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Mark taps his pen against the folder. “Then I suggest you cut contact until the baby arrives. I’ll handle staying updated on any medical concerns through their lawyer. I’ll call you the second the child is born. You don’t need to be dragged through every appointment if she’s refusing to cooperate.”

I rub a hand over my jaw. “I feel shitty about missing the pregnancy if the baby is mine.”

Mark’s expression softens, just a fraction. “This isn’t like how things were with Blaire.”

His words hit a nerve I was ignoring. I don’t feel much of anything toward Veronica or this baby beyond a vague sense of obligation and the guilt that I might’ve put another woman in this position. And seeing Blaire view Veronica’s pregnancy with so much understanding and compassion has made me painfully aware of the emotional damage I had done assuming she didn’t want me involved in her pregnancy. It isn’t the first time I’ve wondered why I’m bothering to deal with Veronica at all instead of just waiting till the baby is born, and Mark just spelled it out clear as day. I don’t want to be the absent father I was when Blaire was pregnant, not when I’d finally let myself believe that I had changed enough to be worthy of Blaire and Theo.

Veronica and her lawyer come back in. Veronica looks pissed, which I immediately take as a sign that her lawyer talked some sense into her about the deal. They take their seats without a word.

“Ms. Wheelmen is agreeable to the terms of getting an amniocentesis with exceptions,” her lawyer says.

I sit up straighter in my chair and shoot Mark a look. Can’t wait to hear this.

“Ms. Wheelmen wants the no contact order lifted—”

“Fuck no,” I cut in.

“She is carrying your child and needs access—”

“She showed up at my house and refused to leave,” I say, voice low. “My fiancée and son were home. And it wasn’t the first time she showed up uninvited. She’s lucky I didn’t press charges.”

The lawyers exchange a quick glance.

“Your current order only allows contact in the form of appointment information or emergency room admittance,” her lawyer continues. “Ms. Wheelmen wants the ability to contact Mr. Crane about the pregnancy as it progresses. It has been shown that involvement in pregnancy, especially twenty weeks and on, allows fathers to connect greatly with the child.”

“I will be plenty connected when the baby is born,” I argue gruffly.

Mark tilts his head. “What would that communication look like?”

I shoot him a sharp side eye. He’s not really entertaining this bullshit, is he?

“Ideally, weekly check-ins on the pregnancy,” her lawyer says. “Symptoms, movement updates as the baby starts to kick, preparing for labor. Birthing class attendance and parenting classes—”

“I have a four-year-old already,” I interrupt. “I don’t need to attend classes. I’ve successfully co-parented and raised my son so far.”

Veronica makes a nasty face. “This isn’t about you and Blair’s kid. This is about mine and your son.”

The words hit a nerve in her precious little fantasy. A dark reminder that I’ve already done all of this, and her daydream of the two of us playing house isn’t going to happen.

Mark steps in before she can keep going. “One weekly phone call, a set amount of time for updates is fine.”

I cut him another look.

“The time of which will be determined by Mr. Crane,” Mark continues, “and communication outside of that frame will remain under the conditions in the no contact order.”

“Agreeable,” her lawyer says, already taking notes.

Veronica gives her lawyer a hard glare.

“Tuesdays at 2:15,” I say, crossing my arms. “Call needs to be over by 2:30.”

“That’s not enough time to—” Veronica starts.

“That’s plenty of time,” I counter. “What could you possibly need to tell me? ‘Hey, the baby is kicking now, I’m craving chocolate cake, and my ankles are swollen.’ How much time does that require?”

“Parenting classes and birthing classes are staying as a requirement of Ms. Wheelmen’s,” her lawyer states. “Your experience with a previous child does not mean you are equipped for this one.”

I’ll agree on that at least. My experience co-parenting with Blair was nothing like this. We only saw Mark a handful of times, and it was mostly just to sign paperwork. Any debates between us got settled in family therapy. Our disagreements were never severe enough to need legal counsel.