Page 33 of Rafa's Convenient Wife

And I’m not strong enough to carry it alone.

Showering. Eating. Shopping. Exercising. Cooking. Sleeping. Everything was on her. Jasper had been having sleep problems and was so clingy she could barely put him down for a minute before he started wailing. She didn’t blame him. He couldn’t help it. His whole world had been rocked, and he desperately wanted his mother and father.

His pediatrician had warned her the next few months would be difficult. Jasper would adjust, but it would be on his owntime. She did whatever she could to make him feel loved and safe, even if that meant skipping self-care of even the most basic kind.

She hadn’t planned to take that Greek vacation, not after losing Maddie and Jaime, but it would have been nice if Rafael had at least asked her about it. She had canceled and lost all the money she’d spent. She didn’t care about the money, of course, but it was the principle. She always made a point to ask Rafael about work, about his family, if he needed her to do anything for him.

Did he reciprocate? Not really. Once or twice, he had made a point to send her away for a shower and a nap, but she suspected it was because he caught a whiff of her stinky pits or noticed her greasy, limp hair. He hadn’t even mentioned her books or what he was reading at all. Everything was work or Jasper.

Four days ago, she had brought up the idea of hiring some help. He had grown immediately defensive, insisting they could handle it.

“Beverly is dragging us to court. If we have to hire a nanny, she’s going to use that as ammunition against us,” Rafa had worried.

Instead, he had asked if Stacy, Maddie’s longtime housekeeper who came twice a week, could pitch in to help. When she had explained that childcare was way outside Stacy’s job description, he had been irritated. The conversation had ended there because, of course, his phone had started ringing and the call couldn’t be ignored.

“Sky.” Katherine Torre, the lead attorney on their custody battle, entered the office where they were waiting. “I’m sorry, but we really need to start the mediation.”

“Right. Um. Okay. Rafael will have to join us when he gets here.”

If he gets here...

Her legs trembled as she followed Katherine across the lobby to the elevator. She felt so out of place and uncomfortable in a law firm. Nothing in her closet looked even passably appropriate for a legal proceeding. Lola had finally convinced her to go into Maddie’s closet. She’d spent almost an hour crying among her sister’s wardrobe while flicking through the hangers and sending photos to Lola.

Eventually, they had settled on wide leg trousers, a blouse, belt and heels. The clothes fit well enough, but she felt like a little girl playing dress-up. She had hoped to feel closer to Maddie, to feel like she was there with her in spirit, but she felt like a fraud.

What if I mess this up?

What if I say something stupid?

What if I give Beverly the opening she needs to pounce and rip out my throat?

What if I lose Jasper?

Rafael had been to all the pre-mediation sessions with her. He had been the one who did most of the talking. He was comfortable in legal settings. He understood the system better than she did. He was calm and collected.

I need him.

And he abandoned me.

Just like everyone always does.

When they reached the correct floor, Sky followed Katherine to the mediation room. As soon as she entered, she caught the cloying scent of Beverly’s perfume saturating the air. She stood by a window, her hair expertly coiffed, her pantsuit perfectly tailored. Diamonds and gold glinted in the sunlight.

Sky’s breath caught in her throat when Beverly turned to face her. The older woman looked ready to kill.

Me.

She wants to kill me.

“Mrs. Farias, I am Mike Ramirez.” The older gentleman who would be mediating their case introduced himself. “I expected your husband to join us, but I understand he’s running late?”

“Yes. He was on a flight that seems to have been delayed.”

“Are there any mountain ranges between here and there?” Beverly cruelly asked her attorney. “Maybe foggy weather?”

“Beverly!” her attorney hissed.

“Ma’am,” Mike, the mediator, forcefully said. “We discussed this before we started. I was clear about the rules.”

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