Page 85 of Single Mom's Christmas Wish

Chelsea makes the smart move of gently moving away. I catch a glimpse of her getting Maisie and Trevor out of the room through one of the side doors in such a gingerly fashion that no one even notices that they’re gone.

“What do you want?” I ask, my shoulders dropping in mild, sullen defeat.

“No, no, it doesn’t even matter what he wants,” Archer fiercely cuts in, then takes a step toward my ex-husband. “I’m not going to say it again. Get out of here before I make you regret the day you were born.”

“Please, this is still a church!” the pastor chimes in.

Donna stands up, a frown darkening her green eyes. “What is the meaning of this?”

“This is my ex-husband,” I explain. “As if today wasn’t enough of a hot mess already…”

“I just figured the honorable preacher and man of God here would want to know what kind of people he’s dealing with,” Keith replies with a satisfied grin slitting across his face. Where is the warm and handsome man I was once so deeply in love with? Was he ever real, or did I just imagine him? “Here… I have proof.”

Everything comes to a sudden halt as he whips out his smartphone and hits the play button on a clear, high-definition video, complete with sound. Clear enough that even the pastor can see what’s going on. And what is going on is a steamy lovemaking session from a few nights ago.

“Oh, my God,” I say, instantly nauseated as I break into a cold sweat.

It’s a video of me riding Reed while Archer takes me from the back. I’m trying to fit all of Maddox down my throat. Candlelight burns everywhere around us. It’s a weird angle but I quickly realize it’s from a hidden camera. Bile rises and pricks the back of my tongue. I cover my mouth, my eyes squeezing tightly shut, willing it all to go away.

“Oh my,” the pastor gasps.

Donna moves in with lightning speed and smacks Keith over the hand, causing him to drop the phone. The screen cracks and goes black. But the damage is done. He’s laughing, almost hysterically, as he looks at us. “It doesn’t matter. I’ve got copies. I’ll be showing them to the judge, too,” he says. “You were so stupid, Dakota. Stupid to think I wouldn’t figure you out. That I wouldn’t make you pay.”

“Pay for what, you sorry sack of shit? For not taking you back after you ran off like the coward that you are?” Archer growls, seething, his hands tightening into fists.

“You crossed one hell of a line,” Donna warns Keith.

But my ex-husband is far too pleased with himself to care.

I notice that Callie remains alarmingly calm. Smiling, even. Enjoying this entire scene and not at all surprised by any ofit. Maddox is blank as a sheet of paper, staring in disbelief. Confused. Unsure of what to do or say next. But Keith’s delighted cackle reactivates him. A moment later, Maddox stands up and starts making his way toward us.

“This is unacceptable,” the preacher declares, his face red and shaking with outrage. “I am a man of God, and I came here to officiate a wedding between a man and a woman, not put up with this lewd and disgusting circus.”

“Please,” I try to reason with him, but it’s too late.

The Good Book is shut and tucked under his arm. “Find somebody else to do this. And not in this church. This is hallowed ground.”

“Wait!” Archer calls out.

But he is already out the door, and we’re left without anyone to officiate the wedding.

I glance down at my dress as the disaster continues to unravel before me. I barely register the speed with which everything has spiraled completely out of control. At least Chelsea had the presence of mind to get the kids out of here.

“Keith, how did you get that footage?” I ask.

“Does it even matter? I now know the truth, and there’s no way in hell that I’m letting you raise our daughter in such depravity!” he shouts, a sneer permanently stretched across his lips. “I knew there was something off about you,” he says to Archer, “the way you paraded around that house while my daughter was present!”

“Maisie never saw or heard anything out of order,” Archer replies, then takes another step. “But I will ask you the same thing. How the fuck did you get that footage?”

Donna steps in between them. “Archer, honey, calm down.”

“I am calm, Mom. I just want to know.”

“That makes two of us,” Maddox joins the conversation, the green in his eyes so dark and smoldering that it might melt the meat off Keith’s bones altogether. “Because something stinks here.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Keith insists, but I can see he’s getting nervous.

“It really doesn’t,” Callie adds from the back as she gets up, appearing just as satisfied as my ex-husband. “Once it’s out in the press, no judge will allow Maisie anywhere near such a depraved and deviant mother.”

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