Chapter 3
"Let go of me," Edward snapped. "Olivia's sick. I have to go."
He yanked his suitcase behind him in such a rush that he didn't even notice when the wheel rolled right over Sam's little foot.
The door slammed shut, leaving only my baby's broken sobbing.
"Sammy, does it hurt?" I asked.
I kneeled to check his foot. He seemed numb, staring blankly at the door.
"Mommy," he said, "I think she called him 'Daddy.'"
His words were a punch to my gut. I gently wiped the tears from his cheeks.
"He didn't like my doll, Mommy. I'm still not good enough. That's why he can't love me, right?"
A wave of pain clouded his face, but then his expression hardened with a new determination.
"It's okay if he didn't like it. But I'm reciting a poem at school. Can you ask him to come watch? Please, Mommy?"
The next day was the school open house. Samuel had been chosen for a solo recitation. It was his first time on stage alone.
It would also be his last.
I couldn't let him down, so I blew up Edward's phone, but every call went straight to voicemail.
Desperate, I contacted Ryan, begging him to pass on the message.
Less than fifteen minutes later, I got a text back.
Ryan: [Ms. Bennett, my apologies. Mr. Carter is too busy to attend the performance.]
For Samuel, I was willing to burn every bridge. I went to Joy and made her force him.
He called me moments later, his voice seething with resentment.
"You really know how to play the game, Grace. Running to Grandma? Fine. I'll be there."
I no longer cared what he thought of me. All that mattered was my son's happiness.
"What is so wrong with wanting you to see your son's performance, Edward?"
"You're always using him to manipulate me. I'm sick of your games."
Soon, he wouldn't have to be.
"Edward, Sammy doesn't have time. He's sick..."
But Edward just hung up on me. Another word from me was apparently more than he could bear.
On the day of the open house, true to his word, Edward showed up.
Samuel kept smiling broadly. The smile was the brightest I had ever seen.
He stood on that stage, voice clear and strong. Every line was full of a boy's desperate love and longing for his father. When he finished, the hall erupted in applause.
Edward didn't clap. I knew he also hadn't noticed the way our son's hand was trembling as he clutched the microphone.
Samuel ran off stage as his face flushed with pride. "Mommy, look!" he whispered, leaning close. "Uncle Edward came just for me! He must have liked it, right?"
I squeezed his still-shaking hand and stroked his hair.
"Are you happy he came, sweetheart?"
"I'm so happy, Mommy! This is the best day ever!"
The final performance of the day was a solo dance.
I heard whispers that it was a last-minute addition, and that the girl wasn't even a student at the school.
The moment Chloe walked onto the stage in a delicate dance costume, I knew this was Edward's doing.
Watching Edward, Samuel suddenly noticed a bouquet of flowers in his arms. Edward couldn't take his eyes off Chloe as she danced.
"Mommy, who is that? Does Uncle Edward know her?" Samuel asked, confused.
The dance ended. As Chloe took her final bow, Samuel watched, frozen, as Edward stood up, walked to the stage, and presented her with the vibrant bouquet.
Everyone in the room recognized Edward. The host seized the opportunity.
"Mr. Carter! What a surprise. Are you a relative of this talented young dancer? And how come you're giving her flowers?"
Edward knelt down to Chloe's level with a tender smile and took the microphone.
"I came here tonight just for Chloe. She means the world to me."