“No judge will take kindly the games he’s trying to play.They’ve seen it all before,” he said.
“I hope you’re right.I just wish…” A tear spilled out and slipped down her cheek.
He stood and grabbed a tissue from her desk.
Annie dabbed at her eyes before speaking again, her voice clear and firm.“I wish I was stronger.I wish I was strong enough to get through all of this.”
“You are strong enough, and you’re not doing it alone.”
Annie crumpled the tissue in her hand and peered up at him.
He went on.“You have all of us.Your mom, Margie, Sheila, Bella.”He leaned in, his head tilted to hers.Did he dare say it?“Me.”
“And Roy probably has a thousand-dollar-an-hour attorney.”
Miles frowned.He probably did, and that wouldn’t look good in front of the judge, either.“You know, last year Bella got in trouble for egging a bunch of houses.I don’t condone that sort of behavior, but she was very good at it.Excellent aim.I don’t mind sending her to the mainland, if you catch my drift.”
The edge of her mouth tilted into a smile.“Eggs are too expensive.You can’t waste them like that.”
A laugh burst out of him.“You’re right.We’ll find something more economical.”
She smiled, shaking her head.“Yeah.”
His chest swelled.What he really wanted to do was offer to fly to the mainland, find Roy in his place of work, punch him in the face, and walk out.
He knew Annie wouldn’t agree to it; he’d have to figure out where Roy worked on his own.Shouldn’t be too hard…
“Thank you, Miles.It means a lot.”
“Any time.”He meant it.
She let out a breath and stood.“Would you like a tour of the lab?It’s not the most exciting place, but we’ve got microscopes.”
He smiled.There were a thousand things he wanted to do.Pull her close.Whisk her away.Hire an attorney for her.Pay for the winter coats himself.
But none of that was what Annie wanted.She didn’t want to be rescued.She wanted a friend.
A friend, not a guy who kept hitting on her, who couldn’t stop thinking about kissing her and taking her in his arms.
The last thing she wanted was another guy messing up her life.Miles was determined not to do that to her.
“I’d love a tour,” he said.
Twenty-one
Christmas day.Annie surprised herself, sleeping in until eight o’clock, opening her eyes to the sun blasting through the window.
She couldn’t remember the last time she’d awoken after sunrise.Rolling over to check her phone – nothing.No messages.No pictures of the twins opening their presents Christmas morning.
It wasn’t unexpected.Roy had followed through on his threat to take her to court.He’d filed a motion for a parenting plan with the superior court, and their hearing was set in seven weeks.Of course he’d punish her on Christmas by making her wonder what they were doing.Howthey were doing.
The smell of coffee wafted in from the kitchen, pulling Annie out of bed.Her mom was already up, a red and white velvety Christmas hat atop her head.
“Merry Christmas, sweetheart,” she said, kissing her on the cheek.
Annie poured herself a mug of coffee.“Merry Christmas, Mom.”
Annie shuffled, pajama-clad, to the couch.Their small tabletop Christmas tree had two new presents beneath it.A small box wrapped in shining gold paper, and a much larger box wrapped in silver with red satin ribbon.
