Page 46 of A Little Puck Luck

I didn’t understand what he meant by the text, and he hadn’t responded to my message asking for more details. I looked up at the clock. It was time to pick up Eric from school.

When I hit the instant starter on my car, the doorbell rang, so I changed directions and headed to the giant door.

Peeking around the door, I asked, “Can I help you?”

The woman looked down at her notes and said, “Are you Annette Donaldson?”

I felt so foolish for changing my last name to Donaldson. I should have kept it, Diaz, but Luke said that taking his last name was us taking on the husband and wife mantle. But we weren’t married. He was just a controlling boyfriend, and taking his last name made him look good.

I was in the process of switching my name back, but had I only just started.

“Yes, that’s my legal name,” I replied.

The woman shoved a packet of papers in front of my face and pointed to the cover page. “Sign here.”

After I signed, the woman snatched the cover page from my hand and retreated. I was left with the packet of papers, but since I had to pick Eric up from school, I just took them with me to the car.

It was a short drive to the school. As I waited in the car pick-up line, which was its own special form of hell, I grabbed the packet to see what was going on.

Just seeing the header, I sat there in disbelief. Luke was suing me and Terry. How the hell did he find out I was living with Terry or even know to name Terry in a lawsuit?

I sat in a stupor, trying to comprehend the legalese in front of me.

Beep. Beep.

Shit, the car pick-up line had moved, so I quickly pulled forward to not piss off any more parents.

I scanned the papers again. Luke was asking for custody, calling me an unfit parent. He insinuated that Terry’s lifestyle only served to corrupt Eric, which was crazy.

It didn’t make any sense. Why would he even think he could get custody? Did he want to hurt me?

Then I realized Luke wouldn’t care about spending money on lawyers as long as it hurt me.

I wanted to cry, but if I did, it would upset Eric if he knew, so I had to buck up and pretend everything was okay. Just like I had to for years.

At least my mask was pretty good.

Somehow, both Terry and I managed to act like everything was normal this evening.

Okay, Terry might have been going overboard with the whole being Eric’s perfect dad routine. From the moment he came home, he had all eyes on Eric. He helped Eric with his worksheets, then played with him and took him out for ice cream.

When Terry had Eric on his lap and was listening to him read out the book in front of him, it was sweet. He would even help Eric sound out the words in front of him. Even Walter was lying at Terry’s feet, creating one of those old-fashioned family moments.

Not being able to help myself, I pulled out my phone and took a video of it all.

But I couldn’t get too trapped with taking in the moment for too long since it was getting late. So, after a couple of photos, I put my phone into my pocket.

Clapping my hands, I said, “Hate to break this up, but it’s bedtime.”

“Aww, man,” Eric whined, but he immediately hopped off Terry’s lap.

Terry rubbed his head and stood up. Instead of having Eric walk upstairs like a normal person, Terry scooped him up. “Let’s fly into bed tonight.”

Eric made the airplane arms and noises while Terry carried him upstairs, and I followed behind. Then he did a couple of spins before dropping Eric onto the bed.

Eric broke out into giggles and held out his arms. “Time to kiss Mom and Dad goodnight.”

Walter jumped onto the bed and licked Eric’s face. At first, Eric loved it, but then he pulled his head back a little. Terry snapped his fingers so the big dog would get off the bed. Eric sat up straight and looked stern—well, as stern as a six-year-old could manage. “Walter, you’re not Mommy or Daddy.”

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