The only good thing? She’ll be gone soon. All I have to do is pay her and she’ll leave. That sounds like money well spent. But I just can’t hand over money without getting my lawyer involved. She needs to sign something that puts an end to all of this Ivy bullshit. “I’ll give you ten grand. That’s all I’ve got right now.” I’m lying. “I just bought a combine.” I point to the giant green machine behind me. That one’s true. It was used and a great deal, but she doesn’t need the details. “And it has to be through the lawyer. You sign over your parental rights to me, and I’ll give you the money.” Plus, I’m going to have more added––like she can’t come back for more money whenever she’s hard up.
“Fifteen and you’ve got a deal.”
Fuck. “I’ll have to see if I can do that.” Yeah, I can do it. I just don’t want to. For Andi, though, yeah, I’d probably find a way to pay her the five hundred thousand. Shh, don’t tell.
Pressing a couple things on my phone, I wait for someone at the lawyer’s office to answer. When they do, I explain, “Yeah, hi. I need to make an appointment with Shawn.” I listen to the options. I could see him today, but I’m not doing that. I’m picking up my girl in two hours. “Sure. Monday works.” I look over at Ivy who nods. I’m given the time of 2:00 p.m. “Thanks. See you then.”
Hanging up the phone, I look at Ivy one more time. “Happy?”
“Very.” She nods. “Get the money ready. I’d like to take off next week.”
The sooner the better.
She turns to leave, but she stops. “Oh, and Nash?”
“Yeah?” I wait.
“I want fifteen or no deal.”
I raise two fingers and give her a salute. “I’ll try.” I’ll get it. Trust me. I want her gone.
As soon as her fancy-ass car pulls out of my driveway, a thought occurs to me. What about Andi? Will she be upset about Ivy leaving? I’m pretty sure I know the answer, but it’s best to check before I sign anything. God knows I’ll never tell her I had to pay her mother off, but maybe she wants to have a relationship with her birth mother.
36
Isabelle
“I thinkI know where we’re going.” We’re on I-80 heading west. “Are we going to see Mom and Dad?”
He looks over at me and winks. “We are. I figured you were missing them.”
“I have been.”So much.
“We’re gonna stop by and spend some time with your folks. Then the date begins.”
“Oh.” I laugh. “I figured it had already started.” I mean, he showed up at my school with a dozen pink roses, and right before I hopped up into his truck, he kissed me deep and long against the passenger door.
A couple of our teachers happened to be outside to witness the kiss, and it must have been quite a sight because Mr. Salinger, our sixty-year-old P.E. teacher, shouted, “Get a room.”
Thinking about it now makes me giggle.
“What’re you laughing about over there?” He smiles and reaches out to take my hand. “You’re too far away.”
I unbuckle my seat belt and slide over on the front bench seat. I find the middle seat belt and click that into place. “Better?”
Nash leans over and kisses the side of my head. “Much.” After a few moments, he asks, “So, what were you snickering about over there?”
I laugh again. “I think we scarred Mr. Salinger for life.”
Nash smiles. “Nah, Mr. Salinger is quite the ladies’ man. Don’t let him fool ya. Haven’t you seen him at Sisters? He’s always trying to get with someone.”
“Ooh.” I scrunch up my face. “I choose not to think of him in that way. He used to be my teacher and basketball coach.”
“So, you’d prefer to think he’s not having sex?”
I choke a little bit. “Definitely.”
Nash places his hand on my thigh and gives it a little squeeze. “Can we talk about us having sex?”
