Page 32 of The Summer that Changed Everything
She wanted to ask why they couldn’t make it work but knew better than to bethatnosy. She’d already asked more than she should have. “Co-parenting isn’t easy, but a lot of people make it work.”
“I plan to be as involved as she’ll let me.”
The way he’d said that made Lucy stiffen. “Why is it her choice?”
He wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Trust me, I’ll do all I can, won’t settle for anything less than joint custody. But she’ll fight me every step of the way, make co-parenting a living nightmare.”
Lucy was glad he was going to press the issue. Fathers were so important. As terrible a person as Mick had turned out to be, she didn’t know where she would’ve ended up without him.Hewas the one who’d gotten her through her first seventeen years, not her mother. He’d been an alcoholic, sure. But a fairly functional one. Although he was out a lot at night, rambling around—as he’d been the night the Matteos were murdered—with her help, they’d managed. “I’m sure you’ll make a great dad.”
“Thank you.”
When his gaze met hers, she felt slightly breathless—the way she used to feel when he looked at her—which was downright alarming. She was still attracted to him! Despite everything. Which wassounfair. She didn’t want him coming over to do the yard all the time, didn’t want to let him back into her life, even as a friend.
“Well, good luck with the divorce,” she said and went back inside, hoping he’d get bored doing manual labor and wouldn’t bother her again.
Anna was sitting in her car, waiting at the local elementary school for the bell to ring so she could pick up her kids, when she received a text from her brother:
How well do you know Ford Wagner?
The question took her off guard. She’d had a crush on him many summers ago but had only ever watched him from a distance. She doubted he knew she existed. She replied:
Not too well,but I remember him. He came here every summer while we were growing up. Part of the wealthy set. Why?
From what I hear, he’s in town. Do you know what brought him back here?
What was Reggie talking about? She tried to call her brother. He didn’t pick up so she sent him a question mark to prod him, but it didn’t do any good. Frustrated that he’d quit responding—after all, he was the one who’d initiated this conversation—she tried calling him again and was transferred immediately to voice mail as if he’d purposely put her through.
Irritated, she checked the time—she had only three minutes until the kids got out—and called her mother.
“Hi, honey! What’s up?” Natalie chirped.
“Reggie’s not there with you, is he?”
“No, why?”
“He was texting me and then just... disappeared.”
“Doesn’t surprise me. He does that all the time. But he’s not with me. He only comes around if he wants money.”
Anna felt bad for her mother. Natalie loved Reggie so much. But it was partially her own fault that Reggie used her the way he did. She allowed it, always gave him what he wanted and bailed him out whenever he got into trouble. “I’m a little worried about him,” Anna admitted.
“Why?”
Her mother sounded alarmed—for good reason. With Reggie,it was always something. “He seems to be melting down since Lynnette left, partying too much and not working nearly often enough.”
“That would explain why he always needs money,” she said wearily. “His substance abuse and lack of work is probablywhyLynnette left.”
Lynnette had said she couldn’t take his mood swings, his cheating or his temper, and Anna couldn’t blame her, especially now that they had a child. Lynnette had to do what was best for little Zander, so she’d taken him to live with her folks in Richmond. “That and more. It’s too bad Joel was there when she was telling me about it. Hearing that stuff just made him more adamant that Reggie not be allowed around the kids.”
“Your husband’s attitude has to hurt your brother,” Natalie said. “I wish Joel would have some understanding, go a little easier on him.”
Joel had tried, at first. But when Reggie ruined holiday after holiday with his drunken outbursts and got belligerent whenever he was challenged or someone said something he didn’t like, Joel drew a line. “He says he’s done putting up with that kind of behavior, and we should be, too.”
“Love is patient. Love is tolerant.”
Anna chuckled without mirth. “Not according to Joel. He says we need to have some tough love and demand more—or cut Reggie out of our lives until he shapes up.”
Her mother sighed. “We’ll see what Joel thinks of that idea whenyourkids are older.”
