Ryan exhaled, turning and dropping his hands onto the rail. “What’s to stop him from taking advantage again?”
Aelin’s thoughts splintered just like they did every nightwhen she was crawling into bed. What if Clark had a bad night? What if he got a crazy idea in his head and drove over in the middle of the night? He’d never been violent, but he’d come close. Two weeks before he moved out, he’d cussed her out and turned so red in the face, she shook for an hour after he left.
But he hadn’t broken the terms of their agreement, and there was only one reason why. “I don’t think he will. His strategy is to make my home life look unstable so he can upend the custody arrangement. He only had every other weekend through the school year, but now it’s summer, and next year will be Bailey’s last year at this school.” She blew out a breath and turned toward him. “I don’t think he’ll do anything that could look terrible for him in court.”
Ryan clicked his tongue. "At least he has one priority straight."
She scoffed. "Not even close. He doesn't give a shit about custody. He only wants me to lose." Aelin thought back to Clark sitting across the table from her at the last mediation.
“Wouldn’t it be best for us to share the same home? It would give her more stability.”Clark was fighting for her to move out every other week, and live . . . where? With what money?
Aelin rubbed her arms, the cool night air making her shiver. "He's a narcissist. It's not about Bailey. It's never been about Bailey. It's about him looking good and me looking bad. He wants control. But at least for now, that’s working in my favour."
She’d been doing nothing but gathering evidence about Clark’s lack of involvement in their daughter’s life and his manipulative and abusive behaviour. She had records showing when and where he’d cheated, and she was working on getting his tax records.
Ryan nodded, his expression unreadable. "Right. Well, I hope it all works out."
"Thanks." She forced a smile. “I’m sorry my personal situation isn’t ideal.”
Ryan huffed a laugh. “Whose is?”
Something flickered behind his eyes, and Aelin had so many questions she wanted to ask him. Besides hearing his wife was in the hospital, she knew nothing about his life. Just as she was mustering the courage to open the topic, Ryan gave a polite smile and stepped back.
“Thanks again. I’ll get here around five thirty tomorrow. She should have everything she needs.” He paused at the steps.
“Right. Sounds good. We’re going to a park tomorrow.”
Ryan nodded once, then turned and walked to his car.
_____
The girls stayed up too late that night watching a movie and painting their nails, and Aelin didn't regret the mess for a second. She'd always felt a bit guilty for not giving Bailey a sibling, especially since her own siblings were her best friends. She'd always held out hope that Clark would change. That it was just a stage. He'd been so sorry. Now she was beyond grateful she hadn't gotten pregnant when they briefly tried five years ago.
Monday morning, they grabbed muffins at a café in the Beltline and went to a brand-new playground with a splash pad. Since it was only the end of June, it wasn't hot enough to get soaking wet, but the girls loved the misters and tempting fate by daring each other to stand over the intermittent fountains.
For a moment, Aelin let herself forget about the mediation, forget about Clark, and just enjoy a few hours together. She timed them on the monkey bars, walked down to the pond to admire the gaggle of baby ducklings, and pushed the girls on the swings.
Not one moment passed without her remembering that she was so damn lucky to be doing this. To not be working a nightshift so she could bring energy to her time with Bailey. It was a gift.
They made sandwiches at home for lunch, and the girls spent hours making a stop-motion animation movie with Bailey's dolls. Aelin cleaned the basement and prepped vegetables in the fridge for the week. It was so close to the perfect day it physically ached.
By the time Ryan showed up at five thirty to pick up Amaya, Aelin's heart felt like it was going to burst at the seams.
Ryan gave her a look as she opened the door, her face splitting into a smile.
"Can I just say thank you?" she gushed. Ryan blinked, and she knew she was probably coming off like a crazy person, which was the last thing she wanted, considering she was in charge of his only child, but she couldn't help herself. "Today was incredible. My dream, really, and you made that possible, and I'm just so grateful—" Holy hell, she was crying. Was she crying? Aelin sniffed and clenched her jaw, trying to will the tears back into her ducts.
"Today was good?" Ryan looked alarmed.
"So good," Aelin squeaked.
Amaya ran down the stairs behind her. "Dad!"
Aelin moved to the side so Amaya could get through the door. Amaya threw her arms around her dad's waist, and he grunted.
"Hey, baby," he murmured, cupping a hand around her head and hugging her close.
There it was again. The softening of his face. The sadness in his eyes dissolving into warmth, like he'd just dropped onto the couch after a long day of work.She was his safe place.Something inside of Aelin twinged.
