Page 119 of Falling for Love

In very quick order.

The weight of playing detective exhausted me, so I decided to send what I had to my attorney. At least this little bit of research might save me some money.

Sitting at the kitchen table, I stared at the empty coffee mug in front of me, the cool ceramic a stark contrast to the storm brewing in my chest. The morning had started quietly enough—Hayden’s bus had rolled away with his excited wave, and I’d come back inside hoping to focus on something productive. But instead, my mind kept circling back to everything that had happened.

I picked up my phone and dialed my mom, not entirely sure what I would say. She answered on the second ring, her warm voice instantly calming some of my nerves.

“Evie, sweetheart. What’s on your mind? Have you spoken with the attorney yet?”

“Yeah.” I sighed, running my fingers through my hair. “He didn’t say things I wanted to hear.”

Her tone softened. “What’s going on?”

“My attorney said he does have every right to file for custody.” I cleared my throat. “But he thinks we have a good leg to stand on. However, the courts can be tricky.”

“Yes, they can.” She sighed on the other end of the line, her understanding palpable. “Evie, you know how he operates. He thrives on control. Maybe this is just another way to try to take it.”

“That’s what scares me. But why, after so many years? Why now? He’s not doing this for Hayden. He’s doing it for himself, and I don’t know how far he will go.”

“There is a motive with the guy. Mark my words, and things will fall into place once you figure it out.”

“I hope so.” I let out a deep breath. “And in the meantime, I need to keep Hayden distracted.”

“Sweetheart,” she said gently, “you’ve been an amazing mother. Hayden knows that. And anyone who looks at your life will see it, too. Your ex doesn’t have a case. He’s grasping at straws.”

I swallowed hard, her words comforting but not enough to erase the knot in my stomach.

“I keep trying to remind myself of that, but then I think about Hayden, and I can’t bear the thought of him being caught in the middle.”

Her voice grew firmer. “He won’t be. You’ll protect him, Evie. You’ve been protecting him since the day you left. And you’re not alone in this. I’ll come up the moment you say the word.”

I hesitated, the weight of her words sinking in. “I know. It’s just... sometimes it feels like I am.”

“You’re not,” she insisted. “You’ve got me. And from what I hear, you’ve got Liam, too.”

Her mention of Liam sent a rush of warmth and guilt through me.

“Liam’s great, Mom, but this isn’t his fight. He doesn’t need to be dragged into this mess.”

“Have you told him that?” she asked.

“Not exactly,” I admitted, my cheeks flushing. “I keep trying to keep things light, but he’s... persistent. He wants to help.”

“Because he cares about you, Evie,” she said simply. “Don’t shut him out. If he’s offering to be there for you, let him. It’s not about dragging him into the mess. It’s about letting him stand beside you.”

I leaned back in my chair, her words settling over me like a blanket.

“You think I’m overthinking this?”

“I think you’re doing what you’ve always done—trying to shoulder everything alone,” she said gently. “But you don’t have to. Trust yourself, Evie. And trust the people who love you.”

Tears filled my eyes, and I quickly wiped them away. “Thanks, Mom.”

“Anytime, sweetheart. You’ve got this.”

“Thanks, Mom. Love ya.”

“If you need me to drive up, I will.”

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