Chapter Twenty-Three
Evie
I stood in my kitchen, staring blankly out the window as the school bus rumbled down the road, whisking Hayden off to start his day.
He had waved at me so cheerfully from the window, his smile bright and carefree.
He had no idea. None at all.
I’d already left a message at my lawyer’s office and delayed all my appointments for the day until I heard back.
The thought that someone could take that away—could take him away from me—nearly paralyzed me.
And I didn’t understand my ex’s angle.
Why now?
I leaned heavily on the counter and pressed my fingers on the edge as though it could anchor me. My chest hurt, and I fought the overwhelming urge to run after that bus, scoop him up, and hold him close where no one could touch him.
But that wouldn’t help either of us.
I forced myself to stand straighter, focusing on the morning's mundane tasks. I put away the dishes from breakfast, wiped the countertops, and brewed a fresh pot of coffee. But my mind wasn’t on any of it. It was spinning in circles, caught in the loop of possibilities, fears, and what-ifs.
My phone buzzed on the counter, jolting me out of my thoughts.
I reached for it, grateful for the distraction, and saw Liam’s name on the screen.
Thanks for coming over last night. I know it wasn’t easy to talk about everything, but I’m glad you did.
My lips tugged into a faint smile despite myself. I couldn’t deny how much lighter I had felt after telling him. He had this way of making the impossible seem manageable, even if I wasn’t entirely sure how to let him help.
I quickly wrote back.
Thanks for listening. It meant a lot, and it helped.
I placed the phone back on the counter and went to pour myself a cup of coffee. But before I could take a sip, the phone buzzed again.
What’s his full name?
I blinked at the screen, my heart skipping a beat. I knew exactly who he meant, but seeing the question laid out so plainly caught me off guard.
Whose name?
A moment later, his reply came through.
The ex. Hayden’s dad. The one who thinks he has any right to disrupt your life.
I stared at the message as my mind raced. I knew Liam’s protective streak well enough to realize he wasn’t just asking for curiosity’s sake. He had something in mind.
Liam, you’re not going to do anything, are you?
His response was almost immediate.
That depends on your definition of “anything.”
A nervous laugh erupted, but I kind of liked the thought.
Liam, you’re twice his size. You’d terrify him just by standing in the same room.
He texted.
Exactly my point.
I couldn’t help but chuckle. He had a way of cutting through the tension with humor, and I appreciated it more than I could say.
You’re not seriously planning to confront him, are you?
He wrote again.
No. Not without your permission. But I still want the name to sniff around.
I stared at the screen, my fingers hesitating over the keyboard. Part of me wanted to tell him—wanted to let him barrel into this mess and fight it for me. But another part of me, the one that had been handling everything on my own for so long, balked at the idea of handing over even a shred of control.
The three little dots popped up almost immediately, signaling his reply.
Evie, I get that this isn’t my fight. I do. But I want to help. I want to stand beside you in this. Whatever that looks like, I’m here. If a little Googling makes me feel productive, is that bad?
I typed back his full name and a smile emoji before setting my phone back down. I smiled, thinking about Liam and then picked it up again and typed one more thing.
You shouldn’t go charging in like a knight in shining armor.
His response came back with lightning speed.
Who said anything about shining armor? I was thinking of jeans and boots. Much more practical. Maybe a cowboy hat.
I laughed out loud, the sound surprising even me. I hadn’t laughed like that in days, and it felt good—really good.
There was something comforting about his persistence and the way he refused to let me face this alone.
I set my phone down and took a long sip of coffee.
Glancing out the window, I watched the last of the school bus’s snow drifts settle on the road, and I let myself dream of what it might be like to let someone else in.
To let Liam in.
But imagining and doing were two very different things. And for now, I wasn’t sure I was ready for the leap.
He wanted to help. He wanted to stand beside me. And yet, here I was, spinning in circles, unsure if I should let him.
I needed advice, someone to give me a fresh perspective on this mess. But not just anyone. Someone who wouldn’t judge or push too hard. Someone who would hand me a cup of coffee and a dose of common sense.
Abby.
The thought of her coffee shop made me exhale a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. Abby moonlighted as the unofficial therapist of Buttercup Lake.
If you had a problem, Abby was the person to go to—warm, no-nonsense, and always armed with a pot of coffee and a listening ear.
Grabbing my coat and keys, I decided it was time for a much-needed caffeine boost and a heart-to-heart.
The drive was quick, and a parking spot out front made me realize that this venture out of my house was meant to be.
I stepped into Buttercup Java, the familiar aroma of roasted beans and baked goods wrapping around me like a hug. The place was alive with the quiet conversation and the occasional hiss of the espresso machine.
It was cozy, with mismatched chairs and tables, twinkle lights strung along the exposed beams, and a chalkboard menu that always included a pun of the day.
Today’s read: Espresso yourself now—it’s latte than you think!
The tension in my shoulders began to ease when I spotted Abby behind the counter, pouring a latte with the practiced ease of someone who’d been doing this for years.
“Evie!” she called out, her face lighting up when she saw me. “Haven’t seen you in a few days. How’s it going?”
“Oh, you know,” I said, forcing a smile as I walked up to the counter. “Life. Chaos. The usual.”
“Chaos, huh?” She raised an eyebrow, sliding the latte onto the counter and turning to the register. “Sounds like you need a caramel macchiato and a seat at the bar. Am I right?”
“You’re not wrong,” I admitted, pulling out my wallet.
She waved me off.
“Your money’s no good here today. Sit. Tell me what’s got you all twisted up. I can see it in your eyes.”
I hesitated, glancing around the room. A few regulars were scattered at the tables, but it wasn’t busy enough to make me feel rushed or out of place.
“Thanks, Abby.”
“Anytime,” she said, making my drink and sliding it across the counter.
I took a seat at the corner of the bar, where the counter curved slightly to give a perfect view of the room. Abby wiped her hands on a towel and leaned on the counter, her sharp gaze focused on me.
“Alright, spill,” she said. “What’s going on?”
I wrapped my hands around the warm cup, letting the steam rise to my face.
“It’s a lot,” I started, unsure of how to put everything into words.
“Start with the basics,” she said. “What’s weighing on you the most?”
I took a deep breath. “Hayden’s dad. He’s filed for custody.”
Abby’s eyes widened slightly, but she didn’t interrupt. She just nodded for me to keep going.
“I thought he was out of the picture for good,” I continued. “He made it clear when I was pregnant that he wanted nothing to do with Hayden. And now, all of a sudden, he’s back, throwing legal documents at me like he has any right to disrupt our lives.”
Abby let out a low whistle. “That’s heavy, Evie.”
“Yeah,” I said, my voice cracking slightly. “It’s terrifying. Hayden is my everything, Abby. I can’t lose him.”
“You’re not going to,” she said firmly. “But I get why you’re scared. That kind of thing shakes you to your core.”
I nodded, swallowing hard.
“And then there’s Liam.” The words slipped out before I could stop them.
Abby tilted her head.
“Ah, I see. So, Millie wasn’t wrong.”
My brows lifted. “Wasn’t wrong about what?”
“You two,” she said simply with a shrug of her shoulders.
I thought about Millie and the darn Sunshine Breakfast Club and smiled.
“So, what about Liam?”
“He wants to help,” I said, my fingers tightening around the cup. “He keeps saying he’s here for me, that he’s all in. But it’s... a lot. I don’t know if I can handle it. And what if he changes his mind when things get messy?”
Abby leaned closer, her expression softening.
“Evie, can I be honest with you?”
“Please.”
“You’ve been carrying this weight on your own for so long, you don’t know how to let anyone else in. But from everything I’ve seen, Liam doesn’t strike me as the kind of guy who scares easily.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but she held up a hand to stop me.
“I’m not saying you should rush into anything,” she continued. “But don’t push him away just because you’re scared. He seems like he genuinely cares about you and Hayden. Maybe it’s worth giving him a chance to prove that.”
Her words hit me like a jolt of electricity.
She was right—I was scared. And maybe I was letting that fear get in the way of something good.
“You’re right.” I smiled and rolled my eyes. “Thanks for that.”
“Anytime,” she said, her smile warm. “Now, finish your latte. You’re going to need all the caffeine you can get if you’re dealing with custody battles and handsome men.”
I held up my index finger.
“One handsome man. That’s all I can handle.”
For the first time in what felt like forever, I didn’t feel completely alone in this.
Abby turned back to the counter, leaving me with my thoughts and the comforting sounds of Buttercup Java.
As I took another sip of my latte, I realized I really was part of this community, and I didn’t have to do everything alone.