Abby shook her head. “No. If anything, I think it would drive him to be vindictive in some way.”
“If the roles were reversed, would you want me or Naomi or Lindsey to reach out to him about Will if anything happened to you?”
“Hell, no.” There was no doubt in her mind. Naomi was her secondary guardian if anything happened to her or her mom. Tony had never even been a consideration in her guardianship plan. “I wouldn’t want to subject Will to that kind of rejection or emotional damage.”
“Then go with the lawyer’s advice. Don’t say nothing to no one,” her mom said. “It’s not selfish to want to protect yourself and Will. Or Olivia. But I wouldn’t be your mother if I didn’t ask: are you sure you’re up for this? It’s a lot—taking on a preteen girl.”
Abby smiled sardonically. “I’m not sure at all. But I know I can’t hand her back over to her aunt or put her in foster care. We’re the closest thing she has to family. Will is her family by blood. I don’t have any illusions this will be easy. Or quick. But I can’t turn my back on her.”
Her mom stopped and rubbed Abby’s arms. “I’d be very disappointed if you did. I’m here when you need me. However you need me. It’ll be nice to have a granddaughter.”
Abby smiled and tears pricked her eyes as relief washed through her. She’d been worried. She shouldn’t have been, her mother was one of the most giving and accepting people she knew, but there was always the small chance she’d tell Abby she was making a mistake.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“You’re welcome,” her mom said.
They turned and trailed after the kids again.
“I do have a favor to ask. A small one.”
“What’s that?”
“I might need you to babysit in a couple of weeks. After the showcase.”
“Of course. Is this the man from the coffee date?” her mother asked.
“Uh…it’s someone else,” Abby said.
“Ooh. Look at you. Dates with two different men so close together.”
“Don’t get excited. It’s Christian.”
“Christian, the man who didn’t call you after I caught you on the porch kissing, Christian? The man you were so disappointed about because you knew he wasn’t going to call you back? That Christian?”
“Could you please stop saying Christian?”
“Well, that’s his name, isn’t it? What else should I call him? Tinker? That’s a ridiculous name for a grown man.” Her mom could be like a dog with its favorite chew toy when she sank her teeth into something.
“Yes, that’s him. He helped me when Olivia showed up.”
“Helped how?”
“He gave me Katherine’s number, who set me up with the social worker and helped get the ball rolling to get legal guardianship of Olivia.”
“Did he?”
“Yes, Mom. He did. Can you watch the kids?”
“I suppose. But he has to come in the house and introduce himself properly,” her mom said.
“Please don’t embarrass me,” Abby begged.
“When have I ever embarrassed you?”
“Oh, I don’t know…Homecoming, Junior Prom, Senior Prom. That time I brought Phil home from college for Thanksgiving break.”
“How did I embarrass you with Phil?” Her mom looked offended.
