Her eyes looked tired, even behind her smile.“Cass… could you do the exchange with Mason and Jackson tomorrow?”
I frowned.“Why?What’s going on?”
She hesitated.“He’s refusing the divorce.Pushing for mediation.I just… I don’t have it in me to deal with him right now.”
I nodded slowly.“Alright.I can do that.”
“I already called and told his assistant about the change in drop-off time,” she added, her voice turning sharp.“She was… a sarcastic little bitch.Goading me.I can’t...”Clara broke off with a shake of her head.“I just can’t deal with that shit anymore.”
The next afternoon, I pulled into the drop-off lot ten minutes early.Jackson sat in the seat behind me, legs swinging, tapping away on his handheld game.
And we waited.
And waited.
No Mason.
I sent him a quick message:Here for the exchange.
The reply came fast:This isn’t the time we agreed to.Why am I talking to you about this?
Me:Clara called and talked to your mistress,told her the time and place.
Three dots appeared.Disappeared.Appeared again.Finally:On my way.
We waited.Jackson chatted about his game until Mason’s car pulled in.That’s when I sawher, sitting in the passenger seat, hair perfect, eyes flicking over me like I was something to scrape off her shoe.
I sent Clara a text:She’s here.
Her reply was immediate.Don’t let Jackson near her.Please Cassidy.Bring him home.
I unbuckled, leaning toward Jackson.“Stay in the car, okay?I need to talk to your dad.”
Mason got out at the same time I did.I didn’t even bother with hello.
“Is that her?”I asked, jerking my chin toward the woman in his car.
“Is that who…?”He frowned.
“You know the fuck who, Mason.Is that who you’re throwing your marriage away for?”
His expression hardened.“She’s only my assistant.”
“Right.The same ‘assistant’ who gave Clara attitude and mocked her when she called about the time change?”
He shifted.“I didn’t get that message.”
“Wonder why that is, Asshole.Maybe your side piece doesn’t want you getting messages from your soon-to-be ex-wife.”
“I don't have the energy to deal with you today, Cassidy.Why are you even here?Where’s Clara?”he shot back.
I stepped closer, keeping my voice low and even.“Clara didn’t want to see you.She spoke with your little passenger princess there, got nothing but a fucking headache for her trouble.And now, here you are, bringing her to a custody exchange.”
“I didn’t know...”
“Cut it.”My phone buzzed with another text from Clara, and I looked down quickly, scanning the message before I continued.“You brought her here, Mason.I’ll be taking Jackson back with me.Clara’s amending the divorce and custody agreement, and she’s got all the evidence she needs: your affair, your absence, and now this stunt.”
His mouth opened, but I cut him off again.“Get your shit together.Clara was clear.And you?You’re being crystal clear in choosing the girl in your car over your wife and son.”
