Page 64 of The B!tch List

I jumped up and instantly felt a pain that ran from my stomach to chest. It took the wind from me, and I dropped back down to the edge of the bed.

“She didn’t want her though.”

“I know, Shaw. I’m so sorry. I have no idea what’s changed but suddenly she’s not going on her trip and wants Tia back.”

Fuck. How can this hurt so damn much when she’s only been in my life a week? I felt like I was going to be sick.

“What happens now? Do I have to give her back?” I couldn’t do it. “How do I stop it? Why the fuck…?”

“I have no idea, buddy. I’m going to put another call in with her lawyer tomorrow now that I’ve spoken to you. I’m guessing the answer is you’re going to fight it.”

“Hell yes!” I pushed up from the bed and bent at the waist to try and ease the pain. “I just don’t understand it.”

“Me neither. The main thing is you’re doing all the right things. Getting your name on the birth certificate is important because then you can assert parental rights including custody and visitation rights. You already logged it with the Department of Vital Records, right.”

“Yeah,” I breathed out. “It could take about a month.”

“It’s in the system though so that’s a good thing. To be honest, Shaw I think you’re good. She dumped Tia on your doorstep with a note. There is one thing though that might help your case.”

“What?” I asked. “I’ll do anything.”

“Her lawyer may involve Child Services, so you need to make sure the family are all in on supporting you. Maybe get some sort of childcare plan drawn up, get her signed up to preschool now so that it shows you’re committed to her future.”

“Anything else?” I asked, the tightness in my chest starting to diminish.

“Get yourself a serious relationship.”

He laughed but when an image of Nancy Andrews swam in front of my eyes, I was pretty sure that the pain was back.

It was the night of the big party at the Big D ranch, and I’d heard from Lily that there was going to be around a hundred people there. Jefferson had gone all out for it, determined that Kitty had a night to remember. The proposal would ensure that if nothing else did. As for the ring, well that sounded beyond amazing if Lily’s description of it was anything to go by.

Talking of Lily, she’d taken it upon herself to get Bronte and Carter to give me a ride over to the ranch. I think that she knew I’d probably cry off otherwise. What with everything going on with the bank and Minnesota being there, I wasn’t up for it. Don’t get me wrong I knew it would be a great night, but I just wasn’t feeling it.

“Okay,” Bronte said as we pulled away from my apartment. “Tell me all about the bank. Shaw gave me a load a crap about client confidentiality, but like I told him, wasn’t I the one who persuaded you it’d be a good idea.”

“Lollipop, you wanna take a breath?” Carter looked at me in the rearview mirror and raised his eyebrows.

“I’m excited for Nancy is all,” she said, smacking at his leg. “So, spill the beans.”

Rett dropped his toy monkey on the seat next to me, so I handed it to him and got myself a smile and a giggle, while Bronte jumped impatiently up and down in the front passenger seat.

“It appears that Ruthie’s bid on the property was sweetened by giving the contract for the rebuild to the guy selling it,” I explained, unconsciously tickling Rett’s leg. “It’s called bidder something or other and Shaw got proof. He was going to speak to Ruthie’s lawyer yesterday, but I haven’t heard from him.”

Bronte and Carter exchanged a glance

“He’s been busy with stuff with Tia,” Bronte sighed. She shifted in her seat so that she could see me better. “Tia’s grandmother wants her back.”

My heart stopped for a beat and then dropped to my stomach. An ache that I’d buried long ago spiked in my chest and surprised me. “Oh my god, how’s he taken that? He’s really bonding with her.”

“He’s pretty gutted,” Carter said. “Like you said he’s been bonding with her more and more each day.”

“I feel so bad for him,” Bronte added.

Shaw must have been feeling desperate and I just wanted to console him and support him as best I could. I hoped that he’d got Tate on the case.

“Tate will sort it,” Carter said, as if reading my mind. “He’s a good lawyer.”

“Exactly,” Bronte replied a little more brightly. “And Shaw said we’re not even to think about it until it happens, especially not tonight. He wants us all to have fun and said tonight is all about Kitty.”

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