Page 71 of When Love And Destiny Collide

Gripping the door handle, I weigh my options on how to handle this woman. One thing is certain—I won’t cower. Instead, I decide to give her a taste of her own attitude. With a steady hand, I shut the door and turn to face her, ready to meet her head-on with a little attitude of my own.

"Haven't you heard?" I reply, smiling sweetly. "I'm Noah's fiancée. I live here."

"No,Sweetheart," she says, her voice thick with sarcasm. "My husband and my son live here. You might wish this was yours, but it isn't."

"You’re right," I concede, my voice steady. "This isn’t mine. But you know what is? Noah’s heart. He loves me."

She responds with a harsh, guttural laugh that reverberates through the empty house, filling every corner with its cold, mocking resonance.

"Ah, you're so young and innocent," she says. "You have no idea what you're getting yourself into."

"Neither do you," I retort, meeting her challenge head-on. "Here’s the deal: I’m willing to extend you a level of respect you haven’t earned because you’re Davey’s mother. So, I’m not going to throw you out. Instead, I’m going to politely ask you to leave."

Just then, the doorbell rings, signaling the arrival of our pizza. Holding the money in hand, I open the door and hand it to the delivery guy, who passes me the large pizza box. "Thank you," I say, leaving the door ajar as he walks away. I glance at Marian, giving her a forced smile and silently urging her to take the hint and leave. But she remains rooted in place, unfazed.

“Do I need to remind you that you’re no longer married to Noah?” I finally say, my voice firm. “You divorced him, and you left your son. Now they’re here, surrounded by family and friends. I know you’ll always be Davey’s mom, and I know you love him, but I’m going to marry Noah. I’ll be part of Davey’s life, whether you like it or not. I hope we can find common ground and learn to be civil for his sake.”

“Well, how diplomatic,” she retorts, her gaze narrowing as the tension between us thickens.

“I’m going to put this pizza in the kitchen,” I say. “I hope you’re gone by the time I return, but if you insist on staying, you can wait in the living room. It’s up to you.”

As I start to walk away, she steps closer, trying to stare me down. I hold her gaze, unflinching. “By the time I’m done with you,” she says, her voice low and threatening, “you're going to wish you had never met Noah.”

I tilt my chin up in defiance and walk away without giving her a backward glance. Once in the kitchen, I set the pizza on the table and take a few deep breaths, bracing myself against the counterto steady my nerves. I listen and wait until the front door slams shut, marking Marian's departure with a final, resonant thud.

***

I put on a brave face when Noah and Davey walk through the door. "Hi, you two!" I call out, feeling my heart lift as Davey runs into my arms for a hug and kiss. His joy is contagious, but it's Noah's steady gaze that sends warmth through me, the way he looks at me with unmistakable attraction. I smile, holding Davey close for a moment before setting him down, and then I wrap my arms around Noah, closing my eyes as I breathe in his familiar scent, savoring the closeness I feel every time I'm in his arms.

"How was lunch with your dad?" he asks, releasing me from his embrace.

"It was good," I reply. "We took a long walk afterward. He mentioned he’s staying a bit longer."

"Good," he says. "I’m looking forward to getting to know my future father-in-law."

His words warm my heart, and I smile. "The pizza is still warm. Are you two hungry?"

"Hmm, pizza!" Davey cheers, heading straight for the box.

"Should I make a salad?" I ask.

"I think the pizza’s enough," Noah replies. "We had a big lunch."

During dinner, Davey shares every detail about his day spent with his cousins. His laughter is infectious, and Noah and I can’t help but smile as he describes everything in vivid detail, his eyes bright with joy. Noah and I can’t help but share a smile as we listen, each story more animated than the last.

***

Davey is in the bathroom brushing his teeth and getting ready for bed when I hear Noah walk into the room. "The dishes are done and the leftover pizza is put away," he says as he walks up to me and wraps his arms around me.

"How was it seeing everyone again?" I ask, wanting to hear all about it.

"It was incredible," he says, his face lighting up. "The kids welcomed Davey like they've known him forever."

"That's great," I say, smiling. "I knew they'd love him."

"What I experienced today is exactly why I came back," he says. "I want Davey to have close relationships with everyone in the family. They'll grow up together, like siblings."

A pang of something sharp twists inside me, but I smile anyway. "He fits right in, smack in the middle of the age range. He’ll never be short of someone to play with."

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