Page 125

Sunlight cuts through the blinds, striping the carpet, and the low hum of his office printer fills the quiet while he waits, pen tapping once against his legal pad.

I clear my throat. “I know I can’t get a whole custody agreement all planned out right now. Just what I can lock down now, before the baby’s born. Veronica’s been texting and calling nonstop—random demands, guilt trips, the works. I need to know if I can get a court-ordered DNA test while she’s still pregnant.”

Mark sets the pen down and studies me for a second, his expression calm but sharp. “Yes, it’s possible. We’d file a motion for a non-invasive test. It requires her consent or a judge’s order. Given what you’ve told me about the constant contact, we can argue it’s necessary to establish rights early. I’ll need her claims in writing. Everything she’s sent you.”

I pull out my phone out of my back pocket. “I can email you all the screenshots. It’s all just stupid shit, wanting me to run errands and stuff for her because she's ‘too nauseous’ to do them herself.”

Mark huffs and rolls his eyes as he takes a few notes. “We can request the test and, at the same time, ask the court for a temporary order limiting contact to medical emergencies only.”

“Will that actually stop her from contacting me?” I ask, leaning forward, elbows on my knees.

“It’s not guaranteed, but it will create a paper trail for later on.” He pauses, glancing up at me again. “How long has this been going on?”

“Since she found out I’m back together with Blaire. Feels like every hour she finds some new reason to reach out.”

A problem that I'm sure will get even worse soon. I've been working secretly with Blaire's entire family to plan a proposal. Brittney has tried a few times to talk me into putting it off until everything with Veronica is settled, but I haven't listened. It's been years longer than it should have taken me already. I don't want to wait another second. It's been hard enough not to just get the ring from my office and propose in our kitchen nearly every night. Watching Blaire handle everything life is throwing at her right now has made me the proudest of her I've been since she gave birth.

Mark nods and jots a note. “Alright. We can see about some kind of no contact for that, harassment after finding out you have a new partner.”

I shift in the chair, the leather creaking under me. “I also wanted to double check on my will.”

“Still names Blaire and Theo as primary beneficiaries and guardians,” Mark says. “But we can add language that any unproven child—meaning one without a court-established paternity—has no claim until after testing. Keeps everything clean if something happens overseas. I’ll draft the update today and send it over for your signature. We’ll also review the guardianship papers to make sure there’s no ambiguity if you’re deployed again.”

I let out a slow breath, my shoulders easing a fraction. “Okay good. I don’t want Blaire dealing with any bullshit with Veronica if anything happens to me.”

“I’ll make sure it all stays solid and make the adjustments now that you two are residing together. Are you anticipating a deployment soon?”

I shake my head, fingers drumming once on the armrest. “No. This just has me thinking about it. Thinking of getting deployed feels different being back together with Blaire and having her under my roof and all.”

Mark nods in understanding. “I’ll file the motions by end of week. We can probably—”

My phone vibrates hard against my thigh, once, twice, three times in quick succession. I glance down and see Blaire’s name lighting up the screen with a string of messages.

Blaire

Can you call me?

It’s an emergency.

Please answer.

Simon please.

My stomach tightens. She’d stayed home with Theo today after he spent the whole night throwing up and running a fever. I’d offered to cancel this meeting so she wouldn’t have to burn another sub day, but she’d insisted we keep it—probably because the past week had already wrung us both out emotionally and she needed the day off too. Now those short, urgent texts send ice straight through me.

“Hang on,” I say, cutting Mark off with a raised hand. “Blaire’s blowing me up about something.” I hit the call button before he can answer.

She picks up on the first ring.

My throat feels tight. “Hey? Everything alright with—”

“You need to come home. Now.”

My blood goes cold. “What?”

“Veronica is here.”

Everything inside me drops. I catch myself glancing out the window like she might somehow be standing outside Mark’s office too.