Page 24 of Tangled Trust

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The week has dragged on. It’s 6 p.m. Sunday evening, and Carter is about to fetch Jagger. I plan on having a word or two with him about Ella. Jagger doesn’t stop talking about her, and it hurts me when he does. Ella this…Ella that. It’s all I can do not to scream at him to stop saying her bloody name.

The doorbell rings. It’s Carter. Jagger runs to the door and jumps into his father’s arms. It hurts to see the two of them together. It hurts because I know I should be with them. Instead, I’m alone.

"Hello, Amanda. How are you?"

"Not as well as you, it would seem."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, judging from your choice of Au Pair, I'd say you’re just aces. Pretty young thing. Now I understand why I wasn’t invited to the interview."

"Don’t start, Amanda. I don’t want to fight."

"It’s beneath you, Carter. Courting the staff. Who’s next? The girls who clean your room? Don’t look so surprised. Jagger’s told me all about your romantic little beach sessions and fun outings."

"That’s low. Interrogating your own six-year-old. He’s just a child. Why don’t you ask me if you want to know about my life? Not that it’s any of your business, but Ella and I are not sleeping together. She takes excellent care of our son."

"Uh-huh."

"Why would you care, anyway? You wanted a divorce, Amanda. Not me. I can sleep with the entire neighborhood’s Au Pairs if I choose to, and you’ll have nothing to say about it."

"Get out."

8

CARTER

Ican only imagine that Amanda’s nose is out of joint because Ella isn’t exactly the stereotypical Au Pair. Her snooty remarks and death stare left the room rather frosty when I fetched Jagger from her on Sunday. The woman drives me insane. It’s astounding how irrelevant her possessiveness over me is now that we are no longer married.

On the plus side, it’s been a week of bliss at home. Ella has made such a positive change in my son’s and my life. Not only is she wonderful with him, but she brings positivity that’s been sorely lacking in our home. Amanda was moody. I never knew where I stood from one moment to the next. Ella is completely different. She’s constant in her demeanor. I’m enjoying that side of her very much.

It’s Friday, and I know I’m not going to make it home in time to drop off Jagger with his mother, so I call Ella to ask her if she would do it for me.

"Hi, Carter."

"Hi, Ella. Could you do me a favor, please?"

"Of course. How can I help?"

There it is again. The congeniality that’s so attractive.

"Would you drop Jagger off at Amanda’s, please? I’m running late today."

"Uhm..sure. No problem."

She recovered fairly quickly, but I can tell from her initial response that she isn’t terribly keen.

"Is something wrong?"

"No. What time shall I drop Jagger off with his mother?"

"5 p.m., please."

"Of course."

"Thank you, Ella."

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