She really didn’t get it, did she? She truly believed she hadn’t done anything wrong.
She straightened. “Look, Eastern, I didn’t come here to fight. I came home because I had my time to travel and explore, and now I want my daughter back.”
Jesus Christ. “You’re a piece of work.”
“She’s mine.”
“No, she’s not. By law, she’smine.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You’re really going to keep my daughter away from me? Iraisedthat kid.”
“Actually, I don’t think you did. The more time I spend with her and Sadie, the more I realize thatshedid more of the raising than you.”
Jamie’s back teeth visibly ground together. “That’s not true. Sadie was her nanny. I was hermother, and I deserve access to my child.”
“And you might have stood a chance if it was just the abandonment we were dealing with.”
Jamie went very still. “What are you talking about?”
“You don’t think Avery told me all about your drinking? About how some days you couldn’t even take her to school, you were so out of it? And the days shedidmake it, she was often sent without food or clean clothes?”
There was a flash of surprise in her eyes. Surprise that Avery had outed her?
She shook her head. “She’s seven. You really believe what she says?”
“She’seight. And it wasn’t just her. The school supported every statement she made, writing up reports to support my appeal for full custody.”
Her hands fisted. “So what? I have to go through you to see my daughter now?”
“Damn straight you do. I’ll talk to Avery and see what she wants to do.” But if her reaction to her mother this morning was anything to go by, she wouldn’t want to see her anytime soon. “And if you show so much as a single sign that you’ve had a drink, you won’t see her at all.”
Red tinged Jamie’s cheeks. “That’s bullshit!”
“No. It’s me protecting my child.”
“I’ll fight you on this.”
“Good luck.”
She spun toward the door but only took two steps before she turned back. “You really expect me to just go along with this, Eastern?”
“I don’t care what you do. Avery’s my priority. Her well-being and making sure she has a safe and secure upbringing from this point forward.”
“And what? You and Sadie fucking Sandler are going to give that to her?”
“Hey!You should be thanking her for giving your daughter whatyoucouldn’t.”
Another narrowing of her eyes, and for a moment, Eastern almost saw her mind working. “So you fuck her, and she gets the job of being my daughter’s mother.”
“Leave.Now.”
She shook her head. “I never denied you access to her or the chance to be a part of her life. Mark my words, you’ll regret doing this to me.” She grabbed the door handle and was about to stepout, but before she did, she turned back again. “And if Sadie thinks she can take my place in my own kid’s life, she’sdeadwrong—and yeah, that’s a threat.”
Then she stormed out without a backward glance.
Sadie’s fingerswrapped around Avery’s hand as they walked from the car to her school. After making sure Avery was okay this morning, Eastern had rushed to get dressed and leave, no doubt to find out what was going on with Jamie.
Avery had said she was okay. She wasn’t. She’d been unusually quiet all morning, not to mention she’d barely picked at her sugary cereal, her favorite breakfast treat that she rarely got.
