Chapter 8

After sending the email, I opened the attachment.

Riverside had a new investor, and the renovation project was back out for bids after three years on hold. The initial design proposal was due in just ten days.

I pulled a notepad closer. I had only written down two questions when Lucy came in, carrying her stuffed bunny.

“Mommy, are you working?”

“Yes.”

She glanced at the computer, then at the bed.

“Will you still stay with me until I fall asleep?”

I put down my pen and smoothed her hair.

“I will. Let’s brush your teeth first.”

Once she had changed into her pajamas, I sat on the edge of the bed and read her a picture book. I waited until her grip on the bunny’s ears loosened and her breathing settled before turning off the bedside lamp.

My sister was wiping down the kitchen counter.

“I’ve taken on a project, so the next two weeks will be busy.” I handed her my meeting schedule. “Can you pick Lucy up on Monday?”

She dried her hands and checked the calendar on her phone.

“I can. What about the other days?”

I pulled out a chair, and we worked through the arrangements for each day.

Three years earlier, when Mark asked me to turn down the project, I had already arranged daycare. Then, at the last minute, he said he needed to pick up Ethan and asked me to be understanding one more time.

This time, I wrote down who could handle pickups if our plans changed, along with the number for the after-school program.

Back in the guest room, I found a reply from my boss, Vivian.

“Monday at nine. Bring your ideas. I need you in charge from start to finish.”

I typed, “See you at nine.”

On Monday morning, I dropped Lucy off at school and confirmed with the office that my sister was authorized to pick her up.

Lucy looked up at me.

“We don’t have to wait for Daddy today?”

“Auntie’s picking you up today. I’ll see you both after work.”

She nodded and headed into her classroom with her backpack.

At 8:50 a.m., I walked into the office.

Vivian slid the drawings across the table.

“The budget’s been cut, but the client won’t reduce the common areas. What’s your plan?”

I turned to the page I had marked.

“The old plan has a separate reception area in each of the two buildings. Some of the functions overlap. I’d start by checking whether we can combine them, then adjust the layout.”

She picked up her pen.

“How much would that save?”

“I need to confirm that with the engineers. I can’t give you an impressive number without knowing we can deliver it.”

Vivian looked up at me, then finally nodded.

“You’re leading the discussion at two this afternoon.”

I took the project schedule and wrote my name in the space for project lead.

My phone lit up.

Mark had texted.

“The school says your sister is picking Lucy up today. Where are you?”

I waited until I was out of the conference room to reply.

“At work. Pickup is taken care of.”

He called immediately.

I silenced the call and sent another message.

“Please text.”

“You always managed to pick her up before. Now you’re neglecting our child just to get back at me?”

I stared at the screen.

When he changed plans at the last minute, everyone was expected to understand. When I went to work, even arranging Lucy’s pickup ahead of time became something I had done wrong.

“Lucy is being looked after. I need to work, too.”

I sent the message and put my phone away.

At 1:40 p.m., the school office called.

“Erin, Lucy’s father is here to sign her out early. We had her aunt down for pickup today, so we wanted to confirm the arrangement.”

I put down the drawings.

“He hasn’t discussed that with me. Please put him on the phone.”

I heard a chair scrape on the other end.

Mark’s first words were, “Do I need your permission to pick up my own daughter now?”

“School isn’t over yet. Why are you taking her out early?”

“I want to spend time with her.”

“Then what time are you dropping her off at my sister’s?”

He hesitated.

“I’m taking her home. You can come over after work.”

“We can arrange another time to talk. Don’t change Lucy’s plans at the last minute.”

“Erin, you’ve been avoiding me for two days.”

He lowered his voice.

“You’ll have to come home to pick up your daughter tonight, won’t you?”