After Jack’s mom left, he went back to his office to work, and I kept on with menial jobs and various other tasks.

An hour later, I heard him in his office, frustrated and angry. Wondering if he needed any kind of help, I went back in search of him. From the look of it and the sound of it he was on the phone again with his ex-wife.

Hand slamming down on the desk, he said, “For the tenth fucking time, Brooke, I’m not gonna do that. I’ve got shit to do. I don’t have time for this. I’ll talk to you later.” He ran his hands through his hair and sighed.

Once he finally looked up at me, I gave him a sad smile and said, “Ex again?” I already knew the answer. His lips were a straight line, and he nodded. “Now I may be overstepping my bounds, and feel free to tell me that, but would it be easier if the two of you got along?” The sadistic laugh he emitted almost made me wish I hadn’t asked.

“Do you think I haven’t tried that before? Because I have many times. The woman’s a master manipulator. She will do anything to get her way. No matter who she has to step on. It doesn’t matter. She wants what she wants, and she gets it. And it’s frustrating.”

I decided to take a different approach. “I get that, really I do. She’s not exactly the warm and fuzzy type. I could tell that from the first time I saw her. But is there a possibility to diffuse this situation before it escalates? It just can’t be good for Ava to be around that kind of animosity.”

He chuckled and shook his head. “So you spend one evening with the kids and suddenly you’re an expert?” He exhaled loudly and closed his eyes. “Fuck. I’m sorry. That was way out of line.”

I took a deep breath before I answered, “No, I get it. I’m no expert. But I saw how Ava was when you guys were fighting, and it wasn’t pretty. I just thought, for her sake—no, for everyone’s sake, it would be a hell of a lot easier if you guys got along.”

He leaned back in his big leather chair and motioned for me. I meandered my way to him around his desk, and once I was close enough, he grabbed my hand and pulled me onto his lap. “I appreciate your help. I don’t want you to think otherwise. Everything you did for us was amazing. You showed up at just the right time, exactly when we needed you. You walked into that mess and you stayed. No, not only did you stay, you ran the show from then on. No joke, I’d about had it by then.” He laughed in my neck and shivers traveled down my back as I wrapped my arms around him. “As for Brooke, that’s a whole different can of worms. I’ve known that woman for years, and she will eat you alive. I’ve tried. Honestly, I’ve tried. “

I ran my fingers across his cheek and said, “Do you have it in you to try one more time?” He touched his forehead to mine and smiled the most heartbreaking smile I’d ever seen. Then he grabbed my chin and looked deeply into my eyes, his soulful brown eyes pleading with me.

“You know I’d do anything for you, right?” he said as he pulled me closer. I grinned at him and nodded. “I just don’t know if I have this in me.”

“I know you do. She’s Ava’s mom, and Ava deserves the best, right? Just think how much easier it would be for everyone if you guys could be civil to each other.”

His eyes searched my face, maybe for hope that I would change my mind. But I really believed we could do this. “There’s nobody else in the world that I would try again for except you.”

The smile on my face told him what was in my heart. My arms hugged him harder. “I’m going to need a lot more than a hug for that, honey,” he said, sighing loudly. I laughed and squeezed him even harder.

“We’ll try our best. That’s all we can do.”

After our little chat, Jack promptly called Brooke back and told her that it was fine for her to drop Ava off in the afternoon. I had to give him credit. The man was civil. From the lack of yelling, I assumed that Brooke was either in shock or just so happy that she decided not to push her luck.

Jack drove me to my place, because that’s where he and Brooke agreed to do the handoff. No lie, I was nervous to be alone with his ex. But Jack had stuff to do at the restaurant, and I told him I could handle it. And I was sure I could. After all, she was just a woman.

When I got home, I vacuumed, put laundry away, and made sure all the dishes were done. Not long after, there was a knock on the door. I took a deep breath and steadied my nerves before I opened the door. My eyes found Ava’s immediately. The sweet little girl was looking right up at me with stars in her eyes. I couldn’t help but smile back at her the same way.

Brooke cleared her throat, and my eyes traveled up to hers, which were filled with hate. I had no idea where she was going, I didn’t ask, but she was all dolled up from shoes to hair. “Hi, come on in,” I said and backed up to let both of them in. The frown on Brooke’s face said it all. She glanced around the apartment with nothing short of disgust in her eyes.

“Uh, this is interesting,” she said, this time with a deep frown on her face. By her look, I was sure her skin was crawling. I didn’t think she would like my apartment, but I certainly didn’t expect her to be so condescending either. “Jack stays here?” Her eyebrows raised like she was surprised that he would lower himself to stay in such a hovel.

Refusing to take part in her game, I just smiled and said, “He sure does.” I reached out my hand for the bag she carried. “I can take that.” She huffed and handed me Ava’s bag.

“Do you have a booster seat in your car?” she asked me.

“No.”

“Well, I don’t know how you’re going to get out now. This place is far too small for a child.” She threw her hands up dramatically like it was the end of the world.

I was proud of myself for not engaging, no matter how difficult. And trust me, it was difficult. The woman was trying to get a rise out of me. That much was obvious. To give in now and lower myself to her level, right after I practically begged Jack to try to get along with her, would be the easy way out. And if I didn’t try to bite back my feelings, I’d also look like a complete dork for going back on my word an hour after I’d suggested my plan.

Yes, I was trying my best to be realistic about the situation, but I had high hopes. I mean, I knew Brooke wasn’t going to make me her BFF and then we’d ride off into the sunset. But the thought of Jack not being pissed off every time she called or stopped by was reason enough to try.

“I’m sure we’ll be fine. I have the twins over here all the time, and there’s more than enough room for all of us.” I peered down at Ava and said, “Daddy will be home soon.” Nobody told me how long we’d have Ava here, but I really wanted Brooke out of my place. The sooner, the better.

“Oh, the twins,” Brooke said like she had just tasted something bitter. “Are those the two hooligans that taught Ava a bunch of new bad habits?” She stood there with one hand on her hip and her chin raised.

“Levi and Nick are the twins that Ava played with the last couple of days, yes,” I answered, slightly more annoyed this time. The boys were challenging. That’s for sure. But there was no reason to be a cow about it. The woman needed to get back on her broom and fly away. “Anyway, thanks for dropping her off. I’m sure you have to get going. Ava, say bye to Mommy,” I suggested, hoping that Brooke would take the hint.

“Well, I hope those two boys won’t be here today.” She looked directly at me, waiting for an answer that I wasn’t going to give. Screw her and her assumptions. If I wanted the boys to come over, the boys would come over. This wasn’t her house. She couldn’t tell me who could come over and who couldn’t.

“Sweetie, why don’t you go put your bag in the bedroom down the hall. The one with the yellow bed.” Ava was more than happy to oblige, but first, she turned around and hugged her mom’s leg before taking off. “Look, I think for Ava’s sake, it would be best if we got along. I’ll try if you try. What do you say?”

With narrow eyes she glared at me, looking at me as though I’d lost my mind. “So, you’ve known my daughter for an hour, and now you’re suddenly a child-rearing specialist?“

Her answer didn’t surprise me one bit. I shifted my weight from one foot to the other and regrouped. “That’s not what I said. I’d like us to be friendly. We’re going to be seeing each other a lot, and I just figured that it would make things easier on Ava and us,” I said, hoping she would understand and stop being so defensive.

“I see. Are you and Jack getting married now?”

Oh, for the love of all that is holy and right in the world. “No, but it would be nice if we could get along. Don’t you think?”

“What do I think?” she said and folded her long, elegant arms in front of her. “I think you’re going to last about five more minutes in Jack’s life. He doesn’t keep women around for long, honey, so don’t get too comfortable.” Then she turned on her heels and stormed out, slamming the door behind her.