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“She did?” Kevin sounds surprised. “You’re still in contact with Mom?”
“Of course I am! I cut you out, not the rest of your family. They’re not dicks, after all.” Elle sighs, and I hear the leather creaking. “I’m sorry about the infertility, what’s that got to do with anything?”
“We were going to do IVF, or have a surrogate carry the baby to term, but then Megan finds a photograph of your daughter that one of my brothers had stuck up on the fridge. She said that Amy looks like the perfect little girl, just what she wished for herself.”
I am not liking the sound of this. Something in my gut tells me this isn’t going to end well. From the tone of Elle’s voice, she thinks the same thing.
“Where is this going?”
“Give us Amy for us to raise.”
For a moment, I think I must have misheard. There is a gasp, and then I hear Carly. She sounds outraged.
“What the…are you insane? Why would Elle give you her daughter?”
“Well, she’s a single mother, isn’t she? How is that appropriate for a little kid? It’s got to be tough raising a child alone.”
“She isn’t raising Amy alone. She lives with me and our other friend, so she’s got support. And your mother and brothers are there as well, so she’s not on her own!”
“Even so, it must be really hard. We’re a two-person household, and I’ve had experience of raising a child before. Plus, I get paid really well. I can easily provide for Amy. And Megan can be at home with her. We can give her a great life.”
A flash of anger runs through me. He can’t seriously be thinking that this was even okay to ask.
“You have to be fucking kidding me,” Elle snarls. “You and that witch want to take my daughter away from me because I’m a single mom? What sort of logic is that?”
“Don’t use that language with me, Elle.” I cannot believe he is scolding her for cursing. “Your stepmother wants a child, you have a child that Megan wants. She wants to become Amy’s mother. So you should be giving her to your stepmother.”
“She is not my stepmother!” I jump when Elle starts yelling. “No way am I going to let that woman anywhere near my daughter! And if you think I’m going to agree to that, you need to go and get yourself checked out in a psych ward. That is not what you tell your daughter to do when you’re trying to get back in touch with me. Or did you just do it so you could get me to hand Amy over?”
Kevin’s hesitation is enough. He really thought Elle would do that. How can anyone sane think this was a good idea?
“Come on, Elle. We’re leaving.” I hear Carly practically growling, and the sound of the leather seating squeaking again. “I think we’re done here.”
“No, we’re not done!” Kevin snaps. “Megan is desperate for a daughter, and Amy is perfect.”
“That doesn’t give you the right to demand your granddaughter off your own daughter!” Carly shouts back. “What part of you thought this was actually reasonable, logical, or sane?”
“Amy will do better with two parents rather than one! You think she is going to grow up well if she’s got a single mom and random people in and out of her life? She’s better off with us.”
I can’t take this anymore. I’m out of the booth and pushing past Elle and Carly to get to Kevin.
“What? Luke?”
I barely hear Elle’s exclamation as I grab Kevin by the collar and haul him out of the booth.
“You listen here, you pathetic excuse for a parent,” I snarl into his face. “You will not get your hands on Amy. I will never let you or that woman you’re married to anywhere near my daughter.”
“What?” Kevin looks confused. “What did you say? You’re Amy’s dad?”
“I am. Elle and I may not be a couple, but I’m in Amy’s life. And there is no way I will let her go with you, especially after what you just said about Elle.” I shove Kevin away, and he topples onto the seat behind him. “Taking Amy away because Elle’s a single mother? What logic is that? She’s probably the most adjusted kid I know. The one who will screw her up will be you, especially if you try to force her to call a woman you screwed during your previous marriage ‘mom’. God, you make me sick.”
I am so angry that I can feel myself shaking. I cannot even comprehend that someone would demand a child like she was a toy to pass around. Reluctant to pull away from the bastard, I go back to my booth and gather my belongings. Then I turn to Elle, who is staring at me with round eyes.
“I think it’s time we left,” I look past her to Carly, who is looking equally stunned at his presence. “I’ll meet you back at yours, Carly.”
“Oh. Right.” Carly grabs Elle’s arm. “Come on, Elle. Luke’s right. We should leave.”
“We haven’t finished talking!” Kevin jumps to his feet and puts himself between his daughter and the door. “Give us Amy! Megan wants her!”
