Page 57 of Forfeits

“Of course,” Annie said, with a glance at Brian.

At that moment the bubbly server came to take our order.

After she’d left, Anne picked up her napkin and placed it on her lap. She cleared her throat and smiled. “How are the animals?”

“Fine,” I said, looking back and forth between her and Brian. Brian was red-faced and seemed like he wanted to be somewhere else. “They’re all fine. Look… You said you wanted to talk to me about something. Does it have to do with Lucy?”

“Yes,” Annie said. “It does.”

“Okay. Can you tell me, please, before I guess something completely wrong…”

“Brian and I,” Annie said slowly, “think that Lucy might be better off living in a…a two-parent household.”

“A two-parent household,” I repeated, a dull ringing starting between my ears.

“Fletcher, we were thrilled when you and our son announced that you were going to have a child, especially when we found out that Lucy was Daniel’s biological child. It was a dream come true for us.”

“It was a…a dream come true for us, as well,” I said, my voice flat.

“Of course. But, Fletcher, we can’t help thinking that Daniel—may he rest in peace—would want what’s best for Lucy.” She glanced at Brian, who nodded in agreement. “Brian and I think she’d be better off living with us.”

I stared at Annie, who looked exactly like the Annie I knew who would do anything for Lucy and me. But now she was talking about taking Lucy away from me. I couldn’t process it.

“You mean, for a few more weeks in the summer? I’m sure she’d like that. I’ll—”

“No, Fletcher, honey. We think Lucy should live with us, full-time. We’re going to request full custody.”

No, no, no. Not happening.

“You can’t do that,” I said.

“Well, actually, since Daniel was Lucy’s biological—”

I took a deep breath, a sudden, irrational urge to call Aiden for assistance hitting me, which I dismissed, because it wouldn’t help and would probably make things worse. Brian and Annie didn’t know I was seeing someone.

“No. Sorry, but no.”

Brian steepled his hands’. “Be reasonable. For a single man—a gay man—to raise a child on his own. We don’t think it’s the best thing for Lucy.”

“I’m Lucy’s father,” I said like a man in a dream. “I am what’s best for Lucy.”

“Daniel was Lucy’s father, Fletcher,” Annie said in a soft, gentle tone. “You were Daniel’s partner.”

I felt queasy, and like I might have to vomit.

“Husband. I was Daniel’s husband. I am as much Lucy’s father as Daniel was. Just because she doesn’t have my DNA…it doesn’t mean I’m not her father.”

“Well, in a court of law…” Brian began to say, and I turned on him.

“Mr. Marin, if your son heard you just now, do you know what he’d tell you?”

Brian shook his head back and forth, but it was more in frustration that I wasn’t understanding what they were trying to say.

“He’d tell you that I am as much Lucy’s father as he is. We’d never have had Lucy if he wasn’t in a committed relationship with me. It was only our love for each other and his dream of having a child that brought Lucy into this world.”

“And some help from the miracle of science,” Annie muttered under her breath.

I stared at her, my heart breaking. I’d begun to think of her as a parental figure. She’d been so helpful since Daniel’s death, and now that was tainted. Now I knew she had only been watching, listening and biding her time until she could use it all to her advantage. I didn’t doubt that this was coming from a good place, but who knew what was best for Lucy but me and Lucy?

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