Page 103 of Sneak Attack

“Really?” Jasper’s smile stretched across his face. So much for not being in the mood for dessert.

“You bet.”

She stood and he took off toward the back and as soon as he was gone, Theresa sat back down.

“Nice diversion tactic there.”

“Talk, young man.”

I hadn’t been a young man in a long time, but Theresa looked fit to be tied with what she heard so I told her what happened, what was going on with Eden, and how she showed up that night after already causing a scene at the restaurant. Then again at school. “She’s worrying me, and now this shit with Jasper…I went and saw a lawyer today, which was why I brought Jasper here. I asked her to meet me here before she went into work. Grayson has to serve her papers legally, but I thought if we were together, it’d go better than in private.”

“I see.” She’d said that a lot along with a fewoh my’sandoh dear’smixed in while I’d spoken. “I know we haven’t always thought the best of you, Cole. And we didn’t make it no secret you and Selma should have tied the knot when you got her pregnant, but I want you to know that I think you’re a fine dad. Looking back, I don’t blame you for the choices you made back then. I also know we spoiled Selma too much and kept doing it for far too long, but this just isn’t right. She’s a mom now, and it’s time for her to put aside these childish notions she always carried. Irv will come around, too, especially once I tell him what happened.”

There had never been a time when Theresa or Irv had come close to praising me. “The custody agreement I worked up with the lawyer I talked to is the same as we’ve been doing now. I didn’t change a thing, I just wanted something formal in case something happens. I also added in child support for Jasper.”

Selma worked hard, but shewason a nursing salary, and last year after I took Jasper on a summer vacation to Utah and Arizona, she’d made a comment about wishing she could do those things with him. So, I made it so she could. It wasn’t much for me and in the end, it’d only give Jasper a fuller life, even if it was also a payoff to get her to shut up.

I figured, though, she didn’t really wantme,she wanted the life I could give her.

This way, we both won—at least, if she was reasonable.

“I’ll go get Jasper out of the back so you can get on your way. I think maybe you should take off,” Theresa said. “I’ll go talk to Irv and we’ll have a talk with Selma when she gets here. Will she need her own lawyer?”

She didn’tneedone if she signed it. She could represent herself. “If she wants to make changes, then it’d be safer. For both of us.”

“Okay. We’ll handle this. Seeing Jasper so upset and worried hurts my old heart and my daughter’s better than this, even if she can’t see it quite so clearly right now.”

“Thank you.” My shoulders slumped, relaxed for the first time in what felt like weeks.

She stood and patted the table. “Like I said, you’re a fine man and a good dad. You deserve someone who makes you happy, too.”

“Thanks, Theresa.”

She patted the table, and I handed her the envelope I’d left on the bench next to me, so Jasper didn’t ask about it. “Dinner’s on us today, I believe.”

“That’s not necessary.”

“I know. Still, we don’t need you to keep paying to feed our grandbaby. Seems silly we ever made you pay when I think about it.”

It was the largest peace offering she ever gave me. I took the olive branch and nodded and then once she was gone, cleaned up our mess as best I could and tossed a hundred-dollar bill on the table.

Maybe I didn’t need to pay for the food, but the server had still done her job and done it well. If Irv or Theresa had a problem with me thanking their employees, I was certain they’d let me know.

* * *

With the custody papers out of my possession and feeling like Irv and Theresa might actually be on my side—which was really Jasper’s side, so I shouldn’t have been surprised, as soon as Jasper and I got home, I sent a text asking Eden to come over when he fell asleep.

I needed her. Wanted her. It’d be difficult, especially last minute with the home health nurse system but ten minutes later she assured me she’d be here.

Melanie has a free night so she’ll be here at eight. Everything okay?

We’ll talk when you get here. Good, though, I think.

She sent me a smiley face emoji and after Jasper and I played more fetch with Bongo, getting all his energy out after being kenneled again, I sat down next to him in the family room and grabbed PlayStation controls for the both of us.

“Which game are we playing tonight?”

“Why’s Mom mad?”

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