“It matters. It matters a lot. I suspect at best she’ll get joint custody if she’s successful because of her history and due to you being the sole parent for so long. But like I said, many judges have a soft spot for moms and want to give them a second chance. Her being married and settled will be in her favor.”
“So, my being single hurts me?”
“Can you meet me at one today, and we can go over everything?”
“I’ll be there.” I hung up the phone and gripped the steering wheel like it was the only thing keeping me from drifting into nothingness. A week ago, I had the perfect little family. Me and Maisie and yes, Tessa too. Now I was at risk of losing it all.
11
Tessa
When I knocked on Dylan’s door on Monday morning, I was relieved when Maisie answered even though I knew I’d still have to see him. I wanted to act normal like nothing happened, but inside I was an emotional mess, worried that he’d look at me with regret. When he seemed to be indifferent, I felt angry. I knew he didn’t like what had happened, even if he said he enjoyed it. But had he really forgotten it?
Then he told me about Veronica suing for custody and I felt like an idiot. My ego wasn’t important compared to Dylan’s being able to keep Maisie. I could only imagine the worry he felt. Of course, it seemed unlikely Veronica could win considering how little she’d been in Maisie’s life, but I’d been around long enough to know that crazy things could happen. Veronica was famous and that could be used in her favor. Her husband seemed rich, which meant maybe he had connections that could be used in her favor as well.
When Dylan left, I helped Maisie get dressed. She wanted to wear one of the dresses she’d gotten during her visit with her mother. The dress was cute, but I felt like it was betraying Dylan to wear it. Of course, it wasn’t Maisie’s fault. I felt bad for the little girl that was about to become a pawn between her parents.
“What do you want to do today?” I asked her as I finished putting her hair up in a ponytail.
“Can we go swimming?”
“Not in this dress, we can’t.”
“Oh yeah. The park?”
“You might get your dress dirty.” I said, putting the brush and hair accessories away. “How about a movie and lunch?”
“Yay!” She jumped up and down.
I pulled out my phone to see what was playing. Luckily there was a kid’s movie that looked sweet. I ordered tickets on my phone.
“Did you have fun with your mom this weekend?” I toyed over whether or not to ask. It seemed normal to inquire about her weekend, and yet, under the circumstances it could be construed as trying to get information.
“Yes, we went to the zoo. Papa Leo told me about animals.”
“Papa Leo?” Is that really what Veronica told Maisie to call him? That felt like an even bigger betrayal than Maisie wearing a dress.
“That’s her new husband but he’s not my dad. My daddy will always be my daddy.”
“Yes, absolutely. You have the best daddy, Maisie. He loves you so much.”
She grinned. “He gave me ice cream last night.”
I smiled back. “Did he?”
“I wish he could come with me to Mommy’s house. I don’t know why he can’t.”
“He doesn’t want to get in the way of your time with her. You do like being with her, don’t you?” Inwardly I winced as I realized that might not be an appropriate question. Then again, if I was ever asked to testify in court, what Maisie told me could help.
“Yeah, but I like it here better.”
“Sometimes it’s hard to adjust to new things. When you get used to her house, it will be better.”
Maisie shrugged. “I can’t do very much there. Just play in my room unless Mommy takes me to the park.”
“What do you mean?”
“I can’t color or play in the living room because I might mess it up.”
If Veronica was going to be a mom, she’d need to learn to deal with kids’ messes. “Just like you’re not used to being there, your mom and Leo,” no way was I calling him Papa Leo, “need to get used to having you there.”
Maisie tugged on my hand and I squatted down as her face turned serious. In a quiet tone she said, “My daddy and mommy were fighting last night.”
“Oh?”
“I could hear them in my room when I was putting on dresses to show Daddy.”
I rubbed her arms as I tried to figure out what I should ask or say. “How did that make you feel?”
“I didn’t like it.”
“Did you tell your daddy?”
She shook her head. “He was sad too. I think he didn’t like the dresses Mommy bought me.”
“Oh honey, I’m sure that wasn’t it. Sometimes mommies and daddies disagree. But they both love you. And I know your daddy loves you no matter what.”
“What’s a nanny?”
Huh? “A nanny is someone who helps raise kids. Sort of like how I stay with you while your dad works, although nannies often live with the family.”
“Can you come live with me and daddy?”
My heart squeezed. “I live next door.” Wanting to move on to a new subject, I said, “Let me text your daddy to tell him what movie we’re going to see and where we’ll have lunch.”
“Can he come to lunch with us?” Maisie’s eager eyes shone with hope.
“I don’t know. I can ask him.”
Unfortunately, Dylan had an appointment with a lawyer, so he couldn’t make lunch. But Maisie seemed to have fun and that evening she and I made lasagna, Dylan’s favorite. When he arrived home, I saw the tension on his face, but he smiled and acted normal for Maisie.
“I love lasagna,” he said when she rushed to the door to tell him. He scooped her up and held her, making
