Page 96 of Follow My Heart

A hush fell over the table.

“She’s concerned about you. We all are,” Dad said.

“You don’t have to be. I can handle this.” I picked up my phone, which had three missed calls from Stacy. I didn’t have time for family meetings even though I wanted to be a part of this. My place was with Faith and, unfortunately, Stacy. We had six more years that we needed to figure out this coparenting thing before Faith went to college.

But was Daphne right? Was I bending to Stacy’s will?

I was concerned about Stacy limiting my time with Faith. I had to do everything I could to protect my role in her life.

In the living room, Faith and Izzy were playing tea with Colson. He sat on one of the small chairs at the kids’ table holding the cup up to his mouth.

“Put your finger like this,” Faith said, her pinkie finger pointed in the air.

Izzy giggled.

“How’s your tea, darling?” Faith asked Colson.

“Mmm,” Colson said, delighted to have their attention.

My heart contracted at the sight. Would Faith be this good with a little baby sister or brother? She wasn’t this patient with Phil’s kids, but then they’d never be her brothers.

Not like if I had a child with Violet.

“Faith, we need to go.”

Her face fell. “We’re still playing.”

“I know. But I have some things that need to be taken care of, and we need to head back to your mother’s.”

Faith’s shoulders fell. “I don’t want to leave.”

“I know. I’m sorry.” I hated ripping her away from her cousins, but Stacy didn’t wait for anyone. If I didn’t start answering her calls, she’d do something worse than she was already threatening.

I waited for Faith to say her goodbyes to Colson. She hugged and kissed him, then Izzy, the two girls promising to call each other. I wished this was our life. That we spent every Sunday with my family.

I didn’t have to drive Faith home every other Sunday night to her mother where there was constant upheaval with Phil and Stacy.

But that was a dream. It wasn’t my reality.

My life felt complicated and heavy. I didn’t even have time to spend with Violet like I wanted to this weekend. I didn’t want Stacy touching her life.

I wondered if it would be better to distance myself from Violet, at least until this custody business was settled with Stacy.

I wouldn’t be able to relax until she stopped sending messages and calling so often. There was a tightness in my chest.

When Faith was in the truck, we headed back to my house so she could pack up her things. I slipped into my bedroom and shut the door so I could talk to Stacy.

“Finally! Where’ve you been?”

I waited a beat, my heart pounding in my ears. “Stacy, it’s my weekend with Violet. You’ve called dozens of times.”

“Why aren’t you answering?”

“I want to have time with my daughter. I shouldn’t be fielding your frantic phone calls.” I ran a hand through my hair.

“I need to know that you’ve convinced Faith to move in with Phil.”

“Why the urgency?” The blood was pumping hard in my veins as if I was gearing up for a race. “I thought you were going to slow down and take your time.”

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