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“Ben…”
“It would be better that you left, Luke. Pay the child support for Amy, as you should, and just go. We were happy until you turned up.”
“You mean you were happy until I turned up,” I correct him. I frown at him. “Why are you doing this now? Are you concerned that Elle has chosen someone else? That does sound rather possessive, don’t you think?”
“You have no idea about our relationship,” Ben snaps.
“I understand that Elle cares about you, and she values your friendship. I’m not going to disrespect that, and I’m grateful that you were there to make sure Amy became the great kid that she is. I won’t be telling you to leave now that I’m here if she wants you in her life.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“If you don’t, that’s fine. However, I’m not going to leave town and disappear because you want Elle and Amy to yourself in your little makeshift family. That’s not how things work.”
Ben shakes his head.
“You would be doing everyone a favor. Just because you have money…”
“I don’t care about money. I care about Elle and Amy. I’m not stepping aside for you because you were always there. I appreciate your role in Amy’s life, but not that you’re telling me to abandon my daughter and the woman I love so you can go back to your fantasy.”
Ben steps towards me, and I shuffle back. If he comes any closer, I’m sure he’s going to hit me.
“You’ve ruined everything,” he spits at me. “We were doing fine, and then you came along.”
“Believe what you want. But you don’t speak for Elle, and I’m sure she’ll be pissed at you for doing this. Now, I’ve got a meeting to get to, and I am already late.” I turn away. “Just go home. You’re making a fool of yourself.”
I know it’s risky to turn my back on this guy when he’s looking for an excuse to attack me, but I don’t want to spend more time arguing over something so silly. I don’t own Elle, and neither does Ben. And he is mad if he thinks I’m going to walk away from my daughter.
He’s just as insane as Elle’s dad.
Chapter 27 Elle
“Are we meeting Grandma, Mommy?” Amy asks from the backseat.
“She plans to meet us shortly, honey.” I pull the car into a space next to the park and turn off the engine. “We’ll go and have something to eat afterwards. Where do you want to go?”
“Can we go to that burger place? Where we went for Auntie Carly’s birthday?”
“Of course. Whatever you want.”
And then I have to do what I’ve been putting off for a while and tell my daughter that Luke is her father. I should have done it a long time ago, especially as Amy has asked in the past about her dad, but I haven’t been able to do it. I’m scared of Amy’s reaction, and I never expected Luke to turn up again.
Now they’ve spent time together, and Amy likes him. They get on really well. Will that still be the same after I tell her the truth? Will she be angry? I won’t blame her if she is.
Hopefully, Grandma will be able to help me. I can’t do this alone, and Grandma promised to be there when I do it. She’ll be able to help me keep Amy calm.
Although I’m not sure how to go about it. Do I explain about how we met, or just tell her and leave that for later? Amy is going to have a lot of questions. Will I be able to answer them all?
I’m not looking forward to this, and I know it’s my fault for not doing this when I was supposed to.
“Mommy?”
“Hmm?”
Amy is shaking my seat.
“Can I get out now? We’re here.”
“Oh. Sorry, honey.” I forgot what we were doing. I get out and open Amy’s door. “You go on ahead. Grandma will be here shortly.”
