I'd just taken some pictures, and it wouldn't have been a big deal to send them to her too, but her attitude rubbed me the wrong way. It was more like she was demanding that I send her the photos, and I didn't like how that felt. It was a little too similar to how she usually dealt with visitation. It was her way, or she'd do something about it that I wouldn't like.
I copied her message and forwarded it to Ashton, asking how I should respond. I felt like I should say something soon or she'd escalate the situation with threats.
"Is everything okay?"
I looked up to find Blake standing in the doorway to the playroom in a sun dress, her hair free around her shoulders. She looked effortlessly gorgeous, a true island girl even though she wasn't.
"Oakley wanted me to send her pictures."
She tipped her head to the side. "Okay."
I opened the messages app and showed her the text.
Her eyes widened. "She's not being nice about it."
"I'm not sure how I should respond. I forwarded it to my attorney to see what he thought. But in the past, if I didn't respond to something like this right away, she'd escalate the situation."
"If she does, we'll be prepared and document everything she says and does. Let's go to the fair and enjoy our day. Try to put it out of your mind."
I picked up Lilliana, knowing that was easier said than done. I parked at the community center and followed the crowd to the table where we could donate money before we checked out the vendors. I threw cash in the tin and walked toward the rows of tents and tables.
Blake stopped by each one, talking to the artists about their work. It was nice to follow her around, but it was hard not to think about Oakley's message. I didn't like that she had the power to affect my day. But I was worried that she'd send threatening messages or show up at the fair to make more demands.
What if she asked for Lilliana in public? What would I do?
Blake’s hand landed on my forearm. "Relax. You didn't do anything wrong, and she's not going to take Lilliana from you."
I let out the breath I'd been holding, forcing my muscles to loosen one by one.
There was an arts-and-crafts table for kids under one tent, so Blake took Lilliana and sat next to her in one of the tiny chairs. Together they painted a flowerpot, and I was content to watch them.
Every once in a while, Blake would shoot me a concerned look, and I tried to look at ease, like I had everything in order. But inside, I was a mess. I hated that Oakley made me feel like this. I needed the court to put things in writing so I had the power of the law behind me.
The more I thought about it, I concluded that this was my time with Lilliana, and Oakley shouldn't be allowed to interrupt it with her demands.
We set the painted pot on paper so that it could dry while we perused the rest of the festival. When we reached the food trucks, we ordered tacos and sat on the picnic tables. I'd brought finger foods for Lilliana to eat.
"Are you feeling better?" Blake asked.
"Thanks for making me come out." If I didn't have Blake, I would have stayed home, freaking out about Oakley's message.
"Of course."
Elena appeared at the end of our table. "I didn't realize you guys were coming here today."
"It was a last-minute decision," I said as Elena sat next to Lilliana. "How's my favorite girl?"
Elena gushed over Lilliana as Hudson sat across from me.
"How are things?" Hudson asked, probably not realizing what he'd walked into.
I exchanged a look with Blake.
"What did she do now?" Hudson asked tightly.
"It's not that bad." I pushed my phone across the table to him, leaving Oakley's message on the screen.
Hudson grunted. "I don't like her tone."
