Chapter 5
I didn’t step back.
Lucy’s small hand was clasped in mine. I eased her half a step behind me, my eyes fixed on the key in Sophie’s hand.
“Sophie, you weren’t invited.”
Her smile faltered for a second. Then she lifted the box of cookies as though nothing had happened.
“Erin, I’m just bringing Ethan over to have lunch with Mark. He won his game yesterday, and he really wants to spend some time with his dad.”
“Ethan can have lunch with his father,” I said. “But you don’t get to walk in here without my permission.”
Ethan looked up at Mark, his soccer bag still hanging from his shoulder.
“Dad, should I put my bag in the office?”
He sounded perfectly at ease, as though he had done this plenty of times before.
I kept my attention on Mark.
“Take Ethan out for lunch. Now.”
Mark’s expression darkened.
“Sophie and Ethan are already here. They’ll leave after lunch. You don’t have to make this so ugly.”
“What about the breakfast and trip to the children’s museum you promised Lucy?”
“We can go this afternoon.”
“That’s what you said yesterday, too.”
Mark’s jaw tightened.
“Erin, it’s just lunch.”
“And to you, Lucy’s birthday was just dinner.”
Silence fell.
Lucy peeked out from behind me.
“Daddy, are they going to eat my cake?” she asked softly.
Mark froze.
I crouched down until we were eye to eye.
“No. That’s your cake.”
Lucy nodded and hugged her backpack tighter.
Sophie spoke again. Her voice was still gentle, but she clearly expected to be obeyed.
“Lucy, Ethan just wants a little time with his dad. You’re a good girl. You should understand that your brother needs him.”
I stood, my voice turning cold.
“Don’t ask her to be understanding so the adults can get away with breaking their promises.”
Sophie’s smile faded.
“Mark is Ethan’s father. He doesn’t get to start a new family and pretend his old one never existed.”
“No one is asking him to,” I said. “But you don’t get to use ‘keeping the family together’ as a key to someone else’s home and walk in whenever you want.”
She tightened her grip on the key.
“Mark gave it to me for Ethan. If he suddenly needs his dad, I can’t just stand outside waiting.”
“That’s something for you and Mark to work out.” I held out my hand. “Give me the key.”
Mark raised his voice.
“Enough!”
Lucy flinched.
I immediately drew her close to my side and looked up at him.
“You scared her.”
Mark looked at Lucy. His expression shifted, but he didn’t apologize.
Sophie seized the opportunity, a mocking edge creeping into her voice.
“Mark, I warned you. Every time Ethan needs you, she makes a scene. She doesn’t really want to leave. Taking Lucy to her sister’s is just a way to scare you into seeing Ethan less.”
Mark was silent for a moment. Then his voice hardened.
“I’m not choosing between my children.”
I took Lucy’s hand and headed for the door.
“I never asked you to abandon Ethan.”
I looked back at him.
“I’m just not letting you abandon Lucy anymore.”
Sophie’s expression finally froze.
I pulled my suitcase behind me and walked out with Lucy.
Just as I settled into the driver’s seat, a bank notification appeared on my phone.
Transfer from joint account: $6,000.
Recipient: Sophie Bennett.
The memo contained a single line:
Security deposit for Ethan’s family home.