“Please, let’s end this discussion. Think about what I’ve said. You can stay for a short while, but you will need to leave eventually. I want to avoid a protracted custody battle.”
“Are you threatening me?” Chloe’s voice was sharp with indignation.
“I’m not threatening you. I’m trying to reach a reasonable agreement.” I turned and walked away, leaving her to ponder our conversation.
As I made my way back to my room, Lexie nearly collided with me in the hallway.
“Watch where you’re going, Lexie,” I snapped, but immediately regretted my tone. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap.”
“Something’s clearly bothering you. You look like you’re about to explode. Is everything alright?”
I rubbed my forehead, trying to keep my emotions in check. “Don’t worry about it, Lexie. I’ll be fine. Just let me know when Dad gets back from his meeting, okay?”
“Are you sure you don’t want a glass of water? You look like you could use one.”
“That would be great. Is Noah asleep?”
“Yes, he’s sleeping. He’s so energetic when he’s awake. Do you want to see him?”
“Not right now.”
“I hope he doesn’t inherit your temper. He’s too sweet for that.”
I managed a half-smile despite my stress. “Nice one, Lexie. You don’t pull any punches.”
“I’m just being honest.”
“Alright, thanks for the honesty. Can I get that water now, or are there more truths you want to share?”
“I’ll save those for another time,” she giggled. “I’ll get the water for you.”
***
Later that evening, I sat on my bed, staring at my phone, contemplating the next steps. I wanted to talk to Licia, but I needed a solid plan before doing so. Time was slipping away, and I couldn’t keep hurting her with my mistakes.
When I heard Dad’s car pull into the driveway, I hurried downstairs, eager to discuss the matter with him. Chloe was nowhere in sight, which was a relief.
“Hi, Dad.”
“Hello, Kevin. I didn’t expect to see you downstairs. Is everything alright?”
“I’m not sure. I need to talk to you and Mom about something urgent.”
His expression grew serious. “On a scale of one to ten, how bad is it?”
“Nine.”
“Meet me in the man cave in five minutes. We’ll figure this out together.” Dad always referred to his study as his man cave, a place where he could focus and tackle problems head-on.
When I entered the room, Dad was seated behind his large desk, puffing on his cigar, the smoke swirling in the dim light. Mom joined us shortly and took her place beside him.
“All right, what’s the problem?” Dad motioned for me to start.
“I’m in a difficult situation. Chloe wants us to raise Noah together, but I don’t love her and don’t want to marry her.”
Dad chuckled softly. “You told her you didn’t love her, right?”
“Yes, but she’s being persistent.”
