Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 110694 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 553(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110694 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 553(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
“I’m trained in pediatric CPR and AED. I used to work as a counselor at a summer camp. And my sister has a peanut allergy. I will be extremely careful and consult you before she has anything. I promise. She is in good hands,” Jayda told her reassuringly.
“That’s wonderful. Thank you,” Branwen replied.
I made a mental note to have Jayda buy oat milk and go through the entire kitchen and get rid of anything with tree nuts. There was a weird, anxious feeling in my chest that I wasn’t familiar with. We needed to get to the office and handle things, but even with Jayda’s assurance that she had this, I wasn’t sure I wanted Stevie out of her mother’s sight.
Did she leave her at a preschool? What if someone else didn’t watch her as carefully as Branwen obviously did? Who watched her when she was at work?
She turned to me. “Okay, we can go now.”
She seemed more relaxed about leaving, but for the first time, I was questioning Jayda’s ability to do as she had been told.
“Nothing happens to her,” I said sternly, making sure Jayda understood.
“I will guard her with my life,” she replied.
“I have an EpiPen in my purse if, by some chance, she does get ahold of tree nuts or something cross-contaminated. She will begin projectile vomiting and wheezing immediately. I’ll need to inject her leg while an ambulance is called. Don’t hesitate to bring her to me.”
What the fuck? My entire body stilled as I stared at the little girl I’d just found out was mine hours ago. The horrific image that Branwen had just put in my head wasn’t helping. Had that ever happened to her? Branwen had explained it as if they had experienced it before. My throat was tight as I stared at Stevie. Was this a good idea? Could we do this meeting in front of her? No. That wasn’t acceptable. She was a kid.
Jayda didn’t look as if she was doubting her ability to handle things. I needed her to be more concerned. She didn’t look alarmed.
“Jayda, I need a word with you.” There was a hard edge to my tone that she didn’t miss.
Quickly, she hurried over to me. “Yes, sir.”
I grabbed her arm and pulled her farther away from my daughter’s earshot. Staring from Stevie, who was now hugging Branwen, back to Jayda, I had to unclench my teeth.
“That girl is mine,” I told her. Jayda’s eyes widened, and I continued, “Nothing happens to her. Do not take your eyes off her. Not for a fucking second. Am I clear?”
She nodded. “I swear I won’t let anything happen to her.”
“I want oat milk in this house. And find some ice cream made with oat milk. When we are done, the kitchen is to be rid of anything with tree nuts and get rid of fucking peanuts too. All nuts out. Clean the kitchen thoroughly so that no traces of any nut are left behind. I’ll let Luther know his peanut butter cookies have to stay in his room on his side of the house. No more baking them in the kitchen either.”
“Yes, sir, but tree nuts and peanuts aren’t the same—”
“I don’t give a fuck. Do it. Don’t question me.”
“Yes, sir.”
I looked over to see Stevie watching us with a curious expression as she stood slightly behind her mother’s legs. I let out a breath and tried to relax my tense body. She was an observant little thing, and I didn’t want her scared of me.
“Let’s go,” I told Branwen.
The meeting was going to take a turn that my lawyers weren’t prepared for. I had planned on coming to an agreement on joint custody with Branwen. Stevie staying with me every other week and taking turns with holidays. That was what my lawyers had suggested, but that was before I’d just been enlightened on how fragile a little girl could be. Levi had been different—or that was how I remembered it. At that age, he’d been with Maggie most of the time. I hadn’t been around as much as I should have been. Not until he was old enough to understand the legacy he had been born into.
Changing the plans in the short walk to my office was rash. I was doing it without consulting my lawyers. But I had missed four years of Stevie’s life already. I wasn’t going to miss any more, and I sure as fuck wasn’t about to have her leave her mother. Branwen was required to keep her safe. I didn’t want them separated. She needed her mom.
My chest got tight and uncomfortable again as I thought about all the things that Branwen had listed that could happen to her. I rubbed my fist over it, trying to ease some of the tension, as I stalked down the wide hallway.