34. Ada
The limo waiting outside took me by surprise. I laughed giddily as I thought about how it felt like we were going to prom. A driver held the back door open for us and I glanced in to see a carseat for Milo.
“Good evening, ma’am. Gentlemen.”
I smiled at the driver and tried to contain my excitement. “Good evening to you. I love your hat.”
He cracked a smile before growing serious again. “Thank you, ma’am.”
The boys got in first and then I tried to gracefully crawl in. It wasn’t easy with the way my hips were basically glued together, but I managed it. I was finishing buckling Milo in when I heard a phone ringing. Jud and Collin were already in the limo so I knew it was Joe. A bad feeling came over me as I waited for him to get in.
Just as Collin opened his mouth to say something, Joe leaned down to look in at us. He held up his phone and winced. “I can’t miss this call. I’m sorry. I have to take it. Give the flowers to Ken from you, Ada, and I’ll get her something else.”
Silence fell over the car. Even the boys sensed danger in the air. Tingles erupted all over the top of my head and moved all over my body as pure rage took over. I struggled to get out of the car and felt Collin’s hand on my elbow just as I was almost out.
“Ada…”
I yanked my arm free and finished getting out. The driver stood back, confused about what was happening. I closed in on Joe, who had dropped the flowers in the seat and turned around like it was no big deal for him to miss his daughter’s performance. I tapped him on the shoulder and when he turned around, he looked surprised to see me. He motioned towards the phone but he must’ve seen something in my eyes that told him he needed to put the phone away.
“Let me call you back, Paul. Give me two minutes.” He shoved the phone in his pocket and held up his hands. “Look, Ada, I know you wanted-”
“Not me. Your daughter. Your daughter wants you there. She hasn’t given up on you, although I’m wondering right about now why not.” I leaned in closer. “If you don’t get in that car right now to go support your daughter, I quit.”
He started to laugh, like he didn’t believe me.
“I swear, Joe. I’ll quit right here and now. I’d rather be jobless than walk into that play just to see the look on Kenny’s face when she sees you chose something else over her. Again.”
“Ada, it’s work. I can’t-”
I gestured at the house beside us. “You can! You can do anything you want because you’re a super rich asshole! You just choose not to do the things that aren’t as important to you! Make your choice, Joe. Are you staying to work and search for a new nanny or are you coming?”
His eyes were narrowed in on me, searching for the crack in my armor. His jaw muscles clenched and I could tell he wanted to fight with me. He leaned closer until we were nose to nose. “You’re not leaving.”
“Well, then, I guess you’re coming tonight. Great!” I turned around and marched back to the car, crossing my arms over my chest as I went. I stood at the door and waited to see what he was going to do. “What’s it going to be, Joe?”
His energy was a black storm as he stalked towards me. He leaned down and grabbed the flowers before motioning for me to get in.
I smiled sweetly, but it didn’t reach my eyes. “Thank you.”
I got back in the limo and buckled in across from Jud and Collin, next to Joe. I closed my eyes and took some deep breaths in and out, trying my best to get back to my good mood so I could be present for Kendall. I felt Joe shift beside me but I ignored him. He was lucky I wasn’t violent because I would’ve loved to jab one of my heels into his toes.
Joe stretched his arm out behind me and chuckled under his breath when I leaned forward so his arm wouldn’t touch me. I shot him a dirty look and he smirked. “I think you might be my karma.”
I scoffed. “That’s rude!”
I heard Jud and Collin laughing across from us and tried to glare over at them but something about seeing them laughing together took the wind out of my sails. I sighed and even smiled before rolling my eyes.
Joe leaned over and whispered to me. “Thank you.”
I looked up at him and searched his face. “You have to be better. For Kenny.”
He turned away from me but I saw him nod ever so slightly. “By the way, I heard from Ken’s mom earlier. She’s coming.”
My eyebrows climbed my forehead and I made a strangled noise. “Oh?”
“Yeah. She’d booked some ridiculous world cruise with her boyfriend and apparently it wasn’t everything she had in mind.” He shrugged. “It’ll be a fun surprise for Kendall.”
I’d reread through the small part of the binder Collin had handed me the first day about custody agreements and moms. There had been times listed for the school year but since the summer time slots weren’t filled out, I just didn’t question it. I’d ignored the rule about not talking about the kids’ moms after hearing the kids mention their maternal parents in passing and I knew enough but the idea of meeting Joe’s ex made me feel weird. I wasn’t sure what to expect.
“Are Kenny and her mom close?”
“Yeah, I guess. She stays with her mom part time during the school year, unless her mom decides to go on a world cruise. Then she stays with us full time.” Joe played with one of my loose curls like it was the most natural thing to do. He also kept sneaking glances down my dress but I pretended not to notice.
“Does she do that a lot? Go on world cruises?” I shuddered. “How long does that last? The world’s a big place.”
“Nine months.” He outright laughed at the horror on my face. “Yeah. Angie only made it three.”
“Nine months on a boat? No, thank you. No amount of money would get me to agree to that. The same people for nine months straight, all confined to one space? Nope.”
“You know you’ve spent a ninth of that time confined to the house with us, right?” Collin helpfully added.
“That’s different. You guys are…you.” I realized how that sounded and rushed to fix it. “I mean, there’s only three of you. The kids are amazing and don’t count. I can handle three pains. On that cruise, who knows how many pains there are? There could be hundreds.”
“You like us.” Jud grinned at me and it took my breath away.
I rolled my eyes and looked over at the twins. “Are you guys excited to see Kenny in her play?”
Avery rolled his eyes. “I’d rather be playing Mario.”
Alex nodded. “I heard Tim’s parents leave him home alone. We’re old enough. We could’ve stayed home.”
Collin scoffed. “Tim’s parents are idiots.”
“What I think your dad means is that Tim’s parents are…idiots… Yeah, I’m sorry. I tried my hardest. Tim is your age? You’re still so young. Anything could happen. What if there was a fire? Or an intruder? Of course, in your mansion, it’d take the intruder two months to search everywhere for you.” I shook my head and then saw that they were all staring at me. “What?”
Avery groaned. “You sound like a mom.”
Seeing an opportunity to mess with the guys, I rested my hand on my stomach. “I am a mom.”
Joe choked while Collin stopped breathing and Jud just stared at my stomach. Avery and Alex looked back and forth at each other before Alex shrugged and they both went back to their own world.
“Kidding! I’m kidding!” I grinned. “Oh, my god. You should see your faces.”
Dirty looks came my way but I was okay with that. Before any of them could lecture me, we were pulling up to the Gingham Performing Arts Center.
I leaned over Joe and saw that we were in a line of cars, some of them limos like ours. As I watched car after car unload I was so grateful for Collin and the dress. “Collin, you angel.”
Joe grunted and frowned down at me to where I was practically in his lap. “I’m the angel. Not everyone could put up with your threats, you know?”
I tapped the end of his nose and smiled. “Get your smile ready, Mr. Grump.”