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“I’m here on behalf of Greg Baskins.” She offers me the envelope and I take it, opening it slowly to read the worst words I’ve ever read in my life.
“What? This can’t be right. We agreed—”
“Mr. Baskins is being more than fair.” She gives me a dewy smile. There’s something familiar about her features, but I can’t place where I’ve seen her from.
“Here’s my business card. I’ll be in touch.” She flounces out of the café, and I compose myself, knowing that Chance overheard this conversation. I don’t want to stress him out.
We agreed on joint custody and were both okay with it. But now Greg is suing me for full custody, and I won’t back down. I flip over the business card and catch my breath at the name.Cohen, Jenner & Stone. Greg hired my best friend’s law firm. Ava is a junior lawyer, that’s probably why that woman looked familiar.
By the time we’re done at the café for the day, Chance and I are both exhausted.
“What should we do for dinner?” I check that the door is locked once more for good measure before we head to my car.
“Pizza sounds good to me.”
“Of course it does,” I tease as we climb into the car. “You had it for lunch, though. And dinner the other night!”
“You’re three blocks from a pizza place, Mom. It’s perfect.”
“You have a point,” I agree as I pull onto the road. I hand him my phone. “Here, order what you want for delivery. That way we can go ahead and get in our pj’s and be ready for a movie night.”
“Are you inviting Isaac?” Chance swipes away at my phone like a pro.
“To our movie night?”
“Yeah.”
“No, I thought we’d have some time together, just the two of us.”
“Sounds good.” He finishes the order and sets my phone in the cupholder. “He’s a pretty cool guy, though.”
“Oh, is he?”
“Yeah, he knows what Pokémon are at least. And he doesn’t get annoyed that I talk about them.”
He doesn’t say it, but I remember Greg bitching about Chance’s Pokémon interest and saying they’re annoying.
“Well, I’m glad you like Isaac. I like him too, but we’ve only been friends for a little while. We’re not rushing anything.”
“Probably smart. You both have a lot going on,” he remarks.
I laugh. “We do, oh wise one.” I cut the ignition when we’re in my driveway and tell Chance, “Go ahead and decide on a movie and get ready. I’ve gotta make a call and I’ll be in.”
I hand him the keys, and he darts inside before shutting the door behind him. Then I can finally let it out—the huge sigh of nerves and insecurity I’ve been holding in. I don’t know how to deal with this with Greg, to balance my kid and the café and everything else. A few weeks ago, I was lost with no direction, and now I have several and they’re all pulling at me.
I dial Isaac’s number, hoping he isn’t busy but wanting to talk to him and kind of air out my concerns.
“Hey, beautiful,” he greets me when he picks up. “I was just thinking about you.”
“Speak of the devil,” I joke, enjoying his light chuckle.
“How was your day at the café?”
“Busy. Chance was an excellent helper, though. I may have to hire him as our extra barista. How was yours?”
“It was good, but not as good as yesterday.” His voice drops to a whisper, and the memories of what transpired between us in my backyard flash across my mind.
But my back is still a tad itchy. “Next time, let’s find a different location. Somewhere with less ants would be preferable.”
