Page 17 of Tangled Trust

"Don’t get up. I’ll see myself out," I say with as much dignity and grace as I can muster under the circumstances.

"Look after yourself," Sue says as I walk towards the front door.

"And you."

I’m fuming. My hands are shaking, and it feels as if I’ve swallowed hot lava. I don’t bother with the raincoat, but simply throw it over my arm as I march out to my car. I place the envelope in my pocket to keep it dry. Once I’m inside my dry car, I tear it open and begin to read.

Sebastian,

It’s over. Don't try to find me. I never want to see your viscous face again. You’ve hurt and humiliated me for the last time.

Ella

6

CARTER

Amanda is away this week. She hasn’t met Ella yet, which surprises me, as I thought after the fuss she’d made over the phone she would have rushed over immediately to inspect my newest appointment.

Jagger, on the other hand, cannot get enough of Ella. The two have become instant best friends. It would seem that my son has my taste in stunning women. I feel almost like an outsider these days, but I’m thrilled that all is well on the homefront. Jagger is happy, and Ella’s presence takes a lot of pressure off me.

She mentioned that she was taking Jagger to the petting zoo after school, and my day is unusually uneventful, so I decide to drive over there so I can surprise my son with a bit of quality dad and son time. Perhaps I’ll take the two out for pizza afterward. Like any six-year-old, Jagger is always up for a greasy pizza, and you don’t have to ask me twice.

The petting zoo is awash with excited kids, either squealing with delight or cowering in fear. The stench of goats and alpacas rises up to meet me as I cross the floor to where Jagger is tickling a little billy goat’s beard. Neither he nor Ella have spotted me yet, so I hang back a while and watch them.

Ella throws her head back and laughs from her gut as the feisty goat leaps away and bounces onto a rock. Jagger joins in, and my heart beats just that little bit faster when the beautiful Au Pair picks Jagger up and kisses him on the cheek. Perhaps, for my own sanity, I should have hung out for a Nanny McPhee type after all. But, it’s too late now. The deed is done. I’ll have to suck it up and keep my lascivious thoughts to myself.

"Daddy!" Jagger yells at the top of his lungs when he spots me.

Ella is still smiling, and I swear she grows more beautiful by the day.

"Hey, you two. Dash is going to go nuts when he smells the goats and alpacas all over you," I grin as I scoop my son up into my arms.

"It’s okay," Jagger says confidently. "I’ll explain to him that he’s still my favorite."

"This is a surprise," Ella smiles.

"Yes, I finished early today. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, hey."

"Who’s Jack?" Jagger asks quizzically.

Both Ella and I laugh at his innocent question.

"I was thinking we could go out for pizza. What do you think, Jagger? Are you in the mood for pizza?"

"Yay!"

His standard answer is good enough for me.

"Are there any more animals you’d like to see?" I ask him, not wanting to interfere with Ella’s plans.

"I think we’ve seen them all. Twice," she says, and I imagine that, like me, Ella too has had enough of the earthy aroma of the four-legged attractions.

"Great. Let’s get going then."

"Daddy, can I drive to the restaurant with Ella?"

Ouch!

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