Page 85 of No Greater Love
"Try to stop me."
"She won't like that."
"Good." Tasha's smile was sharp. "Let her not like it. Let her show her true colors when she doesn't get exactly what she wants."
"And if she doesn't? If she really has changed?"
"Then we'll deal with that too. Together." She stood, pulling me up with her. "Come on. Let's get out of here. This place reeks of manipulation and overpriced coffee."
As we left, I grabbed Sarah's photo album. Evidence, maybe. Or just props in whatever game she was playing. Either way, I'd need to study it, look for cracks in the facade.
Because Tasha was right about one thing—this was an eclipse, not an ending. I just had to have faith that the sun would come back out.
Even if I couldn't see how just yet.
twenty-nine
tasha
The driveback to Nate's house was quiet, both of us processing what had just happened. I kept replaying Sarah's performance in my head—because that's what it was, a performance. Every gesture calculated, every word chosen for maximum effect.
"She's going to want primary custody," I said as Nate pulled into his driveway.
He cut the engine but didn't move to get out. "What makes you say that?"
"Because she's not really interested in 'starting small.' That whole song and dance about coffee dates and stepping back? That's to make you lower your guard." I turned to face him. "She's checking boxes, Nate. Showing she tried to be reasonable, that you were the one who made things adversarial."
"Maybe she really does want to take it slow."
"Did you see her face when she saw me? Just for a second before she put the mask back on?"
He was quiet for a moment. "Yeah."
"I'm a complication she didn't expect. Living proof that Paige has a mother figure already." I laughed, but there was no humor in it. "God, the way she said 'she's lucky to have someone who'll fight for her.' Like I'm the nanny getting too attached."
"You're not?—"
"I know what I am to Paige. And to you." I touched his face, feeling the tension in his jaw. "But Sarah doesn't see it that way. To her, I'm just an obstacle."
We went inside, where the evidence of our life together was everywhere. Paige's school photos on the fridge, mixed in with pictures from our beach trip. My nursing textbooks on the coffee table next to Nate's meal planning notebook. Three sets of shoes by the door.
"I need to call Sophia," I said suddenly.
Nate looked up from where he was staring at Sarah's photo album. "Why?"
"Because she's been through this. The ex coming back, the threats, the legal stuff. She'll know what to watch for."
He nodded slowly. "Good idea."
I found Sophia’s number in my phone and hit call. She answered on the second ring.
"Tasha? Everything okay?"
"Not really. Are you free to talk?"
"Always. What's going on?"
I gave her the abbreviated version; Sarah's return, the legal papers, today's meeting. When I finished, Sophia was quiet for a long moment.
