Denver
“How sweet. Look at this happy little family,” Isla says. I haven’t spoken to her in so long, I forgot about the trashy way she sounds when she talks. It’s as if she tries to sound tough, but she just sounds stupid.
“What are you doing here?” I ask. It’s going to be hard to remain calm, but for Aya’s sake, Kai, and me, it’s what I have to do.
“I want my daughter back,” she asserts.
I glance over my shoulder at Kai, giving her a look I hope she understands. I’m very thankful that she comprehends immediately. She takes Aya by the hand and leaves the house, closing the door behind her. I can only imagine the questions Aya is going to have for Kai and me, but I have a hunch Kai will be good redirecting her for the time being.
“How do I say this in a way that makes you understand?” I begin, leaning against the wall separating the foyer and open kitchen. “No.”
“You don’t get to just keep her, Denver. I’m her mother.”
I take my phone out of my back pocket and open my web browser. “Let’s see here. I’m just searching for the definition of the word ‘mother.’ Ah, yup, just as I thought. ‘A woman in relation to a child; one who brings up a child with care and affection.’ Which part of that definition do you fit into?”
“Don’t be an asshole, Denver. She’s not even yours, fucker.” I’d love to give her the reaction she’s dying to see right now, but since one of us had to be responsible and intelligent, I had a paternity test done early on. I needed the facts regardless of my devotion to love and raise Aya, especially in case a day like this ever came. I am her father, and there wasn’t a doubt about it on the test.
“Would you like to see the paternity test records? I have them if you’d like.”Aww. It looks like I might have burst her stupid little bubble of hope.
“I want her back.”
“Why?” I ask.
“She’s my daughter, Denver. Don’t ask me why.”
“Why did you leave?” I remember now, Isla always hated that I was able to remain calm in arguments, whereas she can’t.
“I wasn’t ready to be a mother then. Now, I am.”
“No, you’re not,” I argue, simply.
“Who the fuck are you to tell me that?”
“Aya’s father.”
“I’ll take you to court,” she spits out. I was expecting this argument to carry on a little longer before she pulled that card because I assume the only reason she’s hear is for money.
“You must have come into some serious cash if you’re able to afford that, but sure, let’s go. I’ve already secured my attorney, in fact.” I haven’t yet, but I will be tomorrow. Thanks to Brielle’s call and the text I received from Molli a half hour ago warning me that Isla found my location through means I’m still unsure of, I’ve had time to gather my thoughts.
“Those twats ratted me out to you?” she says through a gravelly laugh.
“Nice language. Make sure you refer to your ex-sister-in-law and stepsister that way in court too. That’ll surely win you your case.” She’s at a loss for words, and I take the second to scan her appearance, wondering how she was able to let herself go so badly. I hardly recognize her, though no other psychopath would be sitting in my kitchen waiting for me to get home. “Are you taking drugs, Isla?”
“Fuck you,” she says.
She was never the classiest woman, but she wasn’t like this. She’s clearly gotten into some trouble.
I haven’t had much time to consider my thoughts on this matter, but the one thing I have lingering in my head is the pain I consoled Aya through after Isla left us. There’s nothing in this world that would convince me to chance putting her through that again.
“How much money do you need?” I ask her.
“What are you talking about?”
“Answer me, Isla. It will take over a year to save up just a few grand through poaching child support if you were to win custody by some miracle. So, if it is money you’re after, tell me. I’ll literally pay you to go away.”
Isla thinks for a minute, biting her bottom lip and bouncing her knees. I can see that’s what she wants. It’s all about money. Always has been.
A tapping sound on the window beside me causes me to jump since I was deep in thought. I turn around, finding Aya with her nose pressed up against the glass, blowing her cheeks out like a walrus. Then I see Kai, lifting her up and pulling her away from the window. I can hear Aya laughing hysterically from in here, which tells me she doesn’t know this is her mother sitting in here. She didn’t recognize her, and Kai has obviously distracted her well enough to avoid her curiosity and questions. Thank God.
