Robert sighed. “Felicity, there’s no need to rush.”
“No need? Robert…” She swallowed down the arguments that bubbled up. “I’m not rushing into anything. Unless I missed something, there isn’t a choice. Jack’s mine, end of story. You think I’d let Honor give up her scholarship, her future, to raise her little brother? I could never do that. Matt knew it, too.”
Graham shook his head, running a hand along the back of his neck. She’d seen him do it enough to know he was upset—this time, for her.
“I know it’s hard to see it this way, but this is a compliment, I think. You’re a good mother, Felicity—one they wanted for Jack.” Robert’s laugh was quick. “And one of the sweetest women in Pecan Valley. Everyone knows that.”
She wasn’t feeling very sweet. Outraged was more like it. She signed the document and pushed the papers across the table to Robert. The sooner this was over, the sooner they could move on. Honor didn’t need to know about any of this, ever. If she did, she’d feel duty bound to help raise Jack when she was not done growing up herself.
Robert nodded, scanning the pages and saying, “Financially, you and the children have been well provided for. Amber’s life insurance policy—”
Felicity held up her hand. “We’ll set up some sort of savings account for Jack’s college.”
“That will be Graham’s decision, since he’s been assigned as the financial custodian for Jack.” Robert’s smile was tight.
Graham was staring at the ceiling. “Whatever you want, Felicity.”
She swallowed. “I want a drink.”
Graham looked at her then, nodding in agreement.
“I’d be happy to take you out for a drink, Felicity,” Robert offered. “In a nonlawyer capacity, that is.” He smiled. “Dinner? If you’re free tonight?”
For the last three days, her decision to “put herself out there” had wavered. Robert’s flowers, texts, and freshly baked cookies were thoughtful, but they didn’t change the way she felt about the man. She stared at him, too shaken to form a gentle, coherent refusal. After all, it wasn’t every day your ex-husband left his toddler from his second marriage to his eighteen-year-old daughter from his first marriage.
Matt. How could you?
By now she should be used to this. Disappointment. Astonishment. Anger. And pain. So much. Dammit. It hurt to breathe.
“I should go,” Graham said, making a show of checking his watch and phone.
“You’re my ride.” Thank God she had an escape. “Thank you, Robert.”
Robert stood, clearly disappointed. “I know today wasn’t what you expected.”
“No, it wasn’t,” she agreed. “Not that I had any expectations.” She’d anticipated Matt would leave everything to the kids. Things like property and investments and money, not a toddler. But Matt continued to throw her curveballs.
Bone-deep exhaustion had become a way of life.
Rob walked them to the conference room door, shaking Graham’s hand then hers. But he held on to her for a second to say, “If you need anything, Felicity, you know you can call me.” He gently squeezed her hands in his. “Anything. I’d like to be here for you.”
“Thank you, Rob.” She pulled her hands free. He meant well, he did, but all she could think of was putting space between them. Soon. With a shaky nod, she followed Graham, her mind spinning from the last hour.
They climbed into the elevator, the doors closing behind them with a ding.
Graham faced her. “Are you okay?”
“No. No. I’m not,” she finished. “How can I be? That was…wrong. So wrong.” She broke off. “How… I mean… I was married to him for so long. But I never thought he’d do something like this.” The words kept coming. “She’s a child, Graham. Falling in love for the first time, playing video games, figuring out who she is—leaving for college. Dammit. That’s what she’s supposed to do at eighteen, you know? This isn’t her mess.” She stared at Graham, looking for answers he couldn’t possibly have. “How could he do this to her?”
Graham faced her, his brow creasing. “I don’t know.”
She shook her head, fighting the sting of tears and the roar of blood in her ears. “Dammit.” She sniffed. “It’s not fair, Graham. None of this is fair.” She was spiraling and she knew it. “Jack hates me… And Nick?” Could Nick handle this? How could she make this work?
She welcomed the solid weight of his arms around her, the way he held her against him, the support he offered.
“It’s going to be all right,” he whispered against her temple.
Eyes closed, she focused on the rapid beat of his heart beneath her ear. “I want to believe that. Tell me how?” she asked, gripping his shirtfront and holding on.