Chapter 18
Maxwell
My phone rang, and I saw that it was Grandfather. I answered it quickly, not used to hearing from him much anymore.
“Grandfather! How are you, sir?” I greeted enthusiastically.
“I’m on my way to Baptist Hospital. Lou is in the ER. I’m meeting Sophie there.” The line dropped after that, and I struggled to sort through my feelings.
Why did he know before me? Why does he care so fucking much? Why is this the only area I can never win at? With a growl, I had Deidra call my driver and hurried to leave the office.
When I got to the waiting room of the ER, I spotted Grandfather in a far corner. He looked up when I walked in, a hopeful expression morphing to disappointment. As I got over to him, he dismissed the hand I held out and started talking.
“She fell off the monkey bars. The doctors have taken her to get X-rays to see the damage. Sophie is with her, and they’ll call us once she’s out and they have her in a room.”
When they finally called us back, I followed Grandfather as he raced to the hospital room.
Once I got in, I spotted Eloise, her small form barely taking up space on the narrow hospital bed.
Seeing her lying so still, her face pale and expressionless, caused a strange pang inside of me.
A large cast covered her from elbow to knuckle.
She was asleep as we settled in the room, Sophie seated next to her, who didn’t turn when I entered.
She was focused on stroking Eloise’s hair as silent tears poured out of her.
I took a step toward the bed, but Grandfather stopped me with a hand to my chest, firmly shaking his head.
Instead, he went over to comfort Sophie, pulling her into his arms and trying to calm her sobs. We all turned as Eloise started to stir, slowly waking up, her eyes looking around the room in confusion.
“Mommy?” she reached out, and Sophie quickly enveloped her in a strong hug. Stroking her back and murmuring to Eloise, she rocked her back and forth for several minutes, letting her wake up at her own pace. Eventually letting her go, Sophie helped Eloise into an upright position.
“Pops!” she yelled as Grandfather rushed to her side.
“Lou, my dear, you had us all scared to bits! The doctors assured us that you’ll be as good as new in no time.”
“Really?” she asked, looking between Grandfather and Sophie, who smiled and nodded. Finally, Eloise noticed me hovering in the corner of the room.
“Mommy, why is he here? Do I have to go with him? Do we have to go to a party with Nat tonight?” I frowned at the fear in her voice and the anxiety behind her odd question. “I promise I’ll be more careful. I won’t ever go on the jungle gym again.”
I opened my mouth in shock. She was acting afraid of me.
“Shh, baby. He’s just here to check on you. Your father loves you and wanted to make sure you were okay,” Sophie told Eloise, which only increased my confusion and anger.
Why does my presence need an explanation?
My grandfather was looking at me with a mixture of disappointment and disgust. I wanted to say something, but I knew it wasn’t the time. I didn’t want to aggravate the situation more.
“Where’s Linc? I want to see Linc. Please, can we call him?” Eloise asked Sophie with near desperation.
“He’s on his way. You’ll see him soon, I promise,” Sophie whispered, and I couldn’t help the anger at hearing that Neanderthal’s name.
I had spoken to the ex-wife. She was in a financial bind and was happy to accept my funds to relocate back home, to be closer to her family.
I would have to check in with her sooner rather than later.
“I want to see him now. Can we call him? Please. I want Linc.” Eloise cried as she avoided looking at me. I looked at Grandfather, only to find him glaring at me as if it were my fault.
Why is Eloise acting like this? Is she really so terrified to see me? Before I could finish that thought, Linc came bursting into the room. In an old T-shirt and worn jeans, he looked like an ex-con who just happened to be built like a Mack truck.
“Linc!” Eloise shrieked from the bed, causing Sophie to whip around. The man ran toward the group and gently scooped Eloise into his arms without roughing up her injured arm.
“I’m so sorry, Lulu. I got here as fast as I could. I heard you were so brave,” Linc said as he swiped Eloise’s tears away with his giant paws.
Sophie was watching the whole interaction with worry and sadness until the man looked at her, grabbing her hand and giving it a squeeze.
She looked at Linc like he was the answer to all her prayers.
It felt intimate, and I felt like even more of an interloper.
Linc pulled a pack of markers out of his pocket before returning his full attention to Eloise.
“Okay, who do you want to sign it first? I thought we could all sign it, and then, if you’re up for it, Quinn and Mason are out in the waiting room. If that’s okay with Mom?”
“They came? To see me?” Eloise asked, looking shocked as tears welled in Sophie’s eyes.
“Of course, baby girl. They’re itching to get back here to make sure you’re okay. They’re all fighting over who gets to sign your cast first.”
The man looked up and gave a nod to Grandfather.
“Walt, good to see you. Wish it was under better circumstances.”
What is this? Grandfather only allowed Grandma Eloise and Sophie to call him Walt. Now this stranger has permission? Who is this man, and why is my entire family so comfortable around him? At that moment, I had the distinct feeling of being an outsider, unwelcome and undesired.
“Agreed, Lincoln, but our Lou is so strong. How are your parents doing?”
“Buying out the gift shop at the moment. They’ll be around the waiting room if you want to say hi before you leave.”
“Mimi is here?” Eloise asked as she sucked back tears.
“Of course. She couldn’t wait to see you.” At that, both Grandfather and Linc shot me a look as if it were a dig to me.
“Lou, my dear, do you want me to see if Mimi can come back and see you?” Grandfather asked, and Eloise nodded enthusiastically.
“Maxwell, come with me,” Grandfather demanded as he swept past me and out the door.
I turned to look back at the room, where my daughter was safely wrapped up in another man’s arms with my ex-wife hovering by them.
Grandfather cleared his throat, and I turned on my heel, walking beside him silently.
“When your father told me he was planning on marrying your mother, I had such high hopes. I truly believed they were in love the way I loved your grandmother. To say I am disappointed in how your mother has acted since my son’s death is putting it mildly.
When you married Sophie, I once again hoped that some dignity and honor would return to our family name. ”
“Where is this all coming from? You’ve never said anything like this to me before!” I couldn’t help the frustration that leaked into my voice. He stopped short at that, turning to me with a look of such anger that it had me stepping back.
“I shouldn’t have to! You’re a grown-ass man.
You should know how to treat people with kindness and grace.
What you have done to Sophie and your daughter is horrendous.
You don’t deserve them. You never have. Now, if you insist on staying here to play Daddy in case the press shows up, I can’t stop you.
But you will wipe that sour look off your face every time someone shows genuine care for the family you so easily discarded. ”
Why does he keep shoving all my mistakes in my face? He is the reason I am stuck with Natalia anyway! Can’t he see how much I want Sophie back? Yet he refuses to help me, just continuing to push me further from my family. Do I not deserve the chance to get them back? To make things right?
Well, it was time I took back control and got my family back. I would go around, over, or through Grandfather if I had to. They were my family. It was time everyone remembered that.
Natalia
Max’s phone kept going straight to voicemail, and the dinner our chef had prepared was getting cold. Fed up and embarrassed, I called the office line.
“Maxwell Townsend’s office. How can I help you?” Deidra’s voice, familiar and annoying, echoed through the speakers.
“Hey, Dede. Max and I were supposed to have dinner tonight. Is he held up in a meeting?” I asked, trying to make sure my tone was casual, to not reveal how below me this was. Max used to ignore his wife for me and use his secretary to cover for us. Now, I was the one on hold.
“Oh, well he rushed off to the hospital to check on Eloise. He left a little over an hour ago,” Deidra replied, as if I knew what she was talking about.
“Oh, of course. Which hospital again?” I asked, trying to ignore the embarrassment at having to ask.
“Baptist, darling. Please let us know how Eloise is doing. We’re all worried.” I hung up, not trusting myself to reply. I looked at the dinner table, beautifully made up. But the food had gone cold. Forgotten, just like me.
No more of this. No more of the neglected wife, poor-me routine.
I changed into a casual yet expensive outfit, making sure I looked effortlessly put together.
Heading to the hospital, I stopped at the gift shop, grabbing a balloon so I didn’t show up empty-handed.
On the elevator up, I practiced looking concerned, checking my reflection, attempting to carry myself with the aura of a caring stepmother.
I was directed to the waiting room when familiar voices reached my ears.
“You’ve got your hands all over my wife! This is a family matter. You shouldn’t even be here!” I froze just outside the room. Adjusting my position, I was able to spot Maxwell confronting the man from Sophie’s profile. Stunned, I stayed where I was, curious to see what else my husband had to say.
“Maxie, how many times do we have to have this conversation? Natalia is your wife. Sophie is not,” the giant man said with a mocking smile.
When did they meet?
Max always brushed me off when I asked about him.
“You know what I mean! Nat is my wife on paper only. Sophie and Eloise are my family!”
I covered my mouth so as to hold back any sound that might come out. My knees felt weak as my body fought to decide whether to be upset or furious.
Not his family.
Max’s blatant disregard for me had never been clearer. All that time, I had thought Sophie was my replacement, when in reality, I was hers. I had never been able to properly fill her spot. I was never even supposed to have it.
Everything I had learned recently was spinning around in my head. Walter and the photographs. Max’s recent obsession with Sophie’s personal life. His sudden interest in being a father to Eloise.
Max ran a hand through his hair, the buttons of his collar undone. He looked to be unraveling at the seams. After pacing a bit, he came back to face Sophie’s boyfriend, looking impossibly small and soft in comparison.
“Do you hear me? Eloise is my daughter! Mine and Sophie’s. No one else needs to be concerned with her!” Max yelled, sounding manic.
“That’s enough. Eloise isn’t a pawn in whatever fucking game you’re playing.
If you have an issue with me, then we can deal with that, just us.
Don’t you ever try to use Lou to manipulate the situation.
Those days are over. Whatever control, whatever threats you think you can use, save them.
There is no way in hell you will ever get custody of Lou, and I will make sure you lose any parental rights if you threaten Sophie in any way.
” Max snorted, and Linc’s entire stature changed.
A wild, almost eager grin spread across his face as he went head to head with Max.
“Go ahead. Underestimate me. Unlike you, I keep my promises. And don’t you worry.
Neither Lou or Sophie will need anything from you going forward.
Now, get out of here. Lou doesn’t need to be upset any further.
” Before Max could reply, Walter appeared and walked up to the bickering men, coming to a stop next to Linc.
Clearly making a statement about whose side he was on, Walter’s arms were crossed, a look of exhaustion and exasperation marring his face.
“Maxwell, I warned you. Since you cannot seem to behave, I think you should leave. I’ll call you once Lou is safe and sound…
At home, with Linc and Sophie.” That one sentence spoke louder than any of Max’s belligerent arguments.
Walter and Linc walked away, a comfort between the two that spoke of a close friendship.
Max was left alone, and there I was, so far on the outside I wasn’t even in the same stratosphere anymore.
How did everything get this twisted? How did the life I was meant to have become so out of reach?
Why are Sophie and Lou so goddamn important?
What do I need to do to get the respect that I deserve as Max’s real wife?
Family. Give him a son.
It all came back to that. I had put it off for as long as possible.
If I wanted to cement my spot in the Townsend history books, I had to contribute.
We would have a baby of our own. Then, Max couldn’t deny us, and Walt wouldn’t be able to avoid me any longer.
He would have to treat our child equally to Lou.
Yes, that is what needs to happen. Turning on my heel, I headed home, new plans forming.
It was time I visited that clinic Helen had told me about.
I would use whatever tools necessary to get Max back into my bed so I could secure our future together.