29. Chapter 29
Chapter 29
Noah
"Then what was it?" I ask, my heart pounding.
The glow of happiness on her face is all the answer I need.
"It was morning sickness," I murmur, the words barely audible, as if I'm trying to grasp their meaning, unsure but full of hope.
She nods, her eyes never leaving mine, watching me, waiting for it to all to sink in.
And then it does. Slowly, I glance back at the ultrasounds in my hands, and this time, I see it— Cruz Baby written along the edge of each photo.
"These are your ultrasounds," I breathe.
"Yes," she smiles, her dimple deepening with every second. "Our ultrasounds. We're having a baby."
"We're having a baby," I echo, my voice low and full of what? Wonder? I can hardly believe it.
She nods again, tears welling up as she watches me take it all in.
I stare at the pictures for a moment longer, then gently set them aside and pull her into my arms. "I love you, Lily," I whisper into her hair, holding her close. "I love you."
***
I'm getting ready to take Lily out to breakfast this morning. The court hearing is scheduled for tomorrow morning, so when my phone rings and I see Marian’s Solicitor flash across the screen, my stomach tightens. Why is he calling me directly? Not my attorney?
“Hello?” I answer cautiously.
“Mr. Linder. Hi, this is Bill Denton, Marian Linder’s Solicitor. How are you this morning?” His voice is calm, professional—but it still puts me on edge.
“I’m fine,” I reply, my mind already racing. Why now? “What can I do for you?”
“Mr. Linder,” he says, pausing like he's choosing his words carefully, “Ms. Linder would like to arrange a meeting prior to the scheduled court hearing. She’s hoping the two of you can negotiate or mediate the situation.”
My grip tightens on the phone. "When?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady. "When and where?"
“How does this afternoon at one sound? We can meet in my office. If you'd prefer to phone in your attorney, we can certainly include her in the conversation. It's entirely up to you."
There’s a beat of silence as I weigh my options, my mind still processing. Marian wants to talk ?
“Thank you, Mr. Denton,” I finally say. “I’ll see you in your office at one.”
***
“Who was that?” Lily asks, walking into the room. As I glance at her, I realize I will never tire of looking at her. She's everything I've ever wanted. Everything I've ever needed.
"You look beautiful," I say, pulling her close, inhaling the familiar scent of her hair. "Did you sleep okay?"
"I slept better than I have all month," she replies, wrapping her arms around me. "Knowing you were right next door brought me peace, and I could finally relax and drift off. How about you?"
"I slept like a baby for the first time in weeks," I say, my heart swelling. "You help me feel centered and bring a calm to my life that I never thought was possible. It’s a serenity I’ve never known until I met you."
"You have such a way with words," she smiles, stepping onto her tiptoes to kiss me.
"Marian wants to meet for mediation this afternoon," I reply, my voice steady despite the rush of emotions. "That's what I was trying to say before you distracted me with your beauty. I swear, Sweetheart, every time you're close, you make me lose my words, my thoughts, my very mind."
"You are a writer," she whispers, her eyes sparkling just before my lips find hers again.
"Wait!" she exclaims, pulling away from me. "Marian wants to meet?!"
"That's what I said," I smile.
"Noah, that's huge! What could it be about? Mediation, negotiation? What does that mean, and before a hearing?"
"I know," I murmur. "So many questions, but no answers. The last time our attorneys brought up mediation, she was completely against it, but we'll find out soon enough. Now, let's go feed our baby."
She smiles, flashing that dimple that beckons me for a kiss.
***
Lily insisted on coming with me to the meeting, her quiet presence calming as I leave her sitting outside. Taking a deep breath, I walk into the conference room. At the head of the table sits Marian, her expression unreadable, and next to her sits my son, his wide eyes scanning the unfamiliar surroundings until he sees me.
“Daddy!” he shouts, bolting from his seat to run towards me. Marian makes no move to stop him.
“Davey,” I murmur, my breath catching with emotion and an overwhelming protectiveness for my boy, whom I haven’t seen in over a month. “Davey,” I say again as his little body slams into me. I lift him into the air, and then pull him down for a tight embrace. “Hi, Buddy. How are you?”
“I’m fine, Daddy,” he smiles brightly. “My vacation is over. I’m ready to go home now.”
“Your vacation?” I say, glancing at Marian, who sits stone-faced but clearly on the verge of tears.
“Where’s your attorney?” I ask, my voice steady but my heart racing. “I thought he was going to join you.”
“I don’t need my solicitor to give you your son back,” she says, rising from her chair.
“What?” I reply, confusion clouding my mind. I have Davey in my arms, and all I want to do is run, but I force myself to maintain my composure, determined to hear what Marian has to say.
“What David said is true,” she begins, her voice steady but her eyes betraying a flicker of uncertainty. “Summer vacation is over. You don’t think he’s fallen behind in school, do you? He’ll still be able to start kindergarten when you get back?”
"Yes, he'll be able to start on Monday," I reply, going along with her.
She picks up her purse and approaches us, her voice softening. "I love you, David. Always remember that Mommy loves you."
"Okay, Mommy," Davey replies, his innocent trust shining through. Marian leans over and kisses him on the cheek. "See you soon. I’ll call you so we can video chat."
"Okay, Mommy," he nods, a bright smile on his face. "I love you too."
She straightens, her gaze shifting to me, and the chill in her demeanor returns. "Goodbye, Noah." As she kisses me on the cheek, a fleeting sense of sympathy washes over me. For a brief moment, I catch a glimpse of the mother she yearns to be, but that vision quickly fades, leaving behind the sad, complicated truth: she’s simply not equipped to be a mom.