Jake

The clatter took us all by surprise. Though I’d begun moving in Honey’s direction, Tara’s hand clamped down on my arm to stop me.

Her words full of manipulation replayed in my head. If I didn’t give her a chance, she would take me to court for full custody. Then she added how statistically speaking, women were granted that more than men.

I had no clue if that was true or not, but it felt like she was right. I needed to contact my lawyer, an expense I really didn’t need at the moment.

Still, I shrugged out of her grip and went to the kitchen where Honey was crouched picking up the shattered pieces.

Pain lanced through her eyes when they met mine.

“I’m good,” she said, getting to her feet and turning away from me.

I was just about to explain when Tara’s words came out of nowhere.

“Jake, honey, you have something here.”

Tara wasn’t talking to the both of us with her honey comment. She just moved in like a snake, using her thumb to wipe over my mouth. I was reminded of the kiss she’d planted on me before marching in the house with triumph written on her face.

I stepped away, but not before Honey dodged us both and left the kitchen spotless. I faced Tara, anger surely mottling my expression.

“I think you should go,” I said.

Her jaw dropped. “But I thought—”

“You thought wrong.”

“But—”

“Just go, you’ve done enough,” I said, only noticing Jamie standing there.

She turned and ran for her bedroom. I closed my eyes on the clusterfuck my day had become.

“Just leave, Tara.”

“Are you going to think about what I said?”

I nodded and then went to find my daughter. On the way, I glanced at my dad, who seemed as displeased as I was.

“Jamie,” I called out, rounding the corner.

By the time I reached her room, she was curled up in a ball crying. I sat down on the bed, scooping up her tiny form and cradling her in my arms like I’d done when she was a baby.

“Do you h-hate Mommy b-bbecause of H-honey?” she stammered, slipping over some words and stumbling over the others.

I hated the divide Tara had created with her sudden appearance.

“No, sweetheart. Let’s go find your mom. Do you want her to stay?”

She nodded. I put her down and we walked out of her room. I hadn’t heard a door close, so I was fairly certain Tara hadn’t left yet.

Had I screwed up by messing around with Honey and announcing that fact in front of my daughter? What had I been thinking? I closed my eyes a second before we entered the great room. I hadn’t wanted Honey to feel bad and instead my daughter was hurt by this mess.

“Tara, can I speak with you?”

A smile that had once dazzled me lit on her face. I glanced at Honey, who’d stood at the door like she’d been about to leave.

She held out a hand. “Jamie, do you want to go check on the horses with me?”

Jamie glanced at me and I nodded. She looked at her mother, who also gave her approval. Dad grumbled something and left the room. When the back door thumbed shut, I was left with a woman who’d once owned my heart.

Tara arranged her hair so it cascaded down her back as she waited for me to say something.

“You can stay.”

She beamed like an LED light and moved forward. I put a halting hand up between us.

“You can have my bed,” I offered through gritted teeth.

“And where will you sleep?”

Anywhere but with you, I thought. “The couch.”

She placed her hands on my chest. “You don’t have to.”

I stepped back. “I do.”

“Actually, I didn’t bring a change of clothes.”

“Then why—” I began with puzzlement.

“Seeing her, you, I just reacted. I didn’t want to leave. I missed you both so much.”

I didn’t point out that was her doing because I thought about how I might have married the woman before me. Would I have been happy?

When I didn’t say anything, she gave me a flirty smile I’d forgotten.

“You can borrow something of mine.”

I would have rather not, but I couldn’t ask Honey to give her something either.

“Great. I’m tuckered out. I think I’ll have a shower before tucking Jamie in. You can join me if you want.”

She winked before disappearing down the hall to my room. I scrubbed my face. I was at a loss. I knew what I would have done before Honey entered my life and I knew what I wanted to do now that Honey was in it. But I had to think about what was best for my daughter and how I could ensure Tara didn’t take Jamie away from me.

I snagged my phone from my pocket and headed to the back porch to make a call that Tara wouldn’t hear. Before I could make any decisions, I needed advice from my lawyer about my chances of getting full or partial custody of Jamie.