Page 104 of Follow My Heart

“Think about whether you want to live in the house. It would make everything easier.”

My chest tightened at the thought. “Will do.”

“I’ll be in touch, and for what it’s worth, I think you’re doing the right thing.”

“I would have regretted not taking a stance on this.” Stacy couldn’t be allowed to do whatever she wanted without considering Faith’s feelings. I had to at least try. Otherwise, she was going to walk all over me for years to come.

I hung up with Boone, wandering the home I’d lived in during the marriage. There wasn’t anything here that felt like mine. Stacy had picked the furniture, the artwork on the walls, even chose which pictures of our family hung in the hallway.

I was in some of them, but I didn’t look happy. We were together because of Faith, and that wasn’t fair for anyone.

I’d already taken a few days off work, thinking I’d have to go to court and deal with moving my things. Since there wasn’t going to be a hearing, I had nothing to fill my time with.

I decided to go through the house to make sure there was nothing of mine still here.

A few hours later, there was a knock on the front door. I almost thought it could be Stacy showing up to rage at me. But when I opened the door, I was surprised to see that it was Dad.

I opened the door wider for him. “What are you doing here?”

His forehead creased as he stepped inside. “I wanted to check on you.”

“I’m fine,” I said as I closed the door behind him. The sky was overcast, similar to my mood.

Dad followed me into the kitchen where I poured him some coffee. I slid the mug across the counter toward him. “It’s weird being here, huh?” he said.

“I’m not sure you spent any time here, other than when we initially moved in.”

“I think that was the last time Stacy invited us.” Dad shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal when we both knew it was.

“I’m sorry I let her influence pull me away from you and the family. It wasn’t right, and it took me a long time to see that.”

“I don’t blame you for anything. We missed you, and that was that. You’re home now.”

I let out a shaky breath, not sure how to tell him.

“You’re thinking of moving back,” Dad said flatly.

I shrugged. “The house is empty. I have a better chance of getting custody if I’m here.”

Dad tightened his grip on the mug. “And what about what you want?”

My throat tightened. “I don’t know what that is anymore. I want Faith to be taken care of. I don’t want her moving from place to place. If I’m here, it will be more stable for her.”

Dad raised a brow. “What about how happy you’ve bene living in Maryland? What about Violet?”

My chest tightened further at the mention of Violet. I’d been trying not to think of her at all. If I factored her into the equation, I wouldn’t be standing in my marital home. “Faith is the only one I should be thinking about.”

“What about your happiness?” Dad asked me.

“It’s all tied up in Faith.”

Dad shifted on his feet. “Is it though? Because from where I’m standing, you look miserable.”

I felt like shit too, but I wasn’t going to admit that he was right. “Things didn’t go my way in court this morning. But Faith’s well-being is the only thing that should matter.”

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t Faith happy staying with you in Maryland where she can be close to her cousins and the rest of the family?”

I nodded tightly. “That’s true.”

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