I waited.
And waited.
Michael’s face remained placid.
A lump formed in my throat. Slowly, I pivoted my head in Aaron’s direction. His face was set in his usual scowl, jaw rigid.
I took a step backwards.
“You’re serious.”
“Very much so, Ms. Thiers.” Michael moved to the large, shiny wooden table that sat to the far end of the office. “We have two sets of forms here. One is an application for a marriage license and the other is the same custody forms you were served with last night. You can either go with the marriage signature or we will proceed with the custody hearing. And I assure you, my client will win.”
“I’ve raised them on my own for five years. No judge will separate children from their mother needlessly.”
Michael pulled at the sides of his suit jacket. “That’s where you’re wrong, Ms. Theirs. Go check the stats on fathers with considerable wealth who fight for custody. They always win. My job is to see to it that my client wins and I’mverygood at my job. Not to mention you may not be the dedicated mother you pretend to be.”
Tilting my head, I narrowed my gaze at Michael.
“No judge would like to hear about a single mother who attends sex clubs in her spare time.”
I gasped. “I don’t–”
“No?” he asked, eyebrow lifted. “Were you not in attendance at a club named The Cage in Chicago just a few weeks ago?”
My eyes ballooned and I shot Aaron the harshest look I could muster. “It was one time. He was there, too!”
I turned back to a frowning Michael. “There’re no records of my client ever being there. Besides, even if he were there, he was not aware he was a father at the time. Thus, it cannot be held against him. You, on the other hand–”
“Enough. She understands,” Aaron’s finally spoke up.
I swallowed the lump that had risen in my throat and blinked, trying to remove the tears that’d gathered in my eyes. I wouldn’t look at him. I couldn’t.
“Step out,” he ordered.
Michael turned to leave, and I stared out of the window of the office. I heard movement and felt him nearing me but I refused to look at him.
“I’ll give you five minutes to decide,” Aaron stated firmly in my ear, causing goosebumps to rise along my skin. “Choose wisely.” With that, he turned and a heartbeat later the door to his office slammed shut.
I was left alone to make my decision. Slowly, I walked over to the table, looking at both sets of forms. A pen rested in between the middle. I could pick it up and sign the marriage license, agreeing to marry Aaron, or walk out of here and take my chances at a custody battle. I squeezed my eyes shut before blinking them open. I’d made my decision.
Chapter Six
Patience
“How’d it go?” Ms. Sheryl questioned as soon as she and the kids entered the hotel suite.
I’d been back from Aaron’s office for a few hours, but Ms. Sheryl and the kids had been out and about in the city. I was thankful for that. It’d given me some time to come to grips with my decision.
“Mommy, look! I got a new book!” Kennedy stated proudly, holding up her new book for me to see.
“That’s great, honey.”
“Kyle didn’t want a new book, so Ms. Sheryl got him a new toy.”
I glanced over at Kyle who was already playing with his new action figure on the circle coffee table in the middle of the living room.
“Did they have lunch yet?” I asked Ms. Sheryl.
