Page 79 of Foster

“Absolutely not,” she snaps, eyes going hot with anger. “It’s my decision and it’s done. Now, whatever you decide to do with Sandra, that’s your business, but it’s mine what I do with her. I don’t want to make this any harder on Bowie Jane and her mom getting arrested would have been awful for her, no matter if she deserved it or not.”

That sort of shuts me up because those are noble reasons, but I don’t like that Mazzy has to bear the hurt while Sandra walks away without any repercussions.

Except… that’s hopefully not true because I’m going to use this incident to tighten up the custody reins. I’ve already left a message with my attorney and I plan to go see him this morning.

“Daddy,” I hear from the hall and then Bowie Jane runs like an Olympic sprinter toward me.

I move to the side of the island just as she reaches me and leaps into my arms. She clings like a koala bear as I hug her tightly. I’m afraid to let go because I don’t know what I’m going to see.

But I do have to let her down because she has to get to school and I need to make sure she’s okay to do so. I didn’t have a chance to talk to her again last night as she was already asleep by the time the game was over. I didn’t call Mazzy either as I had hoped she too would be sleeping.

I lean back slightly to look at my kid. “How’d you sleep last night?”

“Good,” she says and then looks over her shoulder at Mazzy. “Can I have some yogurt and fruit for breakfast?”

Mazzy smiles, pulling a cup of coffee for herself from the machine. “Sure, kiddo. Want anything, Foster?”

I’m still a little irritated that she didn’t have Sandra arrested but I have to respect her decision. I shake my head. “I’m good. I’ll take Bowie Jane to school.”

“Sounds good,” she says as she pours cream into her cup. “I’ll head up and shower.”

“But I’d like to talk after I get back,” I say, and she glances at me. Her expression is unreadable, but she nods.

She knows it just as well as I do.

We have a lot to talk about.

CHAPTER 29

Foster

It’s a different feeling when I pull into the garage this time. My anger has dissipated a bit since I entered my house five hours ago.

In that time, I sat with Bowie Jane while she ate breakfast and waited for her to bring up her mother. She didn’t at first, instead wanting to talk about her choir performance this week but eventually she asked, “Are you mad at Mom?”

I answered truthfully. “Yes. Are you?”

She was truthful as well. “Yes. I don’t understand it.”

“I don’t either, honey. But we’ll figure it out. The one thing you need to know is that you are safe and you are loved.”

Bowie Jane showed all the resiliency I expected from her. She’s a kid who rolls with the punches, although I don’t for a minute think she’s not affected by this. Today I’ll reach out to team services and look into a therapist who can help us navigate what will likely be rough waters.

After I dropped Bowie Jane off at school, I returned the call to my attorney that I’d missed. The conversation was both hopeful and frustrating, but we have a game plan moving forward.

And now… I have to deal with Mazzy who’s inside the house right now waiting for me. I wonder if she’s still wallowing in guilt for letting Sandra in or if she’s gearing up for a fight over her refusal to press charges. Perhaps she’s in there ready to give her notice because she did not volunteer for this crazy train.

I exit my vehicle and pocket my phone. I guess it doesn’t matter what she’s thinking because that all might change after I say the things I need to say.

When I open the door that leads into the kitchen, I find Mazzy sitting at the kitchen table, an empty coffee cup beside her. She’s on her laptop and when I enter, she closes it.

I nod with a wry smile. “Typing up your resignation?”

Her eyes flare. “Do you want me to resign?”

I respond by moving her way, taking her hand and pulling her out of the chair. She doesn’t pull against me as I walk us to my bedroom. It’s only when we cross the threshold that she shows some resistance and I wheel around on her.

With my hands to her face, cupping gently because she’s bruised, I bring my mouth to hers. It’s a soft and mellow kiss despite the fact that my blood is racing just at her scent.

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