“Don’t call him that.”
“It’s what he is, Sam! I’m the woman who showed up with your illegitimate child and destroyed your perfect relationship. Do you honestly think Chloe is going to forgive that? Do you think she’s going to want to raise the proof of your past mistakes?”
“Leo isn’t a mistake.”
“He is to her! He’s the reason you ruined her birthday, the reason you’ve been lying to her, the reason her fairy tale romance is falling apart.” Jenna’s voice was rising, her careful composure completely gone now. “She’s going to leave you, Sam. And when she does, you’re going to be a single father trying to figure out custody arrangements with a bitter ex-girlfriend - me.”
“You’re wrong.” I met her eyes steadily. I moved toward the front door, holding it open meaningfully. “Chloe’s not leaving.”
“Marry me,” Jenna said again, desperation creeping into her voice. “Think about Leo–”
“No.” The word was firm, final. “I’m not marrying you, Jenna. I will support Leo financially. I will be his father. We’llwork out a custody arrangement that’s in his best interest. But you and I? We’re not happening.”
Jenna’s mask slipped again, revealing something cold and vicious underneath. “Fine. Have it your way. But when Chloe can’t handle the reality-.”
Something in me snapped. “GET OUT!” The words came out louder than I’d intended, echoing through the empty bar. “Get out of my bar. Get out now.”
After she left, I pulled out my phone and immediately opened my notes app. Arthur had told me to document everything, and while I couldn’t record the conversation without Jenna’s consent — Oregon law was clear on that — I could write down everything while it was fresh.
I typed quickly, capturing the conversation word for word while it was still vivid in my mind;
- Jenna’s proposal of marriage
- Her calculated assessment of my assets
- The manipulation about Chloe not being “maternal material”
- Her conflicting stories about David
- The threats about what would happen when Chloe supposedly left me
- Her admission that she’d researched my life online before contacting me
- How she moved to sit beside me in the booth, trapping me against the wall
- Her repeated attempts to touch me despite my clear discomfort and requests to stop
My fingers flew across the screen, documenting her exact words where I could remember them, the tone she’d used, the way she’d positioned herself in the booth to make me uncomfortable. Everything Arthur might need to understand what we were dealing with.
When I was done, I emailed the notes to myself and Arthur with the subject line: “Documentation of conversation with Jenna - 10:15 AM Friday”
I checked the time. 10:45 AM. The produce delivery was scheduled for 11 AM — the last thing I needed to handle. Then I’d go home, sit down with Chloe, and tell her everything. The full story. No more secrets, no more delays.
Chapter 11
Chloe - Six Days After Chloe’s Birthday
I’d left the Jenkins farm that morning buzzing with the kind of joy that only came from a night of successful births and healthy babies. Five crias — five! — all thriving, all nursing perfectly. Daisy’s complications had resolved beautifully, and I’d spent an hour just watching the babies wobble around on their impossibly long legs, their mothers attentive and calm.
Baby alpacas. The best kind of overtime.
I’d texted Sam on my way back to the clinic around 9 AM:Heading to clinic for a few appointments. Home by 1 for our talk. Baby alpaca pics incoming!
He’d replied immediately:Can’t wait to see them. And can’t wait to see you. Love you.
That simple exchange had settled something in my chest.
Now I was at the clinic, working through the appointments I’d already rescheduled twice this week. Mrs. Loren’s diabetic cat needed its insulin levels rechecked — we’d already postponed once and couldn’t risk the cat going into crisis. The Price’s sixteen-year-old Lab was due for bloodwork before we could safely continue his arthritis medication. Mr. Cresswell’s bordercollie had a suspicious lump that needed evaluation. These were clients who’d been patient with my chaotic schedule all week. I owed them my full attention for a few hours.
