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Avery’s jewelry was forgotten. “But—”
I threw my hands up and walked into the kitchen before I started bawling in front of the kids. “I’m gonna make some supper.”
I had the door to the fridge open and was blankly staring at the contents when Mom gently closed it. She wrapped her arms around me.
I buried my head in her knit sweater, grateful she’d been there from the beginning, but wishing I could give her more happy times than tears. “Did I mess up?” I told her about Henry’s call. “He’s not going to make it easy. Better to end things with Holden before all of us get closer, right?”
She patted my back. “You’re trying to do the right thing for them.”
“It doesn’t feel like the right thing.”
“No, it doesn’t. You and Holden worked really well together. If Henry wants to ruin that, it shouldn’t be so easy for him.”
But it was. Henry had the money, he had the connections, and that gave him all the power.
“I’ve really liked being closer to you too.”
Mom pushed me out to arm’s length. I’d never seen the expression she wore. Mom was mild. Mom was nonconfrontational. Mom was supportive. The hardness and edge this Mom radiated wasn’t the Mom I’d grown up with.
“You’ve always had a weak spot when it came to Henry. I wonder, if your father was still alive, whether you’d have married that boy.” She peered into my eyes as if daring me to look away. “Henry used you to make himself feel better. You’ve done what he wanted. When he wanted to marry, you did. When he wanted to have kids, you had them. When he wanted to sleep with other people, he expected you to deal with it. He wanted his way in the divorce to be with Jenni as much as he wanted, and when you moved on, he elbowed his way back into your life. He wants to keep controlling you, and he’s succeeding. I know your reasons, Emery. But think about this—what’s to stop him from getting a different job in another town and taking the kids with him?”
My rage was so swift I had to back up a step. That was what he claimed I did when I moved to Coal Haven. I could see him doing it, only moving farther away, as far as our custody agreement would allow. I wouldn’t be able to move with them. My money would be gone after the new round of mediation. I’d be in debt if I had to pay for litigation. Henry could take the custody he was likely to win and move to Arizona so the kids could know their dog uncle.
It was like a premonition. My hands curled into fists.
“I have some money,” Mom said, but I shook my head.
“I can’t let you do that.”
“It’s my retirement account, and if I want to spend it keeping those kids where I’ve never seen them happier, then that’s my choice.”
“Mom, it could get ugly.” Once Henry learned that Mom was backing me financially, he’d be ruthless. He had more connections, and Mom would be left penniless. I couldn’t threaten her financial security.
She let me go. “Think about it. All of it. Don’t give in to Henry. He only makes you regret it more the next time you stand up to him.”
She left me in the kitchen. I still had no idea what was for supper. I had no idea how I was going to fight Henry with half the income I used to earn and my mom’s retirement savings. I had no idea what my future held, but I didn’t like that Holden wouldn’t be in it.
I was trying to do what was best for my family. Mom’s words from the first day Henry came over to pick up the kids ran through my head.“It’s not a bad thing that your kids see you holding your own against him. You don’t trash him in front of them no matter how much he deserves it, but you’re also not letting him continue to be an ass to you.”Maybe showing them that someone they were supposed to love and trust shouldn’t be able to ruin their lives over hurt pride was more important than I realized.
* * *
Holden
It’d been a shitty week. I came up with a million ways to make life easier for Emery, but only one was valid. I didn’t know if it had a chance at working, but there was one person who would have a better idea than me. I was willing to make a fool out of myself, but I also wanted to approach my plan with the most information possible.
I was on my way to my mom’s house. It was Saturday, nearly a full week since I’d heard from Emery. Regardless, I might be able to help her. No concessions. If she decided she was still done with me after that, then it was over. I wasn’t like her ex. She didn’t have to react the way I expected her to for me to treat her decently.
Small flakes dusted my windshield. The flurry of light snow was enough to create snow snakes that wiggled across the road in the wind, but it was cold enough out to keep the snow from sticking and making a slick surface.
I turned before I reached my place and drove toward the house I’d grown up in. The old white farmhouse stood proud, like its owner. And like its owner, it was in rougher shape on the inside than it looked.
Nora’s car was parked by the house. She was home for the weekend, claiming she had to study for finals.
I pulled up next to the shop, where I was likely to find Mom. Inside, I was surrounded by the lingering smell of exhaust, oil, and fuel. Colt was wiping his hands on a rag. His pickup was on the lift Mom had installed because she refused to go to town for something as simple as an oil change. It was more because she didn’t like dealing with people.
“Mom around?” I asked.
Colt tossed the rag onto the bench. “Maybe the barn?”
