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“Let’s see what’s going on here.”
I watch his face as he pulls out the sheaf of papers. I know the instant he reads the line that refers to Ryan being autistic.
“Lucan, I—”
He holds up his hand and I go silent. He continues reading. My hands grow clammy as his face hardens and he draws his lips into a tight line. When he has turned the last page, he places the document back in the envelope. I wait for him to speak and break the heavy silence. But we sit there. Finally, he looks up at me.
“What the fuck is this, Summer?” his voice is low but there’s a steeliness to his tone. I know he is seething with rage.
I bite back a sarcastic remark about him having enough sense to understand what he just read. Instead, I humble myself.
“The last time we spoke, you said I was not a professional and that my opinion didn’t count. So, I got a professional assessment done.”
“You took my son without my express permission to a shrink after I strictly forbade it?”
“It’s not a shrink. And you didn’t forbid anything.”
“The mere fact that I have rejected this notion of yours,twice, was not evidence enough of my objecting to or forbidding any such assessment?”
“But it needed to be done—”
“And you had no right to do it.” He leans across and fury burns in his eyes.
“Lucan, I had to do it. He deserves to be treated right. Autism is not a death sentence. Do the reading. Do the research. Look at what Shawn says—”
“Shawn? You know this doctor well enough to be on a first name basis?”
“He’s an old friend.”
“Ah! Now it makes sense.” He nods and leans back. “An old friend. An old friend who more than likely would have listened to what you have to say about Ryan and then diagnose Ryan accordingly, and slap his name on it as he has the credentials to back it up. But this is still Summer Madison’s opinion.” He flicks the corner of the envelope.
“I only want what’s best for you and Ryan. I can help you with activities to connect with him. It’s not an impossible situation and I know we can make it work for the best.”
“Best? Forwhom? For Ryan? For me? Do you know what’s best for me? It’s best if you stay out of the Forbes’s family affairs. You’re Ryan’s nanny. That’s all. And you took it upon yourself to take my son to see some charlatan because of some half-assed observations you’ve made. I don’t know if you think that because we’ve fucked a few times you have some rights or privileges.”
“That’s uncalled for, Lucan.” Tears begin to burn my eyes and I fight them back. I will be damned if I cry in front of him.
“And to think I let my guard down for you. You’re way too young, but I looked past that because you’re mature in your thinking and Ryan loves you. I don’t date or sleep with employees, and again, I made an exception for you. I don’teverbring a patron up to the loft. I have my call list for special occasions. And the ultimate betrayal was letting you into my bed last night. And all this time you were using me.” He laughs hollowly and shakes his head.
“Lucan, it was not like that and you know it.” I dig into my purse for a tissue. I look around the restaurant, grateful that hardly anyone is there. And the few who are do not seem concerned with our corner.
“Your ex sure dodged a bullet. I hope he knows how lucky he is. There are two sides to every story and now I wonder what his real reasons were for walking away. You should really go into acting, Summer. You had me fooled. But I’m putting a stop to it. You’re fired.”
“What!?” My eyes widen in shock.
“You heard me.” His eyes are like pieces of cold blue glass. “I want you away from my son. And I want you away from me.”
My vision goes blurry instantly as if the world is about to crash in on me. But I will not cry in front of him.
I am out of my seat instantly and grab my purse. I walk quickly out of the restaurant. As soon as I am on the pavement I break into a trot, then a jog. Before I know it, I am running almost as though I am in a marathon. I run until my legs go weak and my heart feels as though it is going to pound out of my chest. But I do not stop until I am far enough away that Lucan cannot come after me in his car. When I find myself in food court in a mall a few blocks away, I allow the tears to fall.
Chapter Twenty
Lucan
Isitlikeastatue as I stare at the envelope Summer gave me this morning. There is a knock on the door and Sylvia pushes her head inside.
“You wanted to see me?”
