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Dammit. Lynnie looked up like she was going to answer, but Mom’s challenging stare was on me.
“Some dads are involved in their kids’ lives,” I answered. Despite the troubles Emery was having with him, Henry had done more with his kids in the short time I knew him than mine ever had.
Stetson grunted. “Some don’t butt out.”
I recognized the signs. Our typical family interactions. Little comments meant to ruffle feathers. We didn’t do this on Thanksgiving, and I wasn’t going to let it start. One holiday a year where we acted civil shouldn’t be too much to ask.
“Pass the cookie salad, please.” It was a weak attempt to divert attention, but maybe it would be enough. Lynnie handed the bowl of pudding and fruit mix with fudge-striped cookies over. It was a dessert, but right now called for a sweet moment.
Emery’s voice rose from the bedroom. I set my fork down. Lynnie’s head jerked up. Stetson tried to pretend he didn’t hear anything. Mom’s shrewd gaze was directed at the alcove that housed my bedroom door.
“And you chose Thanksgiving to talk to me about it?” Anger amped Emery’s volume up. “Well, then when? Christmas? You got everything you wanted and suddenly you change your mind?”
“Oh, dear,” Lynnie said under her breath.
I should check on her. I pushed my chair back to move in that direction.
Lynnie patted my arm. “Give her a moment.”
Mom cocked a brow as if asking me whether I was going to listen to Lynnie. What else could I do? Talk as if nothing’s going on? I should be used to tense family times by now, but the tension was usually caused by one of our parents.
“You do that, Henry. Talk to your fucking lawyer, and I’ll talk to mine.”
I glanced around. Everyone had gone silent. A hint of respect entered Mom’s gaze. Emery wasn’t taking shit from Henry, and that scored a point for her in Mom’s eyes.
I didn’t hear any more talking, but Emery hadn’t come out. My stomach cramped. Something was wrong. “Excuse me.”
I found Emery with her back to me, much like she’d been sitting on Halloween when Henry had been a jackass. Only this time, she was pale and a small tremble shook her body.
“Em?”
She looked up at me, her green eyes watery. Tears spilled over and she buried her face in her hands. I rushed to her side and gathered her in my arms. It was in this moment I realized there was nothing I wouldn’t do for her.
If seeing her this upset bothered me as much as it did, it was the final sign I needed to know that I loved this woman.
* * *
Emery
This couldn’t be happening. Henry was destroying the life I’d built—again.
I sobbed into Holden’s chest, and that made me cry harder. The reality of what he’d said growing more apparent.
“What’d he do?” Holden asked after several minutes when I’d finally calmed down.
I couldn’t tell him while I was ensconced in the safety of his arms. This might affect him too. Affect us.
It would end us.
I sat up and blinked my vision clear. “He plans to change the parameters of our custody agreement so the kids live with him.”
Holden reared back. “The fuck he is.”
Tears trailed down my cheeks. “I knew he hated being shown up. I saw that the day I fought with him on the sidewalk, but this is over the top.” I sucked in a hard breath and tried to calm my raging emotions. “Avery was the one who called. She was distraught and sobbing. She took her dad’s phone after she heard him and Jenni talking about how they’re going to juggle their schedules when the kids are with them full time.”
“He can’t do that, can he?”
“He’s not going to be happy until I pull up stakes and move back to Bismarck. He even said that.”
