Page 90 of Challenged by the Single Dad

But Chloe stopped her with a hand on her shoulder and leveled her gaze at Wynona. “If blood is all you think makes a parent—makes family—then I really pity you. You’re a sad, pathetic person to use that kind of an excuse and insult. And to stoopthatlow means you know deep down, you’ve lost this fight. That we’re right. You’re wrong. And you’re raising a monster.”

Pulling in a deep breath through her nose, the whole top half of Wynona’s body puffed up and she glared down at them. “I don’t have to sit here and take this.”

“You’re standing,” Chloe said blandly. “And you interruptedus. You definitely don’t have to stay.” Then she stood up and got right into Wynona’s face. “However, if I hear that your child touched Silas—or any of the McEvoy children again—there will be consequences. I know where you live.” She didn’t, but all she had to do was ask Jolene Dandy and she’d have Wynona’s address in a flash.

Wynona’s eyes went wide, then they narrowed again, and defiance flashed back at Chloe. “I don’t even know who the hell you are.”

“Good. I like it like that.” Chloe sat back down and brought her paper straw to her mouth to take a sip of her peach and passion fruit kombucha.

“Your breath smells like cream cheese and sun-dried tomatoes.” Now Wynona was grasping for anything she could to save face.

Chloe merely found the woman’s lame attempt at an insult amusing. “Because that’s what I’m eating? At least you’ve got one thing going for you—since your parenting clearly sucks—and that’s a good sense of smell.”

Jordana, Brooke, and Vica all snickered and covered their mouths.

Wynona’s lips parted in offended shock, and she huffed. “Why, you …”

Chloe waved her fingers goodbye. “Nice meeting you, Wynona. Go home and discipline your child—for once.”

Then they watched as Wynona stalked off, her flaxen hair swishing back and forth behind her.

Once she was out of sight, they all burst out laughing.

“Oh my god,” Jordana exclaimed. “Chloe Voss, who knew you were such a badass?”

“That was some serious mama-bearing right there,” Brooke added. “Well done.”

“I love Griffon and Jake like they’re my own, but I’m still learning how to be that … protective,” Vica said. “How’d you …”

They all stared at her in marveled appreciation.

She swallowed, still smiling, but the ribbons of grief were once again wrapping around her heart and squeezing. “I, uh … I am a mom.”

All their eyes widened in surprise.

She sipped more of her kombucha. “Yeah, um … I mean, I guess Iwas.”

Three faces fell.

“My son died four years ago,” she said with emotion snagging in her throat and making her words come out high-pitched and tight. “And until he joined soccer, he really struggled to make friends. He was bullied too. He was on the smaller side like Silas. Shy, but with the kindest heart. He had a lot of energy and was super creative. He just … he wasn’t one of those kids who needed the spotlight. So sometimes he got forgotten or lost in the background.” The backs of her eyes burned, and her bottom lips wobbled.

Jordana was closest to her and rubbed her back, encouraging Chloe to lean her head on her shoulder, so she did.

She exhaled and absorbed the other women’s sad expressions. Though, it wasn’t pity in their eyes, it was grief. Even though they didn’t know Elliott, they felt Chloe’s loss right along with her. They didn’t allow her to feel it all alone, to carry the burden of its weight all by herself. It was more comforting than she expected.

She huffed a humorless laugh. “Besides Dom, you’re the first people I’ve told about Elliott. I don’t know why I was keeping him a secret. He was my absolute greatest achievement.”

“Because it still hurts,” Jordana said softly. “But it can be easier, it can feel like a relief to share that pain. Let others lighten your load for you.”

“Like us,” Brooke said.

Vica and Brooke each rested a hand on her knee and gave her a squeeze.

Chloe nodded. “It does.”

“I think Elliott would be really proud of his mama right now,” Vica said, her voice hoarse with emotion as well. “That she stood up for another child like I’m sure you stood up for him.”

“Just because your child is no longer here, doesn’t mean you’re not a mom for life,” Brooke added, her green eyes glassy. “You raised him for as long as you could. You are Elliott’s mom and always will be.”

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