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“I can help you Noah,” Jennifer replied and took the bag from him. Kelsey and Noah followed her closely.
Outside, Kelsey hugged Noah fiercely. “Be good, okay? Call me when you land.”
“Mom, you’re squishing me!”
“Sorry, baby.” She kissed his head, aware of Mac and Jason’s stony silence behind her as the men continued to glare at one another.
“We’ll take good care of him,” Jason clipped, but his tone gave her the ironic impression that she wasn’t supposed to care if Noah was taken good care of or not.
She watched as the limo disappeared down the lane, Noah’s face pressed against the window, waving until they turned the corner.
Mac watched the limo disappear, his jaw still clenched from the encounter. “I had no idea you were connected to the Prescotts. Didn’t know Jason had a brother…”
A soft sound made him turn. Kelsey stood frozen where she’d been waving to Noah’s limo, tears streaming down her face. Her shoulders shook with silent sobs. Christ. He’d rather face a nor’easter naked than a crying woman.
He hesitated, wishing he could turn around and quietly leave her to break down in private, but her shoulders shook, small and fragile. He couldn’t just abandon her like that, even if every bone in his body told him to run.
“Hey… hey.” He stepped toward her uncertainly. “Let’s get you inside.”
She didn’t resist as he guided her up the path, one hand at her elbow. In the kitchen, she collapsed into a chair while he searched for a glass, filling it with water.
He thunked it down on the table, rougher than he meant. “Here.” He slid it toward her without meeting her eyes. When her hands fumbled, he steadied them, more out of reflex than comfort.
“I’m sorry,” she gasped between sobs. “I’m so sorry. I don’t usually… I can’t…” Her words tumbled out, brittle. “You probably think I’m pathetic.”
He let out a short, humorless laugh. “I think you’re human.”
She drew a shuddering breath. “They’re trying to take him from me.”
“What?”
“The Prescotts. They’re… they’re suing for custody.” Her voice broke. “They say the island’s too remote, that Noah needs more opportunities, better schools—”
“Jesus,” he cut her off, voice sharper than he meant. “Let me guess. They never cared to help before, and now they want to play hero.”
She gave a bitter laugh. “They’ve never lifted a finger. Now suddenly they want to sweep in and play grandmother and uncle of the year.” Fresh tears spilled. “How am I supposed to compete? They have houses everywhere, private planes, the best of everything.”
“That doesn’t make them better parents.”
“Doesn’t it? In court?” Her fingers twisted the handkerchief. “They’ll hire the best lawyers. Throw their influence around. They’ll drag out every mistake I’ve ever made, my work hours, the little cottage, every penny I don’t have. They’ll make me look unfit.” A sob caught in her throat. “And maybe I am.”
He stared at her. “That’s crap. Noah’s a good kid because of you. Anybody can see that.”
“But what if it’s not enough? What if…” She pressed her hands to her face. “Maybe I am selfish, bringing him here. Maybe I’m not what he needs.”
“You’re his mother, just what he needs. Money isn’t everything.” The words came out sharper than he intended. “Trust me on that.”
She looked away, wiping her eyes. “You don’t understand. I keep telling myself I’m fighting for him, but maybe I’m just fighting for me. Maybe I’m the one who can’t let go.”
Mac felt helpless in the face of her pain, uncertain whether to reach for her or give her space.
“Are they are supposed to bring him back after school break?” He watched as Kelsey nodded silent tears streaming down her face. “Have you talked to a lawyer?”
“I have, and she suggested I offer additional visits to placate them. She also says the money arguments shouldn’t hold up in a custody case. But I’m not sure she’s right, and I know even with a decent lawyer I can’t fight against their team. I’m trying not to let Noah know anything about this, I don’t want to sour him on his family. But it’s getting hard to deal with. At some point he’ll find out.”
Something hot and angry coiled in his chest. The Prescotts and their arrogance, their assumption that money could buy anything—even a child’s love.
It made him wonder why Jason was so invested in the situation. Perhaps it wasn’t the grandmother that was driving the case. Mac would bet money that this was all Jason’s doing.
