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Clara thought about the fact that such a plea would have melted her heart at one time in her life. Now, though, she felt nothing toward John. She was completely indifferent to him or his plea.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t love you and I never could. We are over. I’ve made a life for myself and Zeke here, and we’re happy.”
Instantly, John’s puppy dog demeanor changed. His face contorted into a snarl, and he clenched his fists.
“You are making a big mistake, woman. You belong to me,” he said, loudly. “You and Zeke need to get your asses home.”
Zeke looked up from where he was playing. He grabbed Reno and ran behind the counter to hold onto her leg.
“You’re scaring Zeke,” Clara said, trying to keep her voice calm. “You need to leave.”
“I’ll leave when I’m damn good and ready to leave,” he said.
“No, sir. You’re leaving right now,” Charlie said, standing in front of John. Jamie stepped up next to Charlie.
“You are going to let them fight your battles for you?” John sneered.
“Please, just go,” Clara said.
John took a step forward. Neither Charlie nor Jamie backed down.
“You aren’t welcome here,” Charlie said.
John looked as though he wasn’t sure whether he was going to force his way through the two women to get to Clara or if he was going to leave.
“Give me my son and I’ll go,” he demanded.
“You’ll go without your son, right now,” Jamie said.
John glared at Jamie, his fists clenched to his sides. Clara was waiting for him to hit Jamie.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, John said, “You can’t hide behind other people forever,” and then he turned around and left.
“Thanks, guys,” Clara said.
“You’re welcome,” Charlie said. “One of these days, he’s going to take a step too close to me, and I’ll dot his eye for him or throat punch him.”
Clara looked down at Zeke and asked, “Are you okay?”
“Yes,” he said. “I don’t like it when Daddy gets that way.”
“No one does,” Clara said. “But he isn’t going to hurt you.”
“I know,” Zeke said.
Clara calmed Zeke and he took his puppy back to the nook area where he rolled the ball around for his puppy.
“I hate that he does that and scares Zeke,” Clara said.
“What is wrong with that man?” Jamie asked. “You would think that after all the time you were separated and then divorced that he would just salvage what was left of his pride and walk away.”
“He is a narcissist,” Charlie said. “The relationship can’t be over becausehedidn’t say that it was over. It’s always got to be about him. He’s always got to have control of everyone and everything around him.”
“I hope that he figures out that he can’t control me anymore really soon,” Clara said. “I’m getting tired of him and his antics.”
About an hour later, Dillon and Ethan popped in for a pastry and some coffee.
“Dillon,” Zeke cried happily, rushing over to greet him.
