Page 139 of Timeless

Scott arched his eyebrows at us. “You trying to say that your biker of a husband is going to threaten us or something? Is that what you are trying to get at, Amber? That somehow your ex-husband’s word will help your case?”

“No. I had a blood test done every week. To prove I wasn’t on all that medication. Martin Hatcher has the results. In fact, I went to him and consulted with him before I even let Will into my life. So, you might be an expert in the field. But I know for a fact Will has doesn’t have a case. He was never considered a guardian.” Amber’s voice hardened. “So, go ahead, build a case. Martin Hatcher will enjoy tearing it apart.”

“Martin Hatcher? Seriously? He is your lawyer?”

Who was Martin Hatcher? And why was Scott acting like Amber couldn’t possibly have him as lawyer?

“Yeah. So, put all your threats in writing and direct them to him. He has been waiting for them. And I’ve been paying him weekly since I started dating Will. So, I will throw all my money at him.” Amber was serious. “And if I run out of money, Jackson will take over. And if that fails, then you should know Jackson and I don’t usually follow the law to begin with.”

Amber reached forward and slammed the laptop lid shut, with so much force that it could have shattered the screen. And then her head dropped into her hands.

Okay. We had to talk this out.

I opened my mouth to do just that, when there was a smashing sound.

Amber’s head snapped up from hands. She jumped off my lap. “Jack?” I heard the panic in her voice as she bolted toward the direction the noise came from. I was quickly following her.

“Jack, you okay?” Amber’s voice went up to another level of panic, as she slid the door fully open. Amber put her hands out “Okay, Jack. Don’t move.”

I looked over Amber, and there were broken pieces of a bowl as well as glass surrounding Jack.

Amber was quick to head straight to Jack. “Are you hurt, Jack?” Amber wrapped her arms around him, lifting him up and away from the glass and bowl pieces. I saw her flinch, when she lifted him up.

Her shoulder. I was quick to walk toward them.

“I didn’t mean to, Mom. I’m sorry.” Jack was getting upset, I could hear it in his voice.

I saw the pained expression in her face, probably from her shoulder. “It’s fine, Jack. It was an accident.” Amber was reassuring him. But I heard the slight pain in her voice and the pain on her face as she kept holding Jack on her hip.

I was at her side now and gently took Jack off her. She frowned at me but didn’t fight me when I took him off her completely.

Amber was looking down at the mess on the floor. “You sure you aren’t hurt, Jack? No cuts, or anything?” She started to inspect him.

Jack shook his head.

“Okay.” Amber sighed and went to take Jack off me. But I wouldn’t let her. Her shoulder was clearly sore and I didn’t want her making it more inflamed. Was she taking anything for the pain? She was meant to be resting it, no weights, so picking up Jack wasn’t allowed.

She knew that, yet here she was ready to carry him.

“I’ve got him.” I brushed her hands away. “Why don’t you get Jack breakfast?” I gave her something she could do instead of carrying Jack. I was going to make sure now that she rested her shoulder. Amber always put herself last.

She frowned at me. “Um…” She paused, looking between Jack and me. Her head slowly tilted to the side, with an unsure expression on her face. “How long have you two been up? And don’t say ages, Jack.”

Amber’s eyes were on Jack, waiting for him to tell her. But I had a feeling Jack didn’t want to admit to Amber the time he got up because he didn’t want to tell her why he got up.

“Since one,” I answered and sat Jack down on the bar stool, at the kitchen island.

“What!”

I looked back at her, “What? It’s not a big deal.” I took in her tight expression, and the way she was staring at me, like she couldn’t believe me.

I could tell Jack was nervous now. As if he was waiting for her to start yelling at him. I looked at Amber, and she was staring at me, as if to say she didn’t believe me.

“You two have been up since one?” She arched her eyebrows. I think she was hoping I was lying.

I frowned for a second, not understanding why she was acting like this. I slowly nodded.

She immediately groaned. “Seriously! Awe, Jax, I am so sorry.” She forgot all about the mess on the floor and walked toward me, looking extremely panicked. “I’m so sorry. I don’t expect you to have to get up with him.” She was looking really concerned. “You can go back to bed and get some sleep. I promise Jack won’t wake you again.”