“The time to beat is thirty-eight seconds, isn’t it?” I knew Declan wouldn’t be satisfied until he beat his best time. This was something he did whenever we came outside.
He nodded, setting his timer, taking off for another lap. I was glad he was adept at occupying himself.
I placed the food on the grill, keeping an eye on Declan. After a few minutes, Avery joined me.
“All done.” She stood uncertainly a few feet away from the door.
“Thank you. You should come sit, make yourself at home. This will probably be your only reprieve from Declan’s Lego talk.”
Avery stood next to me. “What’s he doing?”
“Timing himself running around the yard. It’s a little mind-numbing to watch but it keeps him busy. What did you do the rest of the afternoon?” An image of her bathing popped in my head, her skin beaded with water, bubbles floating on top but not obscuring the top of her breasts.
“I took that bath I was talking about and read a few chapters of my book.”
I nearly groaned out loud. Had she tweaked her nipples before a hand drifted down her stomach to her clit, then inserted a finger inside? My cock twitched at the thought of her pleasuring herself in the bath like I’d done in the shower. I had to push the image out of my mind so I didn’t get hard while Declan was nearby, telling myself she probably hadn’t masturbated to thoughts and fantasies of me like I had of her. I cleared my throat. “Sounds relaxing.”
She lightly gripped my forearm, grounding me in the moment with her touch, her warmth. “It was. How about you?”
I took a sip of my beer to soothe my suddenly parched throat. “I took a shower and got dinner ready. I’m domestic.”
She stepped closer, her breast brushing my arm. “Do you miss it? Your business, your friends in California.”
I closed my eyes briefly, trying to erase the feel of her against my body. Was she doing this on purpose to drive me crazy? “I don’t miss working sixteen-hour days. My friends turned out not to be my friends.”
Her face scrunched as if I’d said something distasteful.
I probably should keep the conversation light, not talk about my past.
“You didn’t have other friends?” She tilted her head thoughtfully, her hair tickling my arm.
“No. I didn’t have time for anyone else. We hung out together. When I worked late, they must have hung out with each other.” The bitterness rolled off my tongue, but I didn’t want to scare her off.
“Are you still upset about it?”
I felt her gaze on the side of my face as I carefully considered my words before I answered. “No. She did me a favor. I don’t work crazy hours anymore. I have time and money to care for Declan. I’m getting to know Declan in a way I never could living across the country from him.”
“Would you have taken Declan in if you were still living in California?” Her voice was soft, her words carefully measured as if she’d thought about her question before she asked.
I tilted my head, thinking about the answer. “I’d like to say yes, but I was so different back then. Nothing mattered more than my job. I probably would have asked my parents to do it.”
“I know you said you’d had someone follow his mother after Julian died, but have you done it recently? Do you think she’ll come back?” Her voice was hushed, her eyes on Declan, probably to make sure he didn’t overhear our conversation.
“I haven’t, but that’s a good idea, I should. See where she’s living now.”
“What will you do if she comes back?”
Her seemingly innocent question landed like a heavy weight on my chest, making breathing difficult. “I hadn’t thought about it.”
“You should. She could cause a lot of problems for you, request visitation, ask for a say in his schooling and health decisions, disrupt the rhythm you established with him.”
My hands stilled as my stomach sunk. “Even if I’m named guardian?”
“She’s the biological mother. She certainly has a right to ask a court for those things. It doesn’t mean she’d get it.” Avery was picking a piece of lint off her dress but when she looked up, seeing my face, she said, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything. I wasn’t thinking. I was going through the legal ramifications in my head, not thinking about how it would feel for you to hear that.”
“It’s okay. I should be prepared.” I should have been thinking of what would happen if Erin came back, but my mind was stuck, like I was trying to move through mud, not getting anywhere.
“Originally you said you didn’t want to be his guardian.” Her eyes followed me carefully as if cataloging each move, dissecting each word.
“Yeah, well. Things change.” My tone was dismissive even though she was right.
Seemingly satisfied, she smiled. “That’s good. Declan seems happy with you.”
“He likes you too. He was excited you were coming.” I kept my gaze on Declan, who was inspecting the dirt with a stick as if he’d found a bug, but my mind was reeling with the possibilities. Could Erin take him from me when I’d already made myself at home in Julian’s house with his son?
Avery’s hand touched my forearm. “I’m really sorry. I told you I say things without thinking. She abandoned him so long ago, I doubt she’ll come back.”
“No. You’re right. If she finds out Julian died and I have money, she’ll be here in a heartbeat.” Dread coiled in my stomach even as I mentally prepared myself to fight her.
“You think?”
“She has a pattern of dating guys with money or guys she hopes have deep pockets, then dumping them when they don’t. It wouldn’t be too hard for her to find out that I have money.”
“I hope for Declan and your sakes, she doesn’t. But even if she does, she’s never been the primary caretaker. Did you inform her when Julian died?”
“No. I’ve been putting it off. Do I have to legally?”
“You should. She has a right to know unless she signed a termination of rights?”
“No. Julian didn’t want to ask her, to give her a reason to come back.”
My heart ached for the choices Julian had to make. Everything he did was to protect his son. “Obviously, if she’d terminated her rights, you’d be in a better position.”
“Julian picked you. You’re doing a great job. You have the means to care for him. Those things matter too.”
I wanted to believe her, but it was hard when everything else I’d worked so hard for came crashing down not so long ago. “I hope so.”
“Is dinner ready?” Declan approached, oblivious to our conversation and the rolling of my stomach.
I got up to check the chicken then pulled the veggies off. I heard Avery talking softly to Declan about what he’d discovered in the yard, but I couldn’t focus on anything other than Erin disrupting the delicate balance we’d struck together. We’d only lived together for a few short months, but he’d worked his way into my heart. Erin didn’t deserve him. She’d never been a mother to him.
I carried the platter of chicken inside, making a second trip to get the veggies, placing them in the center of the table. Declan was seated, waiting for me to serve him. Avery poured water in everyone’s glasses.