Page 79 of No Greater Love
"She won't like that."
"Then she doesn't have to meet with me."
A small smile tugged at Tasha's lips. "Look at you, setting boundaries already."
"I'm trying." I pulled her closer. "I know you think this is a mistake."
"I think Sarah is manipulative and selfish and doesn't deserve a second of your time," Tasha said. "But I also know you. You need to do this or you'll torture yourself with what-ifs. So yes, I'll come. And I'll be watching her like a hawk."
"Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet. If she says one thing that feels off, I'm calling her on it. Honor and duty be damned."
I kissed her forehead. "I'm counting on it."
From inside, Paige called out, "Dad! I'm gonna be late!"
Normal life, demanding attention. I squeezed Tasha's hand and headed back inside to grab Paige's backpack and my keys.
"Everything okay?" Paige asked as we headed to the car.
"Everything's fine, kiddo."
"Is Tasha mad about something?"
"No, honey. Why would you think that?"
"She looked mad when you were on the phone. Like, scary mad. Like when Miss Deanna yelled at me."
My heart clenched. Even when we tried to protect her, Paige saw everything.
"She's not mad," I said carefully. "Just protective. She cares about us."
"Good," Paige said simply. "We need someone scary on our side sometimes."
If only she knew how much we were about to need exactly that.
twenty-seven
tasha
I watchedNate's car disappear around the corner, Paige chattering away in the passenger seat about some science project, completely oblivious to the storm heading our way. My coffee had gone cold, but I stayed on the deck, trying to process what had just happened.
Sarah had called. Of course she had. The legal papers were just the opening salvo—now came the manipulation disguised as reasonable requests. And Nate, honorable to a fault, was already falling for it.
I understood why. God help me, I understood him well enough by now to see every button Sarah was pushing. The guilt about Paige not having a mother. The promise he'd made to keep the door open. The deep-seated fear that he wasn't enough.
But understanding didn't make it any less frustrating.
My phone buzzed. A text from Maria at the hospital.
Maria
You coming in today? We're already short-staffed and it's barely 8.
Day off, remember? Ask someone who doesn't have a family crisis brewing.
Maria
