CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
My mother leaves as quickly and dramatically as she came. She reassures me that I will be hearing from her lawyers.
“Ivy, your mother is nothing but a big talker, she can’t take the kids from you. You’re a fit parent and no matter how many strings she tries to pull, no judge will take this case.” Usually Patricia’s words would be able to reassure me but not this time, my mother has already done her damage.
“She got the first case,” I say, looking across the room at her. Her green eyes are full of concern.
“Yeah, she got it and it proved to be nothing but a witch hunt. I’m sure the only reason she got away with that first one was because of your arrest record.”
“And she could use it again,” I try to point out.
Patricia shakes her head. “You haven’t got into any more trouble since you got the kids.”
None that came with an arrest at least. All the woman would have to do is talk to the principal at Tanner’s school to find out about the fight and trouble he’d gotten into. She could easily use that against me and considering the way the principal had acted I’m not so sure that she wouldn’t be on board to testify.
Then there’s the other baseball mom who I threatened.
“I…” I shake my head. “Fuck, Patricia. When I found out Kylie left me the kids, I didn’t want them.'’ I’ve never admitted the truth out loud. Sure, I’ve said that I was worried, but not that I didn’t want them, but it’s the truth. “I knew I wasn’t equipped to take care of them and I couldn’t figure out why in the hell my sister would leave them with me, but now… Now I can’t imagine my life without them. And I’ll be damned if I let anyone take them from me.”
Maybe this started out as me not being able to disrespect my dead sister’s wishes, but now it’s so much more.
Now I actually feel like the kid’s mother, their protector, and I won’t let anyone take them. They’re mine and come hell or high water, I’ll fight for them.
I’ll sacrifice for them.
Even if that means letting the guys go.
I run a hand through my hair, letting out a deep breath and trying to ignore the pain in my chest.
“Ivy, you’re panicking,” Patricia says and I watch as she opens a drawer. I’m not surprised when she reveals a blue blow pop and hands it over to me, her eyes going to my twitching fingers.
I nod and unwrap the sucker, sticking it in my mouth. It doesn’t bring me the usual calm that I get, but it helps a little.
“Now, let’s talk about this reasonably,” Her hands tap against her thigh gently. “You’re mother doesn’t really want the kids,” she tells me and I pause, frowning at her at that. “From what you’ve told me, she didn’t want to raise you, so she doesn’t suddenly want an eight and two year old. She wants to get under your skin.”
I think about that. “Yeah, but if that was true then she wouldn’t have actually taken me to court the first time.”
“She knew it was a lost case. There was no way she was going to win, your sister left the kids to you. There was no true contest. It was nothing more than a scare tactic and a show of power.”
I rub at my temples. “I just can’t take the risk that she’s serious this time.”
“And tell me exactly what she said she was taking you to court for,” Patricia says, crossing her ankles.
“I slapped her-”
“And she slapped you too, yes?” She looks at me for confirmation on the story I’d rushed through telling her when I first got here.
“Yes.”
“So, she wouldn’t dare bring it up in court because then she’d have to address why she also put her hands on you.” Patricia shoots it down quickly.
“She said that there isn’t any real food in the house for the kids and that-”
“Are either of the kids underweight?”
I shake my head.
“Next thin excuse,” she requests.