“Yes, you did,” I said evenly. “And what’s done is done. We’re finished here. I might point out that you’re trespassing on private property.”
“Max, please—” she reached out to touch my arm and I wanted to back away. Instead, I stepped forward and loomed over her a little.
“Don’t touch me. Go.”
“Just tell me about our little girl. Please. Let me see pictures and know how she is at least. Can’t you do that?”
“Tell me where you’re staying. I’ll call and set up a time when we can meet somewhere. The two of us.”
“I’m at the White Birch B&B in Overton,” she said.
“Fine. I’ll leave a message at the desk.”
“Thank you, Max. I can’t wait to hear about her, to meet her.”
“Don’t push your luck with me,” I said. “You need to go.”
She brushed at a tear, whether it was real or imaginary I don’t know. Then she got in her rental car and drove off. I sank down on an Adirondack chair and dropped my head in my hands. This was off the rails. Completely insane. I did not need that woman trying to crowbar her way into Sadie’s life. She needed to leave town and not look back. I wasn’t going to threaten her, and I wasn’t going to pay her off. I wanted her out of my life. I’d have to do a little research after Sadie was in bed, find out where she was living and working, if she’d just had a divorce or something that sent her down memory lane. I needed a strategy to get rid of her.
I needed to get rid of the sick fear in my stomach from just seeing her. From the fact that she had laid eyes on Sadie. I knew that Jenna couldn’t take her away from me, but if she wanted to push it, she could go to court and get visitation. There was no way in hell I was sending Sadie to that woman every other weekend, losing time with my daughter and changing everything I’d made carefully safe and comfortable in her life. I heard the crunch of tires on gravel and got to my feet, ready to call the cops to run her off if she was back.
Rachel’s car pulled up and I felt my clenched fists relax, felt the breath I was holding rush out. I was always glad to see her, but I felt like I almost couldn’t deal with her right now. It would be enough of a strain to act normal till Sadie went to sleep. There was no chance I was telling her or anyone about this. It just needed to go away.
23
Rachel
From the minute I arrived at the cabin and found Max sitting out on the porch, I knew something was wrong. He was never outside without Sadie. He didn’t have his phone out, so he hadn’t been on a call. I went to him and hugged him. The hug I got was more like putting my arms around an iron slab, unyielding and hard. I drew back.
“You okay?”
“I’m fine. Come on in.”
I followed him in, and Sadie looked up a little suspiciously from the couch. She didn’t run to me and try to climb me or demand to be picked up and carried. Something was so weird here.
“Are you feeling okay, Sadie Lady?” I asked.
“Yeah,” she said, but she looked at her dad and not at me.
“We’re watching Frozen 2,” Max said. “Care to join us?”
“I’m sorry, Daddy. I just wanna go play in my room.”
“Okay, baby. I’ll turn it off.” He switched off the TV. Sadie went into her room. She didn’t bring anything out to show me or tell me a hundred things she’d done since this morning.
“Sadie’s not acting like herself. What’s wrong?”
“Maybe she’s just tired,” he shrugged. Total red flag there—him not showing overprotective concern over his daughter. I’d pointed out something was wrong, and he brushed it off. So he knew what was going on and just wasn’t telling me.
“Max, come on. Something’s up. Did she just get in big trouble or something? You were on the porch, she was in here by herself watching TV, and then just ran off to her room. That isn’t like either of you.”
“We’re fine. You’re freaking out over nothing. Do you want something to eat?”
“I just left a diner. I don’t want food. I wanted to spend time with you guys. But she’s hiding and you’re not talking. Talk to me,” I said.
“There’s nothing going on. Maybe Sadie wants to play outside. We can take her out to the swing set if you want.”
I went and got Sadie, who was sitting on her bed holding Mooshie. We went out and she swung for a while and seemed more normal. She went down the slide once and then amused herself by throwing Mooshie up the slide and then catching it when it slid down. Max and I sat down and had lemonade, and he told me about the project Noah was working on, the big order he needed to fill. He thawed out a little, but he seemed disconnected from me. When they were talking about supper, I stood up.