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“Yes.” He looked at the two uniformed cops who stood in the doorway. His stomach had plummeted when he’d opened the front door of his house to find them there.
“This is an ex-parte restraining order under your name.” The taller officer handed him a folded stack of papers.
If the San Andreas fault had leashed at that moment, he wouldn’t have been more rattled. “What?” was all he managed to say.
“You’ll have a court hearing where you can contest this in three weeks. Until then, you can’t come within a hundred yards from Avery Miles or her house.”
His pulse sped up. He could feel it everywhere. He leaned an arm against the doorframe.
“Dad, why are the police here?” Max came and stopped next to him, his head popping from under Finn’s arm to peek at the officers.
“It’s nothing, Max. Go back inside. I’ll be there in a minute.” He ruffled his son’s hair.
Max stalled and looked at the men.
“Go inside, son,” the older officer said. “Your dad will be there in a moment.”
“What is this for?” Finn asked the moment Max was somewhat out of earshot.
“You threatened her in her home?” the younger officer asked.
“No, I tried talking to her.” The blood seemed to fly through his veins, his palms went numb.
“You coached my son,” the older police officer said. “The special needs program. He can swim, thanks to you. It empowered him. Listen, three weeks will get you into Christmas with this. Ask your lawyer if he can do something before that.”
He nodded. “Thanks.”
He had known it wouldn’t be easy. He had known it wouldn’t be pretty. He didn’t imagine it’d be this ugly. He didn’t mind ugly for himself, as long as he had Jane. He’d give up anything for her, even his ability to swim. But his son was involved, and now his hands were tied.
“Dad, what did these cops want?” Max asked as soon he closed the door. He was standing next to the dining table, the VR set dangling from his hand.
“Sit down, Max,” he said. With a hand on his son’s shoulder, they both took seats at the table, and he pivoted his chair to face his son. “Your mother and I had an argument. You know that she’s not happy about me and Anne. I don’t know what you heard, but we’ve never done anything wrong. We’re just two people who want to be together as a couple. Your mom … she thinks it’s better if you live with her and see me every other weekend. I went to talk to her. I might have raised my voice. The cops came to make sure that everything was okay, that we keep a bit of distance to cool off.” Jesus, he hoped he made it sound right.
“Live with her?” Max asked.
He nodded.
“I want to live here, with you, like always,” Max said.
He smiled. He wanted to cry, but he smiled. “I want you to live with me, too, kid. That’s what I told your mom, that we can continue as we have until now.”
“I’ll tell her, too.”
He sighed. “You know that, when people divorce, usually there are lawyers involved. Let me consult my lawyer about this. Maybe you shouldn’t say anything yet. For now, we continue as usual. You’re here with me, and I’ll drive you to Riviera View on the weekend. I might have to drop you off at your grandparents’ house, though.” He didn’t want to mention the restraining order.
Max nodded.
“We didn’t really talk about this, Max. About Anne.”
“You call her Jane,” Max said.
Hearing it from Max’s lips, Finn’s heart made a somersault.
He huffed a chuckled breath. “I call her Jane. I’ve known her as Jane for many years. I can call her Anne, too—it’s her middle name—but she’s … Jane to me.”
“What do you want to know, Dad?” Max asked.
“If you’re okay with me dating Jane.” He wanted to say being with Jane, but dating was a term that would make it all sound daily, not like his life depended on his son’s reply.
