Page 165 of Renewal After Dark

“One hundred thousand.”

“Hmmm.”

“Is it enough?”

“That’s hard to say. For most people, it’d be more than enough to raise a child comfortably, but it won’t cover college.”

“Right. I thought of that. He’s trying to avoid me taking him to court since his wife and kids don’t know about us.”

Tiffany made a sound that was a cross between a groan and a gag. “If I were you, I’d want to blow the lid off his entire bullshit game.”

“Part of me does, but honestly, what would I gain from turning their lives upside down? They haven’t done anything to me.”

“His kids are Jax’s half siblings, who he’ll never know if you accept this offer.”

“I thought of that, too. Having them in his life would mean having his father in his life, and he’s not a man I want my son to grow up emulating, you know?”

“Definitely. It’s a tough call, for sure.”

“What would you do if you were me?”

“Oh gosh, I don’t know, McKenzie. It’s such a big decision. On the one hand, you could accept this one-time payment and be rid of him forever. On the other, you take him to court, forcing him to come clean to his wife, which would make him angry and vindictive. After having been through something similar, I would add that peace of mind is underrated until you don’t have it. Fighting with an ex is grueling and devastating and…” Her eyes filled. “It breaks your heart all over again, every time you realize he was never the man you thought he was.”

McKenzie placed her hand over Tiffany’s. “I’m sorry he hurt you so deeply.”

“I’m sorry you were hurt, too.” Tiffany rallied, pulled herself together and forced a smile. “I’ve also learned that all the pain and heartache I experienced with Jim was preparing me to find the truest of true loves with Blaine.”

“How did you ever summon the courage to take that leap again?”

“I never needed courage to love Blaine. That’s how I knew it was different from the get-go. He makes me feel safe to be myself, to sob over my dead ex-husband, to be everything and anything I want to be without the fear of losing him simply for being myself.”

“What a lovely way to describe true love.” It sounded, she thought, an awful lot like what she’d found with Duke.

“It’s also a lovely way to live. I can’t tell you what to do about this dilemma, but I can assure you that you and Jax will be just fine no matter what you decide. You’re a strong, capable woman building your own business and a whole new life for yourself and your son. If you never saw a dime from him, you’d be fine. I know it.”

“That means a lot to me coming from a badass boss bitch like you.”

Tiffany laughed. “That might be the best compliment I’ve ever received, especially since I hardly feel like that on the inside lately.”

“You’re a survivor, and you’ll survive this, too.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

“Thanks for the advice. It helped a lot.”

“Any time.”

“Now, about work…”

Tiffany laughed as she opened QuickBooks to get started on their list of tasks for the day.

Chapter33

With McKenzie working late, Duke decided to go into town to see his friends for the first time in weeks. When he walked into the Beachcomber bar, a cheer went up from all the regulars, who greeted him like returning royalty.

“Look what the cat dragged in.” Jace Carson poured a beer for Duke from the tap. “Where you been, old man?”

Amused by the reception, he took the beer from Jace. “I’ve been around.”

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