Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 94639 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94639 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
As soon as I drive away, Richard starts in on me. “Was that who you were with the other night? Landon?”
“Not now,” I say, not wanting to have this conversation in front of our kids.
“Wow, it was, wasn’t it? How long have you been seeing him? Were you with him while we were still married?” My eyes swing over to his and the vehicle swerves slightly.
“That’s enough!”
“Mom, you know Coach Landon?” Hunter asks.
“Your dad, Landon, and I all went to school together,” I tell him.
“You went to school with Coach Landon?” Hunter asks. “Dad, did you play baseball with him?”
Richard grunts out a, “Yeah,” and Hunter’s face lights up in excitement.
“That’s so cool! You got to play with him! He’s the best baseball player ever.”
Richard rolls his eyes and I snort out a laugh.
We get to the house and everyone sits in the living room. Before Richard can say anything, Hunter speaks first. “Is this about you moving? Because if it is, I’m not going.”
Ella’s mouth pops open. “Daddy, you’re moving?”
“I haven’t taken the job yet,” Richard says, which shocks me because when we were talking, it sounded like it was as good as done. “I’m considering it, and Samantha and I are going to visit the city tomorrow. We would like it if you guys would come with us. Help us look at the different houses and tell us which ones you like.” He looks at me, his eyes lingering for a beat too long. “But I’m not sure if I’m going to take the job.”
“I have camp,” Hunter says. “And so does Ella. Right, El?”
“Yeah,” Ella says softly.
Hunter’s phone goes off and he glances down at it. “Brendan’s dad said I can go with them to the batting cages since Dad’s too busy to take me. Can I go? He can pick me up.”
My eyes widen at Hunter’s straightforwardness. He’s not being rude, only stating the facts, but damn, as he gets older, he doesn’t beat around the bush. It makes me wonder how bad it’s going to get during his teenage years if we don’t figure this out.
“I didn’t say I was too busy,” Richard says in a defensive tone.
“Can you take me or not?” Hunter volleys.
“I already told Samantha—”
“So you can’t,” Hunter says, cutting him off.
“No.” Richard sighs. “I can’t today.”
“Go ahead,” I tell Hunter.
“Can I spend the night at Madeline’s house?” Ella asks next, holding up her phone. “Aunt Renee says I can.” She’s only allowed to message her family and verified friends on it. Everything else is locked down. Madeline is Ella and Hunter’s cousin. While Richard isn’t close with his sister, Renee, even though she lives in Providence, I am. After we divorced, I was afraid she would turn her back on me, but she told me she didn’t blame me at all and promised we were still family no matter what. Ella and her cousin are close and are attending the same gymnastics camp.
“That’s fine,” I tell her. “Can you drop her off at your sister’s on your way home?”
Richard’s jaw clenches. “We need to talk.”
“No, we don’t.” I stand. “Ella, go pack and don’t forget your leotard for tomorrow.”
She nods and runs upstairs.
“Brendan’s here,” Hunter says, running out the door. “Be back later.”
“Bye, love you!” I yell.
“Love you too!” he yells back, slamming the door shut and leaving me and Richard alone.
“You didn’t tell me Landon was running the baseball camp,” Richard says, annoyance evident in his tone.
“That’s because he’s not. His brother, Brian, is, but I didn’t know they were brothers. Brian teaches and coaches at the public high school.”
“And what, you two just ran into each other and are back together now?” Richard crosses his arms over his chest.
“How we met back up or what we are isn’t your concern,” I tell him, refusing to let him railroad me. When we were married and I stayed home, he loved to pull my puppet strings because I had to rely on him. But those strings have been cut, and I’m not about to ever let him do that to me again. “If Landon and I decide what we have is something worth mentioning to the kids, I will do you the courtesy of letting you know. Not that you’ve done that for me the dozens of times you’ve brought women around our kids. As a matter of fact, I’m almost positive the kids and I found out about your last marriage after you returned from Vegas.”
Richard opens his mouth to argue, but Ella comes running back down the stairs. “Ready!” She runs into my front. “I’ll see you tomorrow after camp, Mommy.”
“Yes, you will.” I bend down and give her a kiss on her cheek. “Have fun and be good. Love you.”
“Love you more!”
“This conversation isn’t over,” Richard says lowly as he walks toward the door.