Chapter 32 #2
“Which is a fair request. If you want to think about it, there’s no need to respond right away. My fee would be five thousand since this didn’t take much time at all.”
“That’s totally fine. I’d like a day or two to consider it, if that’s okay.”
“Absolutely. Give me a call when you decide.”
“Thank you for your help with this.”
“No problem at all.”
During an earlier call, Kendall had told McKenzie that she’d enrolled her sons in school and was looking for an island home to rent for the school year.
After that, she wasn’t sure of their plans, but she was taking things one day at a time.
In the meantime, she’d taken over much of Dan Torrington’s local practice while he and his wife, Kara, were in Maine.
McKenzie had read about Dan’s legal career and his innocence project and still couldn’t believe he lived and worked on Gansett Island.
She and almost everyone else she knew on the island had attended a memorial service for Jim Sturgil, which had focused on his enduring love for his daughter.
Tiffany told McKenzie later that Jim’s parents asked to have Ashleigh sit with them during the service, but Tiffany had insisted on keeping her daughter with her and Blaine.
Some things were simply nonnegotiable. Doing what was right for your child was certainly one of them.
How did any mother know for sure what was right?
Would a hundred thousand dollars, combined with her income, allow her to give Jax the childhood she wanted for him?
How in the world did anyone put a price on such a thing?
The day after Kendall’s call, she and Jax were heading to Tiffany’s store, and she hoped to get the chance to talk to her new friend about Eric’s offer.
She hadn’t yet mentioned it to Duke. Before she did, she wanted the input of a more experienced mom to help her decide whether to take the offer or fight him for more in court.
The thought of an extended battle exhausted her, but she’d do whatever was necessary to advocate for Jax.
McKenzie parked the truck behind Tiffany’s store and entered through the back door with work and diaper bags hooked over her shoulder and Jax in her arms. Her booming business was a huge relief, especially since none of her clients minded if she brought her son to in-person meetings.
Not having to pay for daycare was another blessing in this new life she was creating for them.
Every day, she gave thanks to her wonderful grandmother for leaving her the cottage that had led to this lovely new stage for them.
It was as if Rosemary had known that someday McKenzie would need a fresh start and had made sure she’d get it.
Next week, she would hold a meeting for sixteen clients to discuss the group payroll and health insurance options she’d researched.
They’d been thrilled to hear that they could reduce their overall fees by banding together.
The sense of accomplishment at having finally found her niche in life was profound.
That, coupled with her blissful relationship with Duke, had made her happier than she’d ever been.
“Morning,” Tiffany said when she spotted McKenzie and Jax.
“Morning.”
“Addie is super excited to play with Jax this morning. Aren’t you, sweetie?”
“Jax.”
“That’s right.”
“Aw, he’s excited, too.” She plopped him into the gated play area where Addie waited for him.
He crawled over to hug his friend, which was the cutest thing their mothers had ever seen.
“They’re adorable,” Tiffany said.
“Truly. She’s the one friend he responds to every time. He’s always happy to see the others, but he keeps his distance from most of them.”
“He’ll grow out of that.”
“Definitely, but for now, Addie is his bestie.”
“She’s very happy about that.” They sat at Tiffany’s small desk. “I got you a coffee.”
“You’re the best. Thank you.”
“No problem.”
“How’s Ashleigh?”
“Doing a little better. Sleeping through the night again, which helps. She still has her moments, though. She decided to go back to school today, but she knows she can call me if she wants to come home.”
“I’m glad to hear she’s a little better.”
“Tough thing to see your baby through, that’s for sure.”
“I can’t imagine.”
“Anyway…”
“Can we talk about something else before we work?” McKenzie asked.
“Of course. Is everything okay with Duke?”
Tiffany was the one friend who knew how serious McKenzie’s relationship with Duke had gotten in recent weeks. “Everything is way better than okay.”
“Yay, I love that! You two are such a great couple.”
“Thanks. We’re having fun.”
“I remember those starry first days with Blaine, when I was so sleep-deprived and drunk on sex that I could barely function.”
“I know that feeling.”
They shared a laugh.
“It’s the best,” Tiffany said. “And when you’re really lucky, the glow never ends.”
“That’d be nice.”
“What’s on your mind?”
“Jax’s father.”
“Have you heard from him since the incident at Duke’s?”
Like all juicy news did, word of Eric’s “visit” had traveled around the island at lightning speed.
“Yesterday. His lawyer reached out to Kendall with an offer of a one-time cash payment. I’d have to sign away the right to ask for more.”
“How much did he offer?”
“One hundred thousand.”
“Hmmm.”
“Is it enough?”
“That’s hard to say. For most people, it’d be more than enough to raise a child comfortably, but it won’t cover college.”
“Right. I thought of that. He’s trying to avoid me taking him to court since his wife and kids don’t know about us.”
Tiffany made a sound that was a cross between a groan and a gag. “If I were you, I’d want to blow the lid off his entire bullshit game.”
“Part of me does, but honestly, what would I gain from turning their lives upside down? They haven’t done anything to me.”
“His kids are Jax’s half siblings, who he’ll never know if you accept this offer.”
“I thought of that, too. Having them in his life would mean having his father in his life, and he’s not a man I want my son to grow up emulating, you know?”
“Definitely. It’s a tough call, for sure.”
“What would you do if you were me?”
“Oh gosh, I don’t know, McKenzie. It’s such a big decision.
On the one hand, you could accept this one-time payment and be rid of him forever.
On the other, you take him to court, forcing him to come clean to his wife, which would make him angry and vindictive.
After having been through something similar, I would add that peace of mind is underrated until you don’t have it.
Fighting with an ex is grueling and devastating and…
” Her eyes filled. “It breaks your heart all over again, every time you realize he was never the man you thought he was.”
McKenzie placed her hand over Tiffany’s. “I’m sorry he hurt you so deeply.”
“I’m sorry you were hurt, too.” Tiffany rallied, pulled herself together and forced a smile. “I’ve also learned that all the pain and heartache I experienced with Jim was preparing me to find the truest of true loves with Blaine.”
“How did you ever summon the courage to take that leap again?”
“I never needed courage to love Blaine. That’s how I knew it was different from the get-go. He makes me feel safe to be myself, to sob over my dead ex-husband, to be everything and anything I want to be without the fear of losing him simply for being myself.”
“What a lovely way to describe true love.” It sounded, she thought, an awful lot like what she’d found with Duke.
“It’s also a lovely way to live. I can’t tell you what to do about this dilemma, but I can assure you that you and Jax will be just fine no matter what you decide.
You’re a strong, capable woman building your own business and a whole new life for yourself and your son.
If you never saw a dime from him, you’d be fine. I know it.”
“That means a lot to me coming from a badass boss bitch like you.”
Tiffany laughed. “That might be the best compliment I’ve ever received, especially since I hardly feel like that on the inside lately.”
“You’re a survivor, and you’ll survive this, too.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
“Thanks for the advice. It helped a lot.”
“Any time.”
“Now, about work…”
Tiffany laughed as she opened QuickBooks to get started on their list of tasks for the day.