My parents and sisters help with Felicity so much, but it’s not the same as having a partner by my side.
It sounds like heaven, especially after the nightmare of learning Liam wants to take Felicity away from me. I would give anything for a stable marriage, to have a husband I can trust to keep our family safe, not launch an attack on my foundation when I’m at my most vulnerable.
“Well, thank you so much for your time,” I say, fighting tears. “I really appreciate it.”
“No problem, and if you need recommendations for someone to represent you, reach out any time. I know a few people in Bliss River who are affordable, but great at what they do.”
“Thanks,” I say, before rushing to add, “But could I ask you one more thing?”
“Of course.”
“Is there anything I can do to make this go away? Some way I can prove I’m looking out for Felicity’s best interests without a big legal battle or going to court?”
“You’ll have to go to court, at least for the hearing, but…” Chris covers the phone again, murmuring he’ll “be right there,” before adding, “Moving into your own place with a separate bedroom for the baby would be a good start. That takes the wind out of two of your ex’s arguments—that you’re living with a bad influence and that your child doesn’t have her own space. And from there you just take it day by day, trying to do what you can to level the playing field and ensure his objections seem unfounded to the judge.”
“Okay,” I whisper, trying not to let my disappointment creep into my voice. “Thanks so much.”
I hang up and take a deep breath, steeling myself for the postmortem on the call as my family wanders back across the lawn.
“So? What did he say?” Mom asks, running a nervous hand over her perfectly smooth blond bob.
“He says Liam has a case.” I sigh as I hand over Mason’s phone. “Not a great case, but he has a chance of winning shared custody and could possibly force me to move back to Nashville to facilitate visitation.”
“What? But that’s crazy!” Lark says, her cheeks flushed with outrage.
“Not according to the law, I guess.” I press a finger to my right eyebrow, where a migraine is gathering like a storm cloud about to unleash its fury upon my skull. “Chris said it would help if I got my own place, but I can’t afford it right now.”
“Yes, you can,” Daddy says, his expression grim. I’m relieved he’s finally caught on to the fact that this isn’t funny, but sad to see the gloom in his eyes. “Your mother and I will cover the first and last month’s rent on a two-bedroom apartment. You can start looking today.”
“No, Daddy.” I shake my head. “Thank you so much for the offer, but I know you’re strapped for cash.” My parents just opened two new Bob and Sue’s Smoke Shack locations last month, and finances will be tight until the new restaurants aren’t in the red.
“It doesn’t matter,” Mom says. “We’ll find the money.”
“No, you won’t. I won’t accept that kind of help from you, so just forget it,” I say firmly. “I just need to calm down and think things through.”
“And we’ll help you.” Lark puts an arm around my shoulders and gives me a gentle squeeze. “Don’t worry, okay? There has to be a way to make this better. And we’ll figure it out.”
Aside from meeting Prince Charming, marrying him, and moving Felicity and I into his castle, I can’t see a swift resolution to all the issues I’ll need to address to level the playing field with my ex, but I know better than to think Prince Charming is a viable option.
I’m going to have to figure something else out. And fast.
But what?
“Let’s have some food for thought,” Lark says as Melody emerges from the house with Felicity in her arms. “And then head to the fair and try to get our minds off our troubles for a little while.”
“I don’t really feel like going to the fair anymore.” I take Felicity from my sister and hug her a little too tight, making her squirm to be put down to play in the grass.
“But it will be fun,” Lark insists, tossing Felicity the red ball she loves to chase around the yard like a puppy. “After how hard we’ve worked this summer, we all need to relax and have some fun.”
“I don’t know,” I murmur, though, before Liam dropped his bomb, I’d been desperate for a night out.
Melody, Lark, and I have been busting our butts to make Ever After Catering the most coveted wedding and special event caterer in the greater Atlanta area. We’ve been booked solid every weekend this summer—and a ton of weekdays, too—and are now booking weddings through the fall. Next month, Lark is going to increase our base fee by five hundred dollars per reservation and has promised both Melody and I a raise.