up, right?”
“I did, and in case you were wondering. I love you, Jalen.”
She felt as if butterflies had taken flight in her stomach, and her heartbeat picked up. “I love you too.”
He pulled away slightly and tipped her chin up. “I meant what I said. I will do whatever it takes to make sure that the girls remain with you.” He leaned down and pecked her on the lips.“Now, forget about her. Don’t let her take your focus from the day. Let’s go watch Mikal open her gifts.”
She nodded, keeping one arm around his waist as he placed an arm over her shoulders. She would put her on the back burner, but she knew the older woman hadn’t just made an empty threat. She just hoped it wouldn’t get dragged out.
????????????
To say Jalen was nervous was an understatement. She’d invited Vega over to have dinner with her and her sisters, and they were going to discuss him possibly being everyone but the twins’ father.
When she and Kodi had found out that he was Kodi’s father, but not Landon’s, Jalen went to Landon to tell her that, for the time being, until she could wrap her head around the situation, she didn’t want her speaking to the man who had contacted her. She didn’t enjoy hiding the fact that she knew who he was and had met with him, but she knew Landon would pester her for answers, and it was a conversation they needed to have with Vega around.
To her surprise, Landon hadn’t given her any pushback and had agreed to wait until Jalen felt as if she could speak to him again. It may also have had something to do with the fact that she hadn’t given the teenager use of the phone again.
A small part of Jalen knew Landon suspected who Vega was when he’d shown up to the party the day before. If for no other reason than the sound of his voice. However, she had said nothing, and for that Jalen was grateful. She expected several questions after he’d come to her aid, along with Rohan, when their egg donor had shown up.
