“We’ll see, Bella.” He strolled over to Jeannie with Bella in his arms, extending his hand. “Hi, you must be Mrs. Christensen. I’m Lucas Hunter, nice to meet you.” Jeannie glared between Lucas and Bella and hesitantly took his hand to shake it.
I reached for Bella’s backpack near the door. “Since you had Bella this weekend, we made plans for next Saturday. We can make up a new schedule.” Jeannie huffed at me and gave me a shrug in response.
Jeannie was still staring at Bella and Lucas. He hadn’t put her down yet and was whispering in her ear, making her laugh.
“I guess that’s fine. We can work out a schedule if Bella is still allowed to come here.”
I narrowed my eyes at her. Jeannie wasn’t the friendliest person, but she was never this cold. I was confused. “Of course, she is; why wouldn’t she be?”
“Oh, you know. Things change.” She nodded over at Lucas. Who would think Marc’s mother would be the one most bothered over the fact I’d moved on. Jeannie looked perturbed by the easy rapport between Lucas and Bella, most likely because of the non-existent relationship Marc had with his daughter.Hey lady, point the finger at your son, not at me.
We headed back to the car. Jeannie made me feel uneasy, but if she had issues with Lucas, that was her problem.
“I thought you said she was nice.” Lucas pursed his lips and shook his head as we got in the car and drove off.
I shrugged. “She’s been okay. I don’t think she appreciated hearing Bella ask for you all weekend or how close you both seemed. Bella was definitely never with Marc the way she is with you. You guys have your own little thing together, that’s for sure.”
Lucas glanced at Bella through the rearview mirror.
“Sounds like Mommy is a little jealous, Butterfly.” He turned around and gave her a wink and a big smile.
“Lucas likes you, too, Mommy. Don’t get mad.” We both laughed at my daughter’s attempt to make me feel better.
Lucas reached for my hand as he was driving and kissed my wrist.
“Yeah, don’t get mad, Mommy. I like you, too.”
* * *
After dinner,Bella begged us to rent a movie, but couldn’t keep her eyes open. I carried her into bed and read her half a story before she passed out.
I strolled back into the living room and cuddled next to Lucas on the couch.
“I love that you don’t have to go home.” He laughed and pulled me onto his lap.
“That’s because I’m already home. My home is where you are.” He ran his hand down my cheek and rested his forehead against mine.
“You always know the right thing to say. Wanna do it onourcouch?”
Lucas burst out laughing.
“Do it?Come here, you horny little teenager …” I yelped when he pulled me under him and hooked my leg over his hip.
My cell phone rang, and I was about to send it to voice mail when I noticed it was Robyn calling.
“I’m sorry, babe, it’s Robyn.” I sat up on the couch.
“Hey, girl. Everything okay?”
“I didn’t want to call you at night, but I figured you’d want to know right away. Before I left work, I got a call from Marc’s lawyer. Samantha, he’s filing for joint custody.”
Twenty-Nine
Samantha
Not a damn thingabout any of this made sense. The first weekend Marc was back, he went right back to partying—not even spending time with Bella when they were in the same house. I told him I wouldn’t stop him from seeing her, as long as he didn’t pop in and out of her life. I didn’t think that was the reason he was now asking to share custody. Marc’s ego was bruised because he was the last person to know I was seeing someone, but other than that, he didn’t care. That night he finally signed the papers, there was no plea from him to save our marriage or take him back. My head hurt from trying to figure out why we were in this mess.
I called in sick to work. I couldn’t act like there was nothing wrong and my entire world wasn’t crumbling because someone was trying to take my little girl. Robyn said she’d come over after work and we’d come up with a game plan. I was desperately hoping she was the brilliant lawyer I believed her to be, and she would say something to give me some reassurance or peace of mind.
