Page 39 of Eligible Best Friend

“You still need a long-term plan.”

We’ve had this conversation before. The longer I wait to fight for custody, the harder it’s going to be. I’m finally getting on top of student loans and Mom’s finances are stable, but it’s still going to be a while before I can afford a lawyer. “A long-term plan will be easier if my son knows who I am and is comfortable around me.”

Sympathy lights her eyes. “I know. I’m sorry. Count this as the only moment I regret not going to law school. I wouldn’t have gone into family law, but I could’ve helped you out.”

She’s mentioned that before. “How would Samuel have handled you going to law school and not being at his beck and call?”

She wrinkles her nose. “He’s a big-picture guy. It’s why he divorced his first wife. She was a career woman through and through and he wanted to be the guy on stage, with a wife and two-point-two children by his side while he was sworn into office. She wasn’t willing to commit to that yet in her twenties.”

I couldn’t picture Lia ready to commit to it either. Samuel must’ve thought otherwise. Or he’d gotten to her early enough to groom her into the perfect package. “How would you wave while holding your two-point-two children as he got sworn into office?”

Without hesitating, she flashes a superficial grin straight out of a Hollywood magazine and waves her hand, a dainty move that’d make Miss America take notes. The move is experienced. She’s done it before, just without the husband and kids.

Her expression changes to a scowl. “He thought he was helping me subvert my parents with the whole law school thing. Except he was just doing what they did and corralling me into what he wanted me to do.”

“So instead of being a high-powered lawyer with top political connections, a big house, and perfect children, you’re okay hanging out with me and Jayden?”

“Add in saving lives on the side, and I’m fine for now.”

The for now lingers between us as we finish our meal.

* * *

Lia

“Can you stay for supper?” Maggie sways on the edge of her first-story deck, Jayden on her hip. His fine, dusty hair’s all mussed from a nap. He’s cuddled against Maggie’s shoulder, all pink cheeks and glassy eyes.

It took all of five minutes for him to warm up to his grandma and they’ve been inseparable ever since. Maggie stayed inside to keep an ear out for Jayden while Ford and I did yard work. When Ford moved his mom to this small, easily maintainable apartment, Maggie was given a deal on her rent in exchange for some light cleaning and maintenance around the building. Behind each side-by-side apartment, a small strip of grass separates the deck from the gate to the patio area that she’s charged with. The property managers hire yard workers to get everything going when the seasons change, while Maggie takes care of weeds and tends to the flower beds between visits.

The pool and party house that are part of the apartment complex are partly her responsibility too. She tests the water each day and does the daily cleaning. A service will come in for anything more. It’s gone a long way toward whittling down the debt his stepdad left.

Ford straightens from the rock-filled flower bed he’s weeding and wipes his brow. “Are you okay with that?”

As if I have other plans on a Sunday night. Even if I did, I’d rather be here. “That’s fine.”

I’m enjoying my time. So far, I haven’t gotten to visit with Maggie much. She’s been in full grandma mode, and that’s been its own joy to watch. She was on the floor, crawling around with her grandson. Ford brought an old Fargo EMS tote bag full of toys over and a pair of tiny swimming trunks.

I expected stuffed animals or something, but there was only one. Half the toys make noise and hold Jayden’s interest for maybe five minutes. Then there are the building blocks, both the Duplos and some plain wooden ones with letters and shapes etched into them. Jayden gnaws on them both.

Ford takes his work gloves off and nimbly steps out of the rocks to the grass. “Hey, Mom, mind if we take Jayden in the pool before supper’s ready?”

“Not at all. I’ll get him ready while you change.”

I look down at my dusty shorts. I haven’t sweated through my T-shirt material, so I’m still presentable, but I didn’t bring a swimsuit.

Humor mixes with suggestion. “You can strip down to your bra and underwear.”

“That will go over well if Cass finds out.”

He chuckles and picks up the bucket of weeds we pulled. “I’ll be in the water with him and we’re staying in the shallow end.”

“I can sit on the edge.”

Ford disappears into the tool shed on the other side of the pool house and cleans up everything while I swat the dust off me, then go inside to wash up.

When I’m done, I check with Maggie in the kitchen. “Do you need help with anything?”

She’s showing Jayden all the different ingredients she’s going to use for the meal. She leaves him with a colander and a wooden spoon and crosses to me. “Not at all. You’re going swimming?”

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