Henry stiffens. “That’s not how this works.”
Laiken’s expression remains calm in a way that’s almost frightening. “Actually, it is.”
The silence continues to stretch until it feels as though it’ll reach a breaking point.
Abigail’s lips thin. “We’re supposed to be consulted on decisions that affect Elody.”
“I would never do anything that wasn’t in my daughter’s best interest,” Laiken replies in a clipped tone. “She comes first. Always. And I don’t need your approval to get remarried.”
“We’ll see what our lawyer has to say about that,” she huffs.
“You do that.”
With an irritated scoff, she reaches for her purse. “Henry, let’s go.”
The older man turns to his granddaughter before forcing a slight smile. “We’ll see you soon, sweetheart.” With that, they move toward the elevator.
Elody waves. “Bye, Mimi and Pop-Pop!”
The elevator doors slide shut with a whoosh that sounds far too final in the quiet aftermath. My heart continues to race as the reality of what just happened crashes over me.
Married.
The word reverberates throughout my head.
There’s no way he meant it.
I look at Laiken again, searching for something to say, but my mind remains stubbornly blank.
He rakes a hand through his hair. “I’m really sorry for dragging you into this.”
“It’s fine,” I manage, still in shock.
“I just…” His voice trails off as Elody darts forward and wraps herself around my legs, her arms locking tight like she’s afraid I’ll disappear into thin air if she lets go for even a moment.
“Are you going to be my new mommy?”
The question steals the air from my lungs. My mouth parts in surprise as my gaze snaps to Laiken’s, panic crashing through me in a rush. I don’t know what the right answer is or if one even exists. Every possible response feels like a misstep.
So I remain frozen, rooted in place, silently pleading for direction.
For rescue.
Laiken moves before I can gather my wits, and drops to his knees beside Elody. With gentle fingers, he brushes her hair back. “Hey, bug, why don’t you go play in your room for a few minutes, okay? Kia and I need to talk.”
Elody’s lower lip trembles as she looks between us, her grip tightening around me. “I want Kia to be my new mommy. Please?”
My heart hurts at the longing that fills her voice.
Laiken swallows hard. “Go play,” he repeats. “We’ll talk about it in a little bit, okay?”
She hesitates, clearly on the verge of arguing, before giving a reluctant nod. Her arms loosen from around me as she pulls back, lingering for a beat longer than necessary before scurrying down the hall.
Her bedroom door clicks shut, the sound unnaturally loud in the silence that follows. I stay where I am, my heart pounding, knowing whatever Laiken says next will change everything.
26
Laiken
