“Oh. I didn’t realize you’d thought about it.”
“Of course I have. You and Ruthie are a package deal. I want to make it official with both of you.”
I could tell Jess didn’t know what to say and noticed everyone else was quiet—obviously listening, so I said, “We can talk about it later.”
****
Jessica
I hadn’t realized he’d meant later that night.
On our way to pick up Ruthie from his parents, he quietly commented, “I really do want to adopt Ruthie.”
“I mean… yeah, it’s something to consider in the future.”
“How far into the future?”
“I don’t know? I haven’t thought about it.”
I don’t think he liked that answer.
“When you were considering marrying Kevin, you said he was going to adopt Ruthie so ‘she’d no longer be considered a bastard’. Your words.”
He used finger quotes when he threw my words back at me.
“I think I was just repeating what my parents wanted.”
“You don’t think they’d want me to adopt her?”
“I’m sure they would. But I don’t want to rush into anything. If you and I don’t work out…”
“I thought we agreed we were going to try.”
“Trying and succeeding are two different things, Alan.”
“Okay, fine. But if I adopt her and you and I don’t work out, at least I’ll still be Ruthie’s dad.”
“And that’s what scares me.”
His eyes became slits when he snarled, “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I don’t know!” I cried. “I’m not trying to make you mad. This is kind of coming out of left field, and I feel like you want me to make a decision right this second, and I just need time to process everything!”
Except I did know.
If Alan adopted Ruthie, the second he came to his senses and realized marrying me was a mistake, he’d have a claim to my daughter. And I wouldn’t have the means to fight him in court.
It was the same situation I was currently in with my parents, except I believed Lainey when she said that no one would take her from me as long as she was being cared for.
But if Alan was legally her parent—that’d be a whole different ball game.
Chapter Sixty-Four
Alan
I hated that I’d left things with Jess on a sour note—and on the eve of our wedding, no less.
I texted her not long after she left Adam and Lainey’s with Ruthie, but she didn’t reply, even though the message showed as read.
