Page 87 of Follow My Heart

I ran a hand through my hair. “Violet owns the shop.”

“Whatever. I don’t care. I need Faith to be on board with this because it’s happening whether she likes it or not.”

“She’s not a petulant child. She needs you to consider her feelings.”

“She’s a child. These are adult decisions that don’t concern her.”

“If Faith wasn’t okay with me dating Violet, I wouldn’t be. She comes first.”

“I’m not going to let a child dictate my choices.” That was the problem. She didn’t consider anyone else when she made decisions. Why hadn’t I seen how selfish she was earlier?

“This is your daughter. You’re risking her thinking that her thoughts and feelings don’t matter. I’m not saying she dictates our decisions but that you take her feelings into consideration. If she needs more time, then give it to her.”

“If she had her way, she’d never move.”

“We promised her she could stay in her childhood home when you told her about the separation.”

“Things change. People change.”

“They do,” I said, thinking of how I never thought any of this would happen. I lifted my gaze, watching Violet talk to a little girl. She’d come around the cart and squatted in front of her. Violet was smiling, and the little girl was nodding. What would it be like to have another child, one with Violet’s brown hair and blue eyes?

“Ryder? Are you listening?”

I refocused on the phone call. “Sorry, I missed that.”

Stacy sighed into my ear, and I wanted to be standing next to Violet, listening to the conversation she was having. But then I remembered I’d promised Faith I’d talk to her mother about moving. “Faith asked me to talk to you about moving in with me. She wants to make friends here, and she likes being near my family.”

Stacy made a disgusted noise. “She has my mom and dad here.”

“Your mom and dad don’t know anything about kids. They don’t play with her or go to her activities. It’s all about them.” Why hadn’t I seen it before? Stacy was the same.

“And your family does?”

I looked up to see Wes and Jameson talking to Izzy and Faith. Jameson moved to touch Izzy’s shoulder, and she took off like it was a game of tag. Jameson chased her, pretending to reach for her but letting her dodge away. Warmth flooded my chest. “Yeah. They do.”

“Whatever. I’ve got to go.”

“What about what Faith said?”

“She’s a kid, and we agreed it was best for her to stay with me.”

“That was when you were staying in the family home. Now you’re moving in with Phil. That’s not what we agreed to.”

“I don’t tell you who to date.”

“I’m not telling you who to date. I’m asking you to consider your daughter and slow things down.”

“We’re not married anymore, Ryder.”

Thank God for that. I was so much happier, and I saw things much more clearly now. I saw Stacy for who she was. A selfish person who was more concerned with her happiness than anyone around her.

“We already agreed on custody.”

“We haven’t signed the final paperwork yet.” My nerves kicked up. Was I prepared for a fight? I was hoping to keep things civil.

“We’ll talk about this later.” Then she clicked off.

I lowered the phone, my gaze moving from Faith, who was chasing Wes around the field, to where Violet was talking animatedly with a mom and her son, handing them a cone.

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