Page 105 of Wed to You

She shrugged. “Maybe there’s a compromise here. Kaden knows her now. Maybe he’ll want to continue that relationship. You can’t hold it against her that she’s doing anything she can to get him back when you’d do the same. For heaven’s sake, you married me for that purpose.”

He scowled. She thought he was going to say his actions were different, but he only stared at her.

Finally, through gritted teeth he said, “The difference is I’ve never left him. I have nothing to prove, and yet I’m being forced to. Meanwhile, she abandoned him. Now you want me to give her credit for getting her life together. After I’ve already rebuilt a life for Kaden and me?”

She shook her head and stepped to him. “No. I’m asking you to think of Kaden. What does he want? What will he want? Maybe you compromise for him.”

Jagger’s featured softened, but only slightly.

She’d pushed about as far as she could. “Come on. Let’s get some rest.”

In bed, Jagger lay on his back, his hands behind his head, his mind a jumble of thoughts. It was bad enough that Tanya was seeking custody of Kaden, but to have Chelsea suggest he consider some sort of visitation blew his mind.

She rolled to him, resting her hand on his chest.

“I’m not in the mood to talk, Chels.”

“I know. I’m sorry about that. I was just thinking of Kaden.”

He sighed. “You think I don’t?” Kaden was all he thought about except in the few blissful moments when he was lost in Chelsea’s body.

Chelsea laughed softly. “That’s all you do.”

He lifted his head to look at her. “What do you mean?”

“What do you do for you? You’ve built your life around Kaden, and I think that’s wonderful. But you’re more than just what you do for that little boy. Maybe he helped you get perspective and set a new course in your life, but you can’t build your entire life around him.”

“So you think I should give up and arrange visits?” Jagger couldn’t wrap his mind around what Chelsea was trying to say.

She shook her head, and rubbed her hand on his chest. “No. But maybe you can think of something in your life beyond him.”

His head rested back on the pillow and his eyes shut. After a few moments, he looked at her again. “I suppose I appear obsessive about Kaden. I probably am being unfair to Tanya. But I don’t want to risk her leaving him again.” That’s what burned the most. Tanya might be talking a good game, but she’d taken his father’s money, then and now. What would happen when the money ran out? Or she relapsed? Jagger couldn’t risk Kaden ever feeling the rejection of a parent.

“I know. I’d hate for him to be hurt too.” She kissed his chest and rested her head over his heart. When she was kind and sweet like this, he wanted to run away with her. The three of them could live their days without the drama of custody cases and difficult servants. The reality was that life was messy and hard. Chelsea knew that better than most.

“How did you do it?” Jagger stroked her back.

She lifted her head. “Do what?”

“Go on without Brian? Your mom?” He knew if he lost his custody case, it wouldn’t be the same as Chelsea’s loss, but it didn’t change the fact that he wasn’t sure he’d be able manage the grief.

“It was hard. Sometimes it still is. They won’t be at my real wedding or play with my children.”

“Jesus, Chels.” His heart clenched hard in his chest at the anguish she must feel.

“It’s okay Jagger.” She scooted up his body, allowing him to see the dark brown of her eyes. “Because I have a life. Granted, right now it’s a little off the beaten path, but even that’s okay. I’ve got the house with all the memories of them, thanks to you. There’s my teaching, which I love. I’ve got Lexie and Mitch and their families. I’d like to think that even after this is all done that we can be friends.”

“Friends?” He hated that word because it had become abundantly clear to him that he wanted more from Chelsea than just friendship. He wanted to say something, but he was too much a coward.

She looked up at him, her brown eyes filled with emotion he wished meant she wanted more than friendship as well. She didn’t say a word. So he did the next best thing, he rolled her under him.

“I wish I’d never listened to Mitch.” Then he kissed her, and did his damnedest to show her how much he wanted her in his life.

Jagger slammed down the phone. He considered throwing it across the room. Mrs. Monroe had told him he had a good case. Had said that Tanya taking his father’s money could look bad for her. So why was she now talking about working out a joint custody and visitation schedule? Jesus. She sounded like Chelsea the night before, suggesting it would be best for Kaden. Had the world gone mad? Had it forgotten what Tanya had done?

The worst part of the call was the idea that he might lose the case. Working a compromise now was like taking a plea deal. “It’s the best way to make sure you can stay in his life.”

“Why? I thought we had a good case.”

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