Page 36 of Better Together

“Met her” was a polite term for wanted to pluck her eyes out with hot pokers. The woman was a walking snake, and if he never saw her again, it would be too soon.

“Really?” Janet seemed to perk up. “We need to get in touch with her and confirm she isn’t interested in custody of the children. Also, Mark and Brittany’s estate will be on hold until she can waive rights if she so chooses. Do you know how we can contact her?”

Colt forced his lungs to push air in and out. Tasha wouldn’t have any love for the kids, but she would want everything and every penny Mark and Brittany might have had to their names. For all he cared, Tasha could have the debt and anything left, but he’d go down kicking and screaming before she’d get anywhere near Ben and Abby.

“No, I haven’t heard anything about her in years.” That was the truth. Even Brittany didn’t like her sister, especially after the lunatic got drunk at Mark and Brittany’s wedding and broke a bottle over the DJ’s head. The guy had suffered a skull fracture, and Tasha had been wasted through all of it.

He needed Tasha crashing this party like he needed gum on the bottom of his boot.

“Oh, well. We’ll keep looking for her.”

The phone buzzed beside Janet. “The Walker kids are here.”

Colt bolted out of his seat, but Remi’s calming hand rested on his arm.

Janet twirled her chair to the side and primly stood. “Ah, thank you.” She looked up at Colt with what might be considered a grin. “Let’s go to the meeting room.”

Colt and Remi followed Janet down the white-on-white hallway. When Janet rounded a corner, Remi took the opportunity to get Colt’s attention and wave her hand over her head in the shape of Janet’s mane. Remi mouthed, “Did you see that hair?”

Colt bumped her with his elbow and pinched his lips together. He would not start laughing now because he wouldn’t be able to contain it when he was face-to-face with Janet the lion.

Janet opened the door to a room and stepped to the side. Colt followed Remi inside, but the room was empty.

“I’ll bring the kids in just a sec,” Janet said as she closed the door.

Colt quickly turned to Remi. “Tasha is bad news. Like, we will have a tornado full of rusty nails on our hands if they bring her into this.”

Remi’s eyes widened. “Are you serious?”

Colt pushed his fingers through his hair. “She’s a nightmare wrapped in poison. Brittany didn’t even speak to her.”

Remi rested a hand on her forehead. “Maybe they won’t find her,” she whispered.

“Pray. Pray they don’t find her,” Colt pleaded.

“Okay. I’ll pray.”

“What if they find her and then they won’t let me have the kids? Surely, they wouldn’t give Ben and Abby to her just because she’s a woman and I’m a man, right?”

Remi swallowed, but she stayed silent.

“Remi!”

“I don’t know. I really want to say they would be stupid to give the kids to anyone but you. But I also know that women are seen as better caretakers in the grand scheme of things. We definitely need to call Camille in the morning.”

Colt covered his eyes with his hands. “I’m going to puke.”

At that moment, the door opened, and Abby bolted toward him. “Uncle Colt!”

Colt knelt and opened his arms, all worries about crazy Tasha gone as Abby wrapped her tiny arms around his neck.

“Abby bug!”

Ben stepped into the doorway with his hands in his pockets. When he locked eyes with Colt, Ben ducked his head and fell into Colt’s open arms.

Abby was jumping up and down, jostling his injured arm, but Colt couldn’t bring himself to care even a little. Ben and Abby were safe in his arms, and he finally felt like everything would be okay.

Abby pulled away and looked up at Remi. Her long dark hair fell over her shoulder. “Who are you? I’m Abby.”

---