“No, Javier, listen to me. That isexactlywhat he wants. You are a great dad, and he has to find a reason for the court to give him more than visitation. He wants you to do something wrong so he can use it in court. You can’t let him.”
“He has been ruining my life, even before Aleesa was born. He thinks he can just boast about this? Now the whole world will know that my wife slept with him! That she cheated on me with him! He is trying to humiliate me! I do not care what the rest of the world thinks of me, Octavia—I truly don’t—but I care about what my daughter thinks! What my family thinks!”
“Your family knows you, and they love you. They will never look at you differently, baby.”
The burn in my throat settled to a simmer. Hearing her call mebabyanchored me because it sounded so sweet coming from her. I believe that was the first time she’d called me that.
“Do me a favor and breathe,” Octavia went on. “Take a few deep breaths and focus on Aleesa. Focus on her future and what you want for her. Everything you do is for her, right?”
I exhaled. “Yes.”
“So keep your attention on that. Forget Rafael. ForgetBobble. Focus on what’s right in front of you.”
I loosened my grip on the steering wheel, shaking my head. “I swear you are like a therapist.”
She giggled. “Davina says the same thing.”
“Well, she is right.” I dragged in a few deep breaths and exhaled again through parted lips. “I am coming home, amor.”
“Great. I’ll see you soon.”
When the call ended, I clenched my jaw. I knew exactly where Rafael worked. I could have easily turned this car around, sped my way to his building, stormed inside, and punched him square in his face.
But Octavia was right.
I needed to focus on what was in front of me. And what lay ahead and waited for me was my daughter and a woman who I was becoming fonder of by the day. There was my home, which I had made comfortable for Aleesa, and the unconditional love that she had for me and that I had for her.
Rafael did not have any of that.
With that in mind, I calmed my nerves, settled my rage, and continued forward, ready to go home and be with my girls.
Forty
Octavia
As soon as Javier arrived, I gave him a hug, then served him a big bowl of chicken stew. We ate together at the dining table while Aleesa napped upstairs.
I’d had lo-fi music playing earlier, and normally I turned it off when he arrived, but I figured he could use the noise to tune out some of his darker thoughts.
“This is very good,” he said before shoveling another scoop of stew into his mouth.
I grinned. “Thank you.”
A stretch of silence passed between us. Moments later, Javier’s spoon clinked against the edge of his bowl, and our eyes connected again.
“I am sorry that you have to go through this too.” His lips pressed. “You do not deserve to deal with my issues.”
“Don’t worry about me. I’m fine.”
“I do worry about you, though. You did not sign up for any of this.”
“I signed up to take care of Aleesa. And if that means pushing through a stupid custody battle that is a complete waste of all our time, then I’ll be here.”
He went quiet again. “I will understand if you want to leave.”
“Do you want me to leave?”
The skin between his eyebrows wrinkled. “Of course not.”
