Veronica’s driver opened her door and she slipped out. Leo wasn’t with her. I walked over to the driver who was opening the trunk for Maisie’s bag. Along with the bag I’d sent with her were two other bags and a shit-load of toys.
I looked at Veronica. “We were going to keep them at my house, but she insisted she wanted to show them to you.”
“I got lots of pretty dresses, Daddy.”
“I can’t wait to see them,” I said.
While Maisie went to her room to try on a dress to show me, I offered Veronica a drink. I wanted to send her on her way, but she said she wanted to talk to me.
She toyed with her glass and wouldn’t look at me, which gave me a bad feeling.
“What’s going on, Veronica?” I took my drink and sat on the couch, ignoring the memory of having Tessa on it just two nights before.
She let out a long breath. “Leo and I are filing for custody of Maisie.”
My heart stopped. “What do you mean? I’ve never stopped Maisie from seeing you. That won’t change.”
She took a long gulp of her drink. “I want her to live with me now.”
“No.”
The nervous expression evaporated, replaced by anger. “I knew you wouldn’t let her, so we’re filing for custody.”
I laughed derisively. “Do you really think a judge is going to take her from the only parent who’s been there since the day she was born and give her to the one who couldn’t be bothered to see her for nearly a year? Who missed her birthday?”
Her jaw tightened. “I’m in New York full time now. I’m ready to be a mom. Leo and I can offer her things you can’t.”
Fuck you, I thought but didn’t say, as Maisie was in the other room. “And what would that be?”
“The best schools. Opportunities. We have the resources—”
“Just because I don’t live like a king doesn’t mean I don’t have money.”
“We can offer her two parents.”
I shot up. “He’s not her parent. So, help me, Veronica, if you try to take her from me—”
“I don’t want to take her from you, Dylan. We just switch the plan. She lives with me and visits you.”
“What do you think, Daddy?”
I turned to see Maisie coming into the living room. She looked tentatively at Veronica and then me.
“You’re lovely, baby.” I smiled, even though the dress looked like something a doll would wear with a million frills.
“It’s scratchy. Can I show you another one?”
“I’d like that.”
She rushed off and I turned back to Veronica. “I’m not going to let you take her full time. She has a life here.”
“We can offer her more.”
“What does she need that I don’t give her?”
“Like I said. Great schools. Opportunities. Leo has already picked out a nanny who can teach her to speak French.”
“Nanny? You’re not going to raise her yourself?”
“You have a babysitter, Dylan. Don’t get on me for needing a nanny.”
“But you just said she’d have two parents with you. That means you don’t have to work and can raise her.” I knew that sounded sexist, but I’d be an at-home dad in a minute if I could.
“I still want to work some. But I’m not going to travel as much. And when I do, she’ll come with me.”
“So, you take her out of the fancy school?”
“We’ll get her tutors.”
I frowned. “A nanny and tutors? Who is going to really raise her? Who is going to read to her before bed and sing to her while she’s in her bath? Who’s going to push her on the swing at the park?”
Her lip curled up in a snarl. “I will.”
Deciding this was going to get worse, I worked to pull in my anger. “Listen. You’ve just returned home with a new husband. Why don’t you settle in and have visits? What happens if in a month or even six months you find you don’t like being settled?”
“I’m married now, and the lawyer said that would give me a good chance of winning.”
“Did you tell him you’ve only seen her a handful of times since you left? That it’s been nearly a year since the last time?”
“You’re being a dick.”
“And you’re being selfish.”
“Oh, and you’re not?” she scoffed.
“I am selfish. I want full and total custody of Maisie. But I also want what’s best for her, and that means having her mother in her life. That’s why I’ve never, not once, refused visitation. What about you Veronica? Have you considered what the impact of what you’re asking will be on Maisie?”
“She’ll adjust.”
“That’s how it always is with you. The whole world has to conform and adjust for you. You’re not the center of the world. Maisie is.”
“Daddy …”
Fuck. She didn’t need to hear this. I turned with a big smile. “Oh, that one is pretty.” I said as she stood in what looked like a school uniform.
“Do you want to see my favorite?”
“Absolutely, I do.”
She looked at me and Veronica as if she knew something was up, but then turned back to her room.
“We can’t do this now,” I said to Veronica. “She shouldn’t have to hear this.”
“I’m done talking anyway. We’re going to file for custody, Dylan, so you’ll just have to deal with it. You’ve had her all this time. Now it’s my turn.”
I wanted to fucking throttle her. “I’ve had her all this time because you left. Christ … do you really not see that?”
Her jaw tightened. “Maisie,” she called. “Maisie, I have to go.”
Maisie ran out in her underwear and t-shirt. “Bye, Mommy.”
“Come give me a hug.”
Maisie complied, and then ran to her room calling, “I’ll be back, Daddy.”
I walked Veronica to the door. “All I ask is that on the drive back, you put Maisie first. And if you can’t, think about what it really means to be a full-time parent. If you’re doing this to be with her, then you can’t leave her with nannies and tutors all the time so you can wine and dine and party.”
“You’ll hear from our
