“I’m not…” She yawned. “Tired yet.” Another yawn. “Can’t I stay up a little longer with Grandma and Grandpa?” And still another yawn. “We were gonna read…”
He ruffled her hair even as he gently pulled her to her feet. “You’ll see them tomorrow after school. Say goodnight, Annabeth.”
She grumbled, but she did as she was told and went to her room, closing the door almost all the way.
Connor let out a long breath before facing his parents. He figured they’d call it a night too, but he was wrong.
“Annabeth said Lexi and her child were going to move in with you,” his mother stated. “Do you think that’s wise?”
This definitely wasn’t something he wanted to discuss with them right now, especially since it probably wasn’t going to happen.
“Not that it’s any of your business, but Lexi and I are in love, and…yes. The plan is for her and Jonah to move in with us.”
“She’s not a very good influence for Annabeth,” she said. “What kind of woman moves in with a man before they’re married?”
“The same kind of woman who preys on a wealthy single dad so he’ll take care of her and her bastard child,” his father replied.
For a moment, Connor could only stare. “What is wrong with the two of you? Lexi is divorced, just like I am! And she’s been a fantastic influence on Annabeth! Hell, she’s been more of a mother to her than Rachel ever was! Rachel, the woman the two of you chose! Remember that!”
“There’s no need to raise your voice, Connor,” his father reprimanded. “But maybe it would be best if Annabeth came back to Boston with us. She’ll be in a better school and living in an actual home and not this…” He motioned to the cabin. “This tiny, rustic space. This is fine for a vacation, but not to live in full time. She needs a room with proper furniture and space to move around. This cabin is already ridiculously small, and now you want to move that woman and her son in? This place is not suitable! For either of you! Have you lost your mind?”
“No, have you?” he countered. “We’ve been over this. You promised to back out of my life.”
“Not where our granddaughter is concerned,” his mother said. “We know you’re trying very hard to do what you want with your life, but that shouldn’t come at the expense of your daughter. Your father and I can guarantee her a good life with everything she could need to make her happy.”
He saw red. In that moment, he was ready to toss them both out on their asses.
So he did.
“Get out,” he said between clenched teeth. “Get out now. I suggest you pack up and leave the resort altogether. You can’t come here and threaten to take my daughter away from me just because you don’t like Lexi. You don’t know anything about her! Hell, you don’t know anything about me, and I’m your son! So go back up to the lodge and get your shit and go home. We’re done here.”
They both stood but didn’t look the least bit offended by what he said. If anything, they had polite smiles on their faces.
That can’t be good…
“We’ll leave, but we’ll be contacting our attorney. This isn’t over. If you won’t do what’s best for Annabeth, we will.”
“Having two parents who love her—me and Lexi—is what’s best for her,” he told them. “Not two toxic grandparents. Now leave.”
“All of this will go away if you stop dating Lexi, dear. She’s not right for you. She wasn’t right when you were teenagers, and she’s not right now. And especially not for Annabeth. She’s a Winslowe and needs to be raised by a woman with class and good breeding.”
They still weren’t getting it, but they turned and walked out without another word.
Good riddance…
Connor locked the door and looked in on his daughter before heading to his bedroom and crashing on the bed. He must have been more tired than he thought because he fell asleep fully dressed.
When he woke up the next morning, he was disoriented and realized he had never set the alarm. Luckily, he hadn’t overslept, and he wondered if Annabeth was already up. He stood and stretched and sleepily stumbled across the cabin to her room.
“Annabeth, sweetie? Are you up?”
No answer.
He laughed softly because he figured she was probably still exhausted from their vacation. He gently knocked on her door as he opened it. “Come on, baby girl. It’s time to get up.”
But she wasn’t in her bed.
Glancing around frantically, he walked over to the bathroom, but she wasn’t in there, and she wasn’t in the third bedroom either. His heart was hammering so hard he swore he was going to be sick.
