Page 37 of Wed to You

“Maybe she’s given up.” Which, of course, would make this marriage plot unneeded.

He shook his head. “No. If she’s clean, she’ll follow through.”

“Is it possible to arrange a joint custody?”

Jagger whirled on her. “No. She abandoned him. Being a parent isn’t something you do when you feel like it.”

“No, of course not.” Still, she was Kaden’s mother, and Chelsea wondered if maybe she should be allowed access, if not for Tanya, then for Kaden. Chelsea kept that thought to herself.

“You think I’m being a hard-ass about this? You agree with society that biology is more important than who’s been there?”

Chelsea shook her head. “No.”

“Are you sure? Because you don’t look sure.”

She sighed. “I just thought Kaden might want that relationship someday.”

“Well, someday, if he wants it, he can find it. Until then, she gave up her right to him.”

There was a mixture of resolve and sadness, that made Chelsea long to soothe him. She reached up and touched his face. “He’s lucky to have you.”

His eyes shone with surprise at her gesture. “I’m lucky to have him.”

“Hey, Miss Beemer, watch!” She turned as Kaden threw a rock into the water, where it appeared twice before disappearing.

“Hey, two skips. You did it.” She forced excitement into her voice.

Kaden grinned.

“Your turn,” Jagger said. “What’s your story?”

“You know my story. I was born and raised here. My brother was killed in the war. My mother died a year later. Lexie and Mitch are my family.”

“What about your dad? I don’t ever remember Brian mentioning him and I’m sure you haven’t.”

Chelsea shrugged. “I never met him. When I was a baby, he went fishing with friends one day and never came back.”

“What happened?”

“My parents were young, and apparently my father wasn’t ready to settle down. Later I learned how disappointed and angry my grandparents, his parents, were. But they had me, Brian, and mom move in with them, into the house I have now. We were happy. I have no complaints about my childhood.”

“So you don’t wonder about your dad? Where he might be?”

She shook her head. “I did a little when I was younger. My grandmother thought maybe he’d died because she was sure he’d eventually make contact.”

“No one looked for him?”

“I think maybe my grandfather might have tried when my grandmother had her first stroke. But my mom didn’t. Her opinion was that if he didn’t want to be with us, she didn’t want him with us.”

Jagger studied her for a moment. “What if he showed up on your doorstep now?”

“He’d have to introduce himself because I wouldn’t recognize him.”

“Would you let him in?”

“My house. Probably. My life, no.”

“You say that so matter -of-factly.”

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