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“Inappropriate? I’m her mother, Wesley.”
Then why don’t you act like it?“Lucy doesn’t even know yet that you’re getting married.”
“I could tell her. I’ll explain everything to her. You wouldn’t have to do anything.”
“Oh, thank you, Lisbeth. Thank you for doing me this one big favor. Mother of the year award.” I couldn’t hold back my temper. I was incensed that she thought any little thing she did for our daughter required thanks.
“I didn’tsaythat. I’m saying rather than you painting this evil picture of me, I’d like to be able to explain my side of it. And Yves is so excited to meet her. She’ll love him.”
“I’m sorry, but that’s not happening.”
Lisbeth was silent. A chill went through my body. She was good at keeping me on edge. “You know that would be a violation of the court order, Wesley.”
Our custody agreement, while mostly in my favor, did, indeed, allow Lisbeth some privileges in visiting Lucy. However, it was rare she exercised it. I couldn’t help but feel this was total posturing to her new fiancé. I wondered what she had told him about me. Maybe she’d painted me out to be a villain, the one who took her daughter away from her when the truth was the complete opposite.
I tried not to remember the details when I thought about those times, banishing them from my brain. What I can never forget, though, is coming home. Lucy’s squalling cry echoing through the house. Finding Lisbeth sitting, nonplussed on the couch, reading a magazine. And the definitive smile on her lips when she said, “Good, you’re home. I want a divorce. And before you say anything, you can have her.”
You can have her.
Like she was property. A commodity.
Once again, Lucy was just a commodity. Something to show off to Lisbeth’s new fiancé.
“I’d hate to have to sort this out with a judge, Wesley.”
So would I. Getting legal teams involved always posed a threat that our custody agreement could change. I had been told many times that parental alienation could get me in trouble. I wasn’t about to start now.
One meeting. That won’t hurt us. Then I’ll pick up the pieces.
“Fine. When?”
“I’ll be in New York at the end of the week.”
“Jesus, you really love throwing me off guard, don’t you?”
Lisbeth laughed. “I thought you might be happy to see me.”
I didn’t reply. “Friday.”
“Perfect.”
“But I’m going to warn her ahead of time about what’s going on. She doesn’t deserve to be blindsided like I was.”
“Were you really surprised I’ve moved on, Wesley?”
Moved on.Like I was somehow still hoping she was hung up on me. “It’s hard for me to imagine my life after our marriage being about anything but Lucy. I forget that you’re free to do whatever you please.”
Lisbeth cleared her throat. “Fine. See you Friday.”
She hung up before I could reply. I slammed the phone down into the cradle and ran my hands over my face.Fuck.What the hell am I going to do?
I started to think of ways to tell Lucy. Right when I got home from work? After dinner? Before bed? There was not a single moment that seemed right.
Maybe Cara could help.
My blood went cold.
Cara.
