40
Hayley
2018 - Present Day
With Wyatt busy with his own investigations, I find it harder and harder to cope with London’s absence. I barely eat or sleep. I’m so grateful for Carl, Mom, and Katherine. Carl manages the shop; the ladies keep me sane. I would fly off the edge if someone weren’t holding me steady. I sleep in London’s room, holding onto her things. The police have been here. “It’s all procedure, ma’am,” they said as they rummaged through my baby’s stuff.
The doorbell rings, and I answer it since I’m alone. My mother and Katherine went to the shops. I frown when I see Logan. He’s called me every day, but this is the first time he’s shown up. I expected him to be a lot more supportive. Maybe we could put our heads together and find out where our child was. Instead, he chose to keep away from me.
“Hey, Hayley,” he says, handing me a bunch of sunflowers. Inappropriate, I think, since I feel like crap right now.
“Logan,” I greet him curtly.
He makes his way into the house. “You’re alone?”
“Yeah, my mom and Mrs. Barnes are at the shops. Carl’s at work.”
“How you holding up?”
“I could be better. I could have London here with me.” He takes a seat on the couch, regarding me, and I feel like he’s scrutinizing me.
“I see you’ve lost your dress sense.”
“What the fuck? Are you seriously talking about what I’m wearing? Our daughter is missing, for God's sake.”
“Yes, yes she is.” He leans forward, his elbows on his knees. “Sit Hayley, please. Let me make you some coffee.”
“I don’t want your coffee,” I growl at him. “You should leave. You really should, and you can come back when you’re done with being an asshole.”
“I insist,” he says as he stands and makes his way past me toward the kitchen. I stand with one hand on my hip and one on my forehead. A headache threatening to break through.
I spin on my heels and follow Logan into the kitchen where he hums and makes two cups of coffee.
“What is this?” I look at an envelope on the tabletop and up at Logan.
“Just a bit of a guarantee, that’s all,” he says pleasantly.
“What the fuck has gotten into you?” I frown and tear open the contents.
“It’s a custody agreement. I had my lawyer draw it up.”
“A custody agreement?” I frown, not believing what I am seeing or hearing.
“Oh, it’s all aboveboard. We go to court, and we file for joint custody of London, and in that way, I get to have her in my life without the threat of losing her to you and Wyatt. I get a say in whether she leaves the country and all the major decisions in her life.”
“You asshole. Our daughter is missing, and this is what you think about? You heartless bastard.”
“I’m heartless?” he sneers. “He comes back and takes away my family, and I’m supposed to stand for that?”
“I don’t need to listen to this. I want you to leave.”
“Oh, you shouldn’t be so hasty, darling. You should hear me out.”
“There is nothing I want to hear from you.”
“Oh, you will if you want to see London again.”
I lurch for the asshole, slamming my fist into his jaw.
