Page 82 of The Bonus

“It’s okay, Grace. Relax. Panicking is not going to help. You are their mother; he can’t show up here and take them, that’s not how it works. The courts are not going to give custody to an absent workaholic.”

I nod, feeling a little better. “You’re right.”

“He didn’t want to see you again, he told you that point blank. You went to tell him and he refused to see you, you are not in the wrong here.”

“I should have called him and let him know I was pregnant. I knew it back then and I still know it now.”

“He would have made you terminate the pregnancy,” she whispers angrily. “He already told you it was going nowhere and that he wanted nothing more to do with you. You’ve done the right thing, you told everyone that it was a donor sperm pregnancy. You want nothing from him and you could have taken him for millions. Billions, even.”

“You’re right.” I feel a little more empowered. “I’m overreacting, aren’t I?”

“Probably not, but I don’t think it’s the scenario that you think it is.”

I hear someone’s voice in the background on Deb’s phone. “You go back to your wedding. Sorry to bother you.”

“It’s going to be fine, Gracie. I’ll be home Tuesday.”

“Okay.” I hang on the line, not wanting to get off the phone.

“Love you, bye.” She hangs up and the crowd cheers. I turn back to the game as I feel a little of my equilibrium return.

This is all fine…fine, fine, totally fine.

They say that no news is good news, I only wish that were true.

A storm is coming…

I can feel it brewing all the way from New York.

I glance over to Lucy and Dom as they lie on the couch, watching television.

Happily oblivious to their mother’s inner turmoil.

It’s Sunday night, and I don’t know what to do next. I haven’t heard a word from Gabriel since he left here yesterday morning.

Should I call him…?

I glance over at my two precious babies lying top to toe on the couch, a blanket over them, so oblivious to everything. I need to make sure that’s how it stays. They cannot be affected by any of this, I won’t drag them through it.

I’ll call Gabriel tomorrow and ask him to meet. This needs to be amicable between us. He’s getting married soon and he can move on with her and have children of their own and live happily ever after in their penthouse in New York.

But I need to make something absolutely clear with them from the beginning.

These children are mine.

“Come on, guys.” I pack up the school lunches and put them into their bags. “Let’s roll.” Monday mornings are always hectic, but when you haven’t slept for two nights, they are especially chaotic. I bundle everyone’s backpacks onto their backs and we walk out the front door. I stop on the spot.

A black car is sitting in my driveway.

The driver gives me a stifled smile and gets out of the car and stands beside it.

Fuck.

Acting cool as a cucumber, I walk down the front steps and unlock my car. “Jump in the car, guys.”

“Who’s that?” Dom asks.

“My friend. Get in the car.” I open the backseat door and wait as they climb in. I slam the door shut and walk over to the man. “Can I help you?”

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