Page 126 of Test the Ice
Forty
REESE
Charleigh restsher head against my chest, my heart still beating furiously behind my ribs. She squirms against me, fighting sleep. Either that, or she can sense my worries.
I haven’t said a word to Malaki or Zoe.
Malaki didn’t try to pry anything out of me after he talked to the mediator. I’m not entirely sure what she told him, but that’s something I can deal with when I get my thoughts straight.
My head is too messy.
Benedict’s lies tangle together, his opinions of me as a mother cutting so deep I ache.
The whole thirty-three minutes we spent in that cold room with lie after lie spilling from his mouth plays on repeat, my foolish, naive self unsuspecting that he’d gothisfar because of his jealousy.
Or whatever it is that is driving him to do this to me.
To us.
My eyes gloss over again.
I gently walk Charleigh over to her crib and place her inside of it, my heart tearing in half. The thought of Benedict takingme to court for full custody of Charleigh is unfathomable. If he continues to dig up things from my past to spin a narrative of how I’m an unfit mother like he did in the mediation, I don’t see how the custody hearing could go any other way.
I hang my head and listen to Zoe and Malaki whispering in the hallway.
“She didn’t say anything?”
“No. I figured it was best to just give her some space.”
“Don’t give her too much,” Zoe says. “She won’t admit it, but she needs us.”
Malaki sighs. “I gotta go to practice…I’ll be back around nine.”
They part ways, and I see Zoe’s bare feet stop outside of Charleigh’s door. She walks the short distance to the opposite wall and slides down until her butt hits the floor.
My sister is almost as persistent as Malaki.
There is no use in avoiding her.
I wipe my eyes and walk into the hallway.
Zoe perks up, but she stays on the floor, knowing I’ll find my way over to her.
Once I slide down beside her, she takes my hand in hers and squeezes.
It’s just like when we were younger. Just her and me in a quiet house, with fear as our shadow, too scared to speak, too fearful to think of the future.
I know the minute I rehash what just happened with Benedict, my worries will become her worries, and that’s not how it’s supposed to be.
I’m the older sister.
I take care of her, not the other way around.
But the longer I sit with Zoe, the heavier things become, until I can’t take it anymore.
“He’s put me in an impossible position,” my voice cracks.
“How so?” she whispers.
