“If you had a legitimate reason, I wouldn’t care. But you don’t talk to me. You just tell me that it’s none of my business. Not good enough, Emmi. Unless you start talking, Josie is going home and you are staying here.”
It was my turn to stand up and raise my voice. Why couldn’t he just let it go? “You don’t get to tell me what to do.” I stalked toward the door, fuming. I didn’t make it far before he blocked my way. “Stop running away from me. And I’m your boss, so technically Icantell you what to do,” he said, his tone frustrated.
I swallowed the lump in my throat and lifted my gaze. “I can’t leave her at home because she’s not safe there,” I whispered.
His forehead creased in confusion. “What do you mean? Oma’s house is the safest place she could be.”
“Oma can’t keep her safe. She’s too old. If Anna came barging in, there would be nothing she could do.”
“Anna? As in your mother Anna?”
Defeated and too exhausted to keep trying to get him off my back, I started talking. “She’s back. And she wants Josie.”
“Why would she want your child?”
Shit, he didn’t know Josie wasn’t really mine. “She’s my niece. Nate had a daughter. He gave me custody in his will. Now Anna wants her for some reason only known to Anna.”
Rhett grabbed his hair and stepped back. “Why did you lie to me? Again?” He looked upset and so disappointed. My heart dropped and I reached my hand out toward him. He side-stepped me and started pacing.
His action hurt but I turned and started explaining. “I never said I gave birth to her, only that she was mine. Because she is. And I love her with all my heart.”
“Nate had a child. And I never knew,” he muttered, ignoring my explanation.
Looked like Rhett didn’t just cut all contact with me but Nate as well. Why the hell would he do that? They were best friends. I never talked to Nate about Rhett and he never said anything about him. I just presumed they were still in touch. At least occasionally.
“He did. And luckily he had a will that stated he wanted me to have full custody of Josie.”
He turned and all his focus was back on me. “Why does Anna want custody?”
“I don’t know. But she is determined. And you know how she gets. Once she has an idea, it takes root and overthrows her life. She won’t stop at anything until she gets what she wants. She doesn’t know the meaning of no. I couldn’t leave Josie at home. I just couldn’t.” My voice cracked at the end. I didn’t want to cry in front of Rhett, but I had no idea what to do anymore.
“Did you speak to your lawyer? The one who drew up the will?”
I shook my head. “Not yet. He didn’t have time until Monday. I haven’t even been read the full will. Only the part about Josie because she needed someone straight away or would have gone into a home. But Rhett, you have to understand that I can’t leave Josie. Anna is unpredictable. What if she takes her?”
“Why didn’t you ask me for help? Explain why Josie was here?”
“Because it doesn’t concern you. She is my responsibility. I will find a way to get Anna off our backs.”
“Independent as ever, I see.” His admission was forced, like he was proud of my independence but hating it at the same time.
“I should get back outside before Lexie tries and teaches Josie how to take minutes.”
“I wish you would trust me.” It didn’t sound like he wanted me to hear his admission, but I did nevertheless.
“How can I trust you when I don’t even know you?” I answered, realizing how much truth was behind my words.
“You did once. And I’m not that different from the boy you grew up with.”
I scoffed, unable to stop the sound from escaping. “You are so different from the boy I grew up with that sometimes I wonder if he was real.”
He made a grab for my arm again but I dodged him and opened the door. “I gotta get back to pretending to work.”
His lips curled up on one side, the movement so small, if I had blinked I would have missed it. “You do that,” he said and turned back towards his desk, his mind most likely already back on work.
