Page 71 of Tangled Trust

"Enjoy the feeling while you can. Amanda will rip you a new one as soon as you leave this office."

"We’d better stay here then. We have everything we need. A world-class chef, and a staff complement of note. We could hide here forever without any issues," I smile and kiss her forehead.

"I’ve never met anyone like you, Carter."

"That goes double for me. You are a breath of fresh air, Jones."

"Wait until I’m hanging over the toilet bowl. I’m not going to be so fresh then."

"I can see you’re bouncing back. Don’t allow Amanda to rain on our parade, gorgeous. She’s going to try her best."

"I should have known she was up to something when I heard the front door rattle on its hinges as she left. She’s a bit scary, isn’t she?" Ella chuckles.

"That woman is as serious as a heart attack."

"What are we going to tell Jagger? I hope he isn’t going to be upset."

"Are you kidding? The reason I bought Jagger a dog in the first place was that he was heartbroken when I explained to him that Amanda and I weren’t going to have another baby. He’s going to be thrilled."

"Oh, good. I love the little trooper. I’ll never do anything to hurt him. I hope you know that."

"I believe you, Ella."

We kiss, and my heart soars.

* * *

"Are you insane?" Amanda shouts at me incredulously. "She’s a stranger! You know nothing about this hussy, Carter! How can you have a child with her? And what about Jagger? What are you going to tell him? How will you explain to our son that he’s going to have to share you with a stranger’s bastard?"

Her eyes are crazed, and she’s practically foaming at the mouth as she paces back and forth. I knew she'd be mad, but this is something else.

"Amanda! Calm down."

"How can I be calm? This is beyond insanity."

"You know nothing about Ella," I start to say, but she interrupts me.

"Neither do you!"

"That’s not true. She’s a good person. I’d think that you’d be happy that Jagger is in such loving hands when he’s not with you."

Okay, perhaps I chose my words poorly.

Instead of throwing a vase at me, which I was kind of expecting, Amanda glowers at me, her knuckles as white as a sheet as she balls her fists.

"I’m going to ignore that stupid comment. So, that’s it, then. You’re going to go through with this, are you? You’re going to have a child with a stranger. Wonderful. Real smart, Carter."

"I can’t have a meaningful conversation with you when you’re this far gone, Amanda. I’m going to ask you to behave yourself. Leave Ella alone. You and I are divorced. Get it into your head, please."

I get up and head for the door. There’s no mending this fence, I’m afraid.

"You’re going to regret this, Carter. Mark my words," she yells at me as I leave.

* * *

"Who’s up for pizza?" I say when I get home and find Ella and Jagger in the kitchen.

"Me!" Jagger yells and jumps off the chair where he’s been drawing.

---