Chapter Ten
CHAPTER TEN
Annabelle
A nnabelle
Fourteen days of smiles that don't quite reach his eyes. Fourteen nights of lying awake, replaying that hot as fuck couch make out session over and over in my mind until I've memorized every millisecond of it.
"Hand me the blue crayon, please," Ashlynn says, her little fingers reaching across the table. Her artwork, what she proudly calls a butterfly, is a kaleidoscope of colors that don't stay within any lines.
"Here you go, sweetie." I pass her the crayon, watching as she grips it in her tiny fist, her tongue poking out in concentration. These moments with her are my sanctuary now, the only times when I'm not acutely aware of the awkwardness hanging between Nolan and me.
We've been dancing around each other since that night. Polite conversation at breakfast. Brief updates about Ashlynn before he leaves for work. Texts instead of calls when he's running late. The distance grows with each passing day, and I feel him slipping away.
"Is this pretty?" Ashlynn holds up her drawing, beaming with pride.
"It's the most beautiful butterfly I've ever seen," I tell her, and I mean it. At three years old, she sees the world with such wonder, such uncomplicated joy. I wish I could borrow some of that innocence, just for a little while.
"Let's make another one for Daddy," she declares, already reaching for a fresh sheet of paper.
My heart contracts at the mention of him. "That's a wonderful idea."
As Ashlynn begins her new masterpiece, I move around the kitchen, gathering supplies for our afternoon craft project. We're going to make handprint butterflies, her hands as the wings, decorated with buttons and glitter. I've been planning it for days, searching Pinterest for the perfect craft that's both age-appropriate and not too messy.
"Are we doing the hand painting now?" Ashlynn bounces in her seat, finished with her drawing.
"Almost." I lay out newspaper on the kitchen table, then place paint, glitter, and buttons in small containers. "We just need to,"
The doorbell rings, interrupting my explanation. I glance at the clock,2:17 PM. We're not expecting anyone.
"I'll be right back, sweetie." I wipe my hands on a towel and head for the door. Through the window, I see a woman, slender, blonde, familiar in a way I can't place.
When I open the door, she smiles, but it doesn't reach her eyes. Something about her makes me instantly uneasy.
"Can I help you?" I ask, keeping one hand on the door frame.
"Is Nolan home?" Her gaze drifts past me, scanning what she can see of the living room.
"He's at work right now." I don't offer more information than necessary. Something tells me I shouldn't.
"And who are you?" There's an edge to her voice, sharp enough to cut.
Before I can answer, Ashlynn appears at my side, tugging on my jeans. "Who's that lady?"
The woman's eyes fix on Ashlynn, and her expression changes, softens, but in a calculated way that makes my protective instincts buzz with sirens and lights.
"Hi there," she says, crouching down. "You must be Ashlynn."
Ashlynn shrinks back against my leg, suddenly shy. I place my hand on her shoulder, drawing her closer.
"I'm sorry, but who are you?" I ask again, more firmly this time.
The woman straightens, her smile now brittle. "I'm Lisa. Ashlynn's mother."
The words hit me like a physical blow. I've seen photos of her, just a couple, tucked away in a drawer in Nolan's office. Photos I happened upon when searching for extra batteries one day. But those pictures were from years ago, before Ashlynn was born.
"Ashlynn," I say, keeping my voice calm despite the adrenaline coursing through me, "why don't you go back to the kitchen? I'll be there in just a minute."
"But we're gonna make butterflies," she protests.
"We will, I promise. Just give me one minute, okay?"
Reluctantly, she nods and disappears back into the kitchen. I turn back to Lisa, keeping my body positioned to block the doorway.
"Nolan never mentioned you were coming." My voice is steady, but my heart is racing.
"It was meant to be a surprise." Her smile doesn't waver, but there's something cold behind it. "May I come in? I'd like to see my daughter."
"I'm sorry, but I think it's best if we wait for Nolan." I pull my phone from my pocket. "I'll call him now."
Her expression hardens, as if not going to take no for an answer. "I have a right to see my child."
"I understand, but I'm responsible for Ashlynn while Nolan's at work, and he hasn't authorized any visits." I dial his number, praying he'll answer quickly.
Lisa's eyes narrow. "And who exactly are you to make that decision?"
I don't respond, focusing instead on the phone. It rings once, twice, three times before Nolan picks up.
"Hey, Belle, everything okay?" His voice is cautious, like it always is now when we speak.
"Nolan, there's someone here." I turn slightly away from Lisa, lowering my voice. "Lisa is here. She's asking to see Ashlynn."
There's a beat of silence, then a sharp intake of breath. "I'll be right there. Don't let her in. Don't let her near Ashlynn."
"Okay," I whisper, relief flooding through me at his immediate response.
"I'm on my way. Fifteen minutes, tops." His voice is tight with barely controlled fury. "Stay on the phone with me if you need to."
"I think we're okay for now." I glance back at Lisa, who's watching me with thinly veiled irritation. "But please hurry."
"I will. And Annabelle?" There's a pause. "Thank you."
I end the call and face Lisa again. "Nolan's on his way. He should be here soon."
"Fine." She crosses her arms. "I'll wait."
"Would you like to wait out here?" I gesture to the porch swing. "I can bring you some water."
"I'd rather wait inside with my daughter." Her emphasis on "my" feels like a challenge. But this bitch left her, and I refuse to make this easy for her.
"I'm sorry, but until Nolan gets here, I think it's best if you wait out here." I stand my ground, though my knees feel weak.
She stares at me for a long moment, then shrugs. "Whatever." She moves to the swing and sits down, her posture rigid with annoyance.
I close the door partway, keeping an eye on her through the gap. Then I hurry back to the kitchen where Ashlynn is waiting.
"Who's that lady?" she asks again, eyes wide with curiosity.
"Just someone who needs to talk to your daddy," I tell her, unwilling to explain more until Nolan arrives. "Hey, I have an idea. Why don't we take our craft project to the backyard? It's such a nice day."
"Yeah." She claps her hands, easily distracted. "Can we have a picnic too?"
"That's a perfect idea." I quickly gather our supplies, adding some juice boxes and crackers to the mix. Anything to keep her occupied and away from the front of the house.
As I guide Ashlynn through the back door, I can't help but glance over my shoulder, half-expecting to see Lisa standing there. But the kitchen remains empty, the only sound is the humming of the fridge.
In the backyard, I spread a blanket under the maple tree and set out our craft supplies. Ashlynn immediately dives in, pressing her tiny hands into the paint I've poured onto a paper plate.
"Look, Annabelle," she giggles. "My hands are blue."
"They sure are." I smile at her, trying to keep my anxiety from showing. "Now let's make those butterflies, okay?"
As she presses her painted hands onto paper, creating perfect wing prints, I keep one eye on the back door. The minutes crawl by, each one feeling like an hour.
Finally, just as Ashlynn is adding glitter to her third butterfly, I hear the sound of a truck door slamming. Nolan is home.
"Stay right here, sweetie," I tell her. "Keep working on your butterflies. I'll be right back."
"Okay." She's too absorbed in her project to protest.
I slip back into the house, moving quickly to the front door. Through the window, I can see Nolan striding up the walkway, his face a mask of controlled rage. His hat is pulled down low over his eyes, and if it were me, I'd be running away from him. Lisa stands from the swing, arms crossed defensively.
I open the door just as he reaches the porch.
"Where's Ashlynn?" he asks me, his voice low.
"In the backyard. We're doing crafts." I step aside to let him in.
"Good." He nods once, approval flashing in his eyes. "Keep her there, please."
Our gazes lock for a moment, and despite everything, my heart still trips over itself at his proximity. Then he turns to Lisa, and the tenderness in his expression evaporates.
"What the hell are you doing here?" he demands, not bothering to invite her in.
I back away, giving them space but still within earshot. This isn't my conversation, but I can't bring myself to leave completely.
"I'll go check on Ashlynn," I say quietly, though neither of them seems to hear me.
As I head toward the back door, I hear Lisa's voice, sharp and accusatory. "So this is why you won't answer my calls? You've got yourself a little girlfriend playing house with my daughter?"
I freeze, waiting for Nolan's response. She's been contacting him?
"What does it matter, Lisa?" His voice rises, raw with emotion. "The two of us haven't been together in years, and I'm free to live my goddamn life, since you threw me and your daughter away."
Their voices fade as I step outside, back to where Ashlynn waits, her hands now covered in glitter, her smile bright enough to chase away the shadows that have gathered in my heart.