Page 5 of Choosing Forever
“It’s still summer break. Dad didn’t let me stay upthatlate.”
“We’ll see you in the morning, Sasha,” I say, inserting myself before she can continue with her backhanded comments.
She stands, pinning me with a narrowed gaze. “I’m serious.”
“I know you are. And she still has a week to get back on a routine.”
“You won’t be feeling as casual about this come the first day of school. In case you forgot, this is your first year having to worry about it.”
I dig my tongue into my cheek. Abbie snags my hand, and my attention snaps down to her. She yawns again, and I know without having to look at the time that we’re well past herbedtime. Her obvious exhaustion is enough to have me cutting this conversation short.
“Good night, Sasha. I’ll text you when we’re up in the morning,” I grit out before guiding Abbie away from the car. Without looking at my ex-wife again, I reach into the back seat and grab our two bags. “Have a great rest of your night.”
“Well then, give me a hug, Abs. I’ll see you tomorrow bright and early,” she tells Abbie.
“’Night, Mom. Thanks for letting me stay here tonight.”
“I’ll have you all week. I suppose I shouldn’t hog you.”
I spin back around and join them before locking the car. “You heard her. Let’s head in.”
My daughter doesn’t even attempt to take her bag from me, knowing I’d just tell her that I’ll carry it. I’d laugh at that if it wasn’t for the woman still looming like a storm cloud hovering above my head.
The instant Abbie turns her back to us and slumps her way up to the front door, Sasha’s jabbing her finger into my chest. The shade of red on her cheeks is shocking, considering the lack of evening light.
“Don’t argue with me in front of her like that, Darren! I swear, I knew you were going to do this when I agreed to let you take her for the weekend. Every time she comes back from one of your trips, she’s got an attitude that I have to work through. You spoil her too much,” she whisper-hisses.
I shake my head a single time and swallow my immediatelaugh. If there’s one thing I’ve learned while co-parenting with a woman who only ever wants to see the worst in me is to learn when to keep my mouth shut and when to argue. Right now, arguing with Sasha is the last thing I want to do. It won’t do anything but escalate the situation.
She might use giving me permission to take Abbie for the weekend as some form of leverage, but that’s easy to shrug off. Our custody agreement is simple. It rotates every week with shared alternating holidays. If I want to take our daughter on a weekend trip to the mountains three hours away, I can do that without her permission, the same way she can take her to her new fiancé’s parents’ house without mine. I choose to ask for it because despite our disagreements, I still appreciate and respect her as Abbie’s mother.
There’s no leverage there for her to use.
With a blank expression, I gently push her finger away and nod to where her SUV is parked along the curb. “Go home, Sasha. I’ve got Abbie, and you’ll see her in the morning.”
Some of the ire dulls in her eyes. “Text me the minute she wakes up, Darren. I’m serious.”
“I took a ton of photos of her while we were gone. I’ll send those tonight.”
It’s as close to a peace offering as I’ve got in me tonight.
“Thank you. I’d appreciate that.”
“Dad! Unlock the door, please,” Abbie calls.
I back off Sasha and leave her on the driveway without another word. Once I’m coming up behind Abbie, she’s the only thing on my mind.
“Don’t start, Poppy.”
“I haven’t even said anything.”
“You didn’t need to. Yourface says enough.”
“So, then there’s no point in me keeping my words to myself.”
“We’re not talking about this right now. I can handle Sasha.”
The rough noise Poppy replies with is spot-on, really. I’ve been “handling” Sasha for years now, and I don’t think I’m getting any better at it. If anything, it’s the opposite.
