Page 85 of The B!tch List

“You’re going to have to speak to Shaw at some point, Nancy. He is your legal representative.” She cleared her throat. “He’s working today anyways.”

I nodded. “Okay, maybe I’ll pop over to the house.”

“Don’t forget, ten is when he’s free.”

Once Bronte had left, I realized that she was right, I would need to see Shaw at some point, so perhaps it was best to get it over and done with.

* * *

When I knocked on the Jackson’s front door and Shaw answered, I wasn’t totally surprised. I had no idea what it was, but on the drive over I’d had a feeling that he would be the first person that I saw.

“Nancy,” he said, sounding surprised. “I thought you were someone else.”

“Sorry.” I looked behind me. “Are you expecting someone?”

He scratched his neck and seemed unsure on what to answer. Before he had a chance to open his mouth, Darcy appeared.

“Nancy, oh hey. Come on in.”

“Mom,” Shaw warned. “They’re going to be here soon.”

“They said they were running late; they could be hours yet.”

I had no clue who ‘they’ were, but it seemed important. Then it struck me Shaw was home yet dressed in a button down and dress pants and Darcy had definitely had a blow out of her hair, seeing as it was particularly big today.

“Is it your Child Services visit today?”

Shaw’s face colored but it was Darcy who answered. “It is, and you being here is perfect. You can tell them all about your new venture and how you’ve agreed to take Tia.”

“Mom, no,” Shaw growled. “I’m sorry, Nance. Just ignore her. If it’s about the bank, can we talk later?”

I was going to respond when I heard a car behind me.

“They’re here,” Darcy hissed and reached out her hand to grab mine. “Quick Nancy come on in.”

She dragged me into the hallway and when she did, I spotted Bronte and Jim both peering around the doorway of the lounge. Bronte had an impish grin on her face, and I realized then that I’d been played. I narrowed my eyes on her, but she didn’t appear to care one bit that she’d been rumbled.

“Come on in, Nance,” she said with the slight tinkle of laughter. “You’re just who we need.”

The people from Child Services introduced themselves to everyone and then asked who each of us were. The whole time that Bronte, Jim and Darcy spoke, I watched Shaw and noted how scared he looked. Tia was apparently taking a nap, but it didn’t escape me that he kept lifting up the baby monitor to his ear, and then peering at the camera screen, double checking on her. He smiled at me a couple of times and while Darcy had made everyone some lemonade, he’d sidled up to me and told me I didn’t need to stay. I couldn’t walk now though, especially if talking about my preschool would help him to keep Tia.

“And who are you?” Mrs. Shelby a kindly looking lady with a sharp pixie cut asked.

“This is Nancy,” Shaw said. “She’s a family friend and owns the new preschool that we’re hoping to send Tia to.”

I frowned at him, wondering why he’d felt the need to answer on my behalf. Maybe he’d thought I’d tell them that he was a liar and would be a terrible father. That was far from the truth though. He was a great dad considering he had little to no experience.

“Ah okay,” Mrs. Shelby said writing something on her pad. “So, when does your school open Nancy?”

“I have a three-month deadline,” I lied. “I’m just about to start interviewing teachers.” Damn I’d be going to hell for the lies I was telling. Well, they weren’t exactly lies, more stretching the truth. I had the advertisement written up, I just needed to speak to the recruitment consultant in Middleton Ridge.

“That’s excellent,” Mr. Alexander added. “And you would help Shaw until then?” he asked Darcy.

She nodded and Bronte said, “Me too.”

Then I had no clue why I said what I said, but the words just tumbled out of my mouth. “Obviously as Shaw’s girlfriend I’ll mostly be helping.”

It was then that Shaw dropped the baby monitor, and I thought that I was most definitely going to hell.

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