“That sums up what my husband and I always thought about Marc. You’re a good man, Lucas. You saw Bella was in trouble and got her the help she needed. Ididtell you to avoid fighting with Marc or his mother, but you did what you had to do. I’m going to put a hold on the joint custody agreement, citing what happened today. Bella won’t have to go back to Marc until we have a hearing. I’ve been working on a plan to get Marc to admit his mother is behind his request for joint custody, and I think I’m ready to show it to the judge. Focus on getting Bella better, and I’ll take care of the rest. We’re in a good place, so stop thinking you fucked it all up.”
I laughed. Sam was right about Robyn. She looked and sounded like Snow White, but she seemed like she knew what she was doing. The confidence in her voice made me feel optimistic for the first time in over a month. I hoped her plan was a good one because we needed this all to be over.
* * *
The doctor confirmedthat Bella had strep throat. After some pink medicine and some Tylenol, she passed out in her room. Sam and I tiptoed in to check on her. I knelt next to her bed and felt her forehead, cool for the first time today.
Sam came up behind me and ran her fingers through my hair. Still kneeling on the floor, I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her down to me.
“You know what I need around here?” I whispered so I wouldn’t wake Bella.
“What’s that?” Sam ran a hand down my cheek.
“Another man in the house. I already have my work cut out for me, keeping boys away fromyou.” I tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and glanced at my little butterfly, asleep in her bed. “This one looks more like you every day, and as you like to point out—you’re with anolderman. I need a little help here.”
“Are you saying you want to have a baby?” It was dark so I couldn’t tell what her reaction was.
I slowly nodded my head. We’d never really talked about having kids. Sam was a fantastic mother, but I never considered the possibility that she only wanted one child. It wasn’t a deal breaker if she did, but I’d been thinking a lot about seeing Sam’s belly grow with my baby inside. I was surprised at how the more I thought about it, the more I wanted it.
“Not right this second, obviously. Someday. But if you don’t, I understand. And I’m happy with you and Bella—” Sam put her finger on my lips.
“You’re cute when you ramble. I would love to have a baby with you. Although I’m not sure if the women of the world are ready for Lucas Hunter’s son.”
I pulled her close and kissed her. Sam pulled back from my lips and leaned her forehead against mine.
“We could have another girl, you know. What would you do then?”
“I would love another girl. I’d just accept the fact I was probably headed toward an early grave.”
Sam chuckled and shook her head at me. I stood, pulling her by the hand along with me.
“I love you so much.” I crashed my lips onto hers and heard the cutest little moan escape when I bit her bottom lip.
“Let’s take it outside.” Sam took my hand and led me out the door.
If all went according to plan, in a few months, Sam and I would be married—provided she said yes. Bella would be staying put, and maybe we’d have a new little person on the way not long after. Everything would be pretty damn close to perfect.
Thirty-Three
Samantha
As we waitedfor Robyn outside the family court building, my stomach was in knots. She was able to get an earlier court date than expected, which was great if things went our way, and awful if they didn’t. At least until the hearing, we had sole custody and didn’t have to worry about Bella on weekends. I really didn’t want to go back to our previous arrangement. Even more than being afraid of her getting sick or being in trouble because of Marc’s negligence, Bella was getting older and becoming more aware of her father’s indifference. Having personal experience—and unresolved issues—with a father like that, I wanted her as far from Marc as possible.
Lucas held my hand, running his thumb back and forth over my palm. He was tense, too, but trying so hard to hide it. Robyn approached us wearing a confident smile and led us inside. Before we reached our assigned courtroom, she turned to us with a stern expression.
“I do all the talking unless I tell you otherwise or the judge addresses you directly. Don’t let Marc get the best of you and make you leave a bad impression in front of the judge. Lucas, if you’re asked to recount what happened in the coffee shop, just give a short story without calling Marc a douchebag or. . . what did you call him?’
“Asshole.” Lucas and I both said together, giving all three of us a much-needed laugh.
“Yes that. I believe I have a plan that will shut this down today. So, whatever happens, trust me, and let me handle everything. Agreed?”
We nodded and entered the courtroom.
I’d only ever seen an actual—not TV—courtroom during my two brief stints at jury duty. Judges intimidated the hell out of me, and just being in the courtroom increased my anxiety level exponentially. I took a deep breath as Lucas, and I sat next to Robyn at a sturdy wooden table up front.
Marc was seated across from us with his lawyer—and his mother. I scowled at the back of Jeannie’s head but then looked away before she saw me. She was probably here to police her son and make sure he didn’t say anything stupid.
The judge walked in, and I barely paid attention to the introductions. My heart was pounding in my ears as Robyn addressed the court.
