Twenty-four hours later and the rest of the paparazzi descend upon Chicago. Like a pack of wolves, they sit outside my building, hoping to get a photo of Avery and me. They got one shot of us this morning as we were about to walk to school. One of the doormen tried to help shield us, but the flashes were blinding despite the protectiveness of the glass wall. Avery and I got right back on the elevator to go into the safety of our apartment. Her questions were then endless - Why are we staying home, Mommy? Who are all of those people? Why are they taking our picture? So overwhelmed was I that I ignore her questions, and tell her with fake enthusiasm that we are going to have a mommy/daughter day at home.

Not only have the paparazzi invaded my life, but everyone else that matters to me. They knew who Robert was, and hounded him with questions when he arrived here this morning. Fortunately, he has spare clothes in Avery’s closet as he plans on sleeping on the couch for a couple of days until things die down. Layla is in Los Angeles for work but her own doorman called her, saying there were some men outside asking questions. She calls or texts every couple of hours, keeping us up to date about how the story is all over the news since we won’t turn on the TV with the exception of a movie for Avery.

I told Jax everything last night after his game. Needless to say, his reaction was exactly what I thought it was going to be - he was shocked, angry and then hurt. He stormed out of the restaurant we were eating at and won’t return my calls, which has been frustrating and disappointing. When I texted him to ask if he still wants me to accompany him to the team’s annual charity event tomorrow night, his only response was yes and to be ready by 7 pm. I wouldn’t be surprised if he officially breaks up with me after the event is over with. The only person enjoying this newfound attention is my mother, but that’s not surprising. She makes sure she is dressed to the nines and welcomes the idea of her picture being in magazines and newspapers around the world.

I stare out at Lake Michigan, hoping the peacefulness of the lake will help inspire me to think of ways on how to deal with the chaos outside. We can’t stay in here forever, especially not with a child who will grow bored. We’ve watched two movies, eaten lunch and it is only 2 p.m. Our days of walking everywhere may be limited, but I can still drive us out of here since we have our own parking garage in the building. I toy with the idea of maybe staying at my parents’ house, but I don’t want to draw the paparazzi out to their suburbia neighborhood.

“Hey, should we go swimming today?” I ask Avery with excitement as I remember we have an indoor pool in the building.

Her eyes get big with excitement. “Yes, Mommy!” she screams loudly and starts to laugh. I smile at her happiness and get up to find her bathing suit and cover up. She runs into the living room and I hear her say, “Uncle Robert, we’re going swimming!”, and she races right back into the room so I can get her dressed. After she’s finished, I head to my room to get myself ready when I see Robert talking on my cell phone, his face pale.

“Yes, that’s fine,” he says into the phone and hangs up.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, my heart starting to pound in my chest at the severity of the look on his face.

“Cal is here.”

I stare at him, not wanting to believe what he just said. “What? NO! How can that be? How would he even know where I live?” I start to pace, panic seizing me.

“Anybody can find out where you live. All they need is your name and city.”

“But, he didn’t even call to ask if he can come over!” I whine, my vision being clouded by tears.

“Jenna, he doesn’t know your phone number,” he reminds me, his voice soft and soothing. He walks over to me and grabs my hands to stop my pacing. “Look at me, Jenna.”

As I look at him, a lone tear falls down my cheek, the dam that holds back my emotions about to burst. “I’m not ready for this, Robert. This wasn’t how I envisioned our first meeting to be. I don’t have my lawyer here and I certainly didn’t want him to see Avery yet,” I say, frantically. “Why did you let him up?”

“I let him up because it is better to face him sooner rather than later and in a safe environment. You need to try to keep this amicable, Jenna.”

“He can’t have her, Robert! I won’t let him take her away from me,” I whisper, not believing this is finally happening.

Robert grips my hands tight and squeezes. “He won’t. We won’t let him, Jenna! Courts usually favor the mother and you have his email proving he didn’t want to be part of her life. You have so many people who will testify on your behalf if it even comes to that.”

We hear the knock on my door and my eyes widen. I grip Robert’s hands tighter and start to shake my head.

“Pull yourself together, Jenna! You are a warrior. You’ve been doing this without him and are more than just fine. Don’t let him intimidate you! You can do this! Everything is going to be okay.” He pulls me in for a tight hug and kisses my forehead.

“Okay, okay, okay,” I mutter and wipe the tears from my eyes. “Please go be with Avery and try not to let her out.” He nods and goes to her room and closes the door.

I slowly start walking to the door, combing my hair out with my fingers. I look down at my workout clothes, wishing I was wearing something more confident and smart looking. I arrive at the door and take a deep breath. You can do this, Jenna! I swiftly open the door without looking through the peephole. Standing in front of me is a beautiful older woman and the first thing I notice about her are her eyes. They are that familiar blue that I see when my daughter looks at me. I then look into the other set of eyes behind her – the ones that have been haunting my dreams.

“Hello, Jenna,” Cal says with his throaty sexy voice, that voice that brings back intimate memories. The years have been kind to Cal, if anything, making him even more handsome. His curly hair is cut short and styled with gel. His clean-shaven face has matured, his jawline even more chiseled than I remember. Faint small lines appear around his eyes, which only seem to highlight their beauty. He is wearing a fitted gray peacock coat, a cobalt blue sweater underneath it and denim jeans. I can’t contain my eyes from traveling the length of his body, nor can I believe that after all this time and everything that has transpired, I still find him so damn hot.

“Cal,” I say with a nod, trying to keep my cool, “how kind of you to show up without calling.”

“My lawyer did try to call your work line, but no one answered,” his tone cool, his eyes like glaciers - cold and hard - as they assess me up and down. This information does not phase me since reporters have been clogging our phone line for any information they can get about me.

“We’ve been bombarded with calls from reporters so that line goes straight to voicemail. Nice to see that you are finally doing your own dirty work for once by showing up in person though.” I make the first jab, not being able to contain my resentment toward him. The more I look at his sexy face, the angrier I get with him…and myself for how I am reacting to him. I look to the woman standing in front of me for distraction. “Hi, I’m Jenna. I’m assuming you are Cal’s mother?”

“Oh yes, Rosalind Harrington, but please call me Rose,” she says in her equally throaty, but feminine, voice. She thrusts out her hand for me to shake. “Thank you for accepting to see us on such short notice, Jenna. I’ve seen so many pictures of you the last two days, and I must say that you are even prettier in person.”

Surprised by her compliment since I just insulted her son, I shake her hand back and am about to say thank you for her kind words, when Cal rudely interrupts. “You were wondering if you were going to hear from me? Cut the bullshit, Jenna, how could you NOT hear from me? This story is everywhere, and your timing of planting it is brilliant. I brought my mother here to be a witness for the paternity test and then we will be leaving. My lawyer will be in touch with you once the results are in.”

“Excuse me, but did you just accuse me of selling this story to the media?” So shocked am I by his accusations that I don’t even realize I’m still holding onto his mother’s hand.

“Bloody right I am and don’t lie about it! I know your business has been doing well, and that this piece of information can bring your company into the spotlight you have been hoping for. One week together never brought out your calculating, manipulative bitch side.” His eyes rake up and down my body in disgust.

“Calvin! There is no need to be rude until we get the facts straight!” his mother chides, actually looking appalled at his behavior. I let go of her hand as if she has burned me. I stare at him with malice, his comment unleashing my pent up fury towards him.

“How DARE you!” I hiss, my anger mounting at each breath I take. “How DARE you come to my house, accuse me of lying and planting this story to boost my business! I would NEVER use an innocent child like that! Unlike you, I don’t want the spotlight! I never wanted the story to be made public. Once you refused to be part of her life, I was done with you! I never wanted to hear or see you ever again!”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” he growls. “I never knew about a baby until you went to the tabloids. I would never refuse to see my own child!”

“Look who is lying now!” I yell. “How convenient that you have forgotten the email you wrote me stating that if the baby was yours, you have no time in your life for it. You even copied your assistant on it.”

“Valerie? When did you talk to Valerie?” His face looks confused as if he has amnesia.

“When did I NOT talk with Valerie? I ALWAYS talked with Valerie because you never picked up the phone yourself. Did you forget that you told me that she handles your phone calls when you are on set working? Every single time I called you, she picked up the phone. She even started to respond to my emails when you stopped. You were too much of a coward to talk to me. Never again, Cal! I am done with your bullshit and lies! You can talk with my lawyers.”

“Jenna, there seems to be a huge misunderstanding.” He plants his foot between the door and the casing and grasps the edge of the door, preventing me from slamming it in their faces. The color has drained from his face and his mother has her hand over her mouth, and is looking at him with despair. Normally I would have asked what is wrong, but I don’t give a shit about how this man is feeling. He needs to feel somewhat of the pain that he inflicted on me.

“You bet there’s been a huge misunderstanding, and it’s that you think you can waltz into our lives four years later just because the story has been made public, and now everyone knows you are a deadbeat dad!” He flinches at my words and my confidence soars. “I will not let you take my child away from me. I have been doing just fine without any help from you! I don’t want YOUR money OR YOU in our lives. It’s one thing to not want me, but to not want your own child? And then to finally show up only when the story will affect your career? DISGUSTING! I would never have slept with you if I would have known what a despicable human being you are. I want you to get the hell out of my life, YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE!”

My chest is heaving and I am sucking in my breath as if I was just held under water. I am so furious that I don’t care that I cursed and called him horrible names in front of his mother. As I wait for him to lash back at me, I notice that they aren’t even looking at me anymore. They are looking down to their right side of me. His mother has tears in her eyes, and Cal just has a look of utter astonishment on his face. I realize who they are seeing. I don’t have to look down to know that she is there. I close my eyes, and I can feel her hand on the back of my thigh. I reach for her hand and look down at her. Her face confirms that she has heard the yelling – her lips are pouting and quivering, as if she is on the verge of crying. Those beautiful blue eyes watery. I give her a reassuring smile and squeeze her hand. This makes her feel better and she turns her gaze towards Cal and Rose. She is staring at them just as they are staring back at her. Can she tell she has the same eyes as them? Does she see herself in his face?

“I’m sorry, Jenna, I tried to keep her in her room, but she heard the yelling and got upset.“ I turn around to look at Robert, who looks helpless.

“Mommy, you need to get ready for swimming.” She starts to pull my hand back inside the apartment. “Let’s go have some tea first since it makes you feel better.” She suddenly stops and places her little fists on her hips. She looks at Cal and screams as loudly as her four-year-old voice will let her, “STOP YELLING AT MY MOMMY, YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE!”