Page 25 of Balance

“Did you… hire someone to look into Betty?”

He winces and wipes his face with a napkin. “I did… My lawyer got a hold of her will. Her kids are doing some shady shit and I have no idea how they’re actually doing it. They can legally block you from seeing her, but technically since Betty had the money and it’s stated in plain words in her will that the house was to be given toyou…They got jealous, sold the house and her cars, and are refusing to let you see Betty at all. My attorney said that it’s possible that Betty’s own lawyers have no idea what’s going on… But I had Andy send them the proof.”

I close my eyes and press my chin to my chest. Betty was leavingmeher house? “What’s going to happen once her lawyers find out they sold the house and her cars?”

He chuckles and shoves the rest of the food in his mouth. “Nothing good, I’ll tell you that. No idea why those assholes even have the POA in the first place, definitely an oversight on Betty’s part… But whatever they did or whomever they paid off to sell the house, it’s going to bite them all in the ass when she passes away.”

I sigh and glance up into his warm hazel eyes. “About that… One of the staff called me today and she told me that she can basically sneak me in to see her because she’s declining. Her kids haven’t seen her in over five years.” I choke and glance away, placing my hands over my eyes.

I hear him move closer to me and then I’m in his arms. He pulls me close and I breathe in his clean scent and let the tears fall. “Let me make some calls. My parents might be able to fly in for a few days.” I nod against him and eventually he guides me to the living room and tells me to pick a show. “I’ll be in my office if you need me.” He backs away and I click through the shows until I give up and just land on the Disney Channel.

The girls will be up soon, then it’s snack time and then we start on dinner before picking up Avery from gymnastics at four.

I slip into the guest bathroom down the hall and press a cool washcloth over my eyes. I don’t want them to know I’m upset. Those girls already have enough stress in their life. They don’t need to see their crazy nanny cry.

I hear their sweet voices as I step out of the bathroom and pull them into my arms after they race up to me from their bedroom. “Hello sweet girls, how was your nap?”

Nessa wiggles out of my arms and skips to the kitchen for her snack. “Good. Is daddy home?” She grabs his keys from the counter and shakes them around.

“He sure is, he’s in his office. I’m sure he’ll be out soon to say hello.” I smile and get them situated for their snacks and I sit and watch them eat. I haven’t been here for very long, buteven imagining leaving them for only a few days is making my stomach clench.

I’m way too attached to this family. I just hope it doesn’t bite me in the ass.

Morgan joins us in the playroom about a half hour later, nodding his head to the hall so that he can talk to me. “My parents weren’t able to fly in anytime soon, but I called Logan and Bianca. His wife doesn’t travel with us for the away games, so she offered to come this Friday night and stay until Monday, if that works for you? I want to get you out there as soon as you are able…”

I nod slowly. “She’ll be okay with all three of them?”

He snorts and nods, leaning up against the wall, sending me an amused glance. “Absolutely. Her and Marie have helped out with the kids before… But Marie has twin infants and two seventeen year old girls at their house. I didn’t want to stress her out.”

I chuckle and shake my head. “Sounds crazy. She’s married to who again?”

“She’s engaged to James. You’ll meet them all soon, probably the next weekend we’re home. The guys want me to host a cookout.”

I nod and let out a long breath. “I’ll book a flight, thank you so much. When do you leave?”

“Saturday morning. Bianca said she can be over here around five PM on Friday, and I’ll already be home by then.”

I chew on my lip and hold myself back from jumping up into his arms. “Thank you. I’ll book it now. Want to sit with the girls? I’ll head to my room for a little bit.”

He sucks in his bottom lip into his mouth and waves me off. “Take your time.”

_____________

I fly out to see Betty tomorrow. I’m terrified. I know she won’t remember me, but what if someone tells her kids that I’m there? My hands shake as I check my new luggage that magically showed up a few days ago on my bed. It’s bright purple and massive enough to hold half of my closet if I pack correctly.

Little gifts have been showing up since the Betty debacle. Little notes around the kitchen for me to find, my favorite lemonade in the fridge when I wake up in the morning. The luggage, and then this morning Morgan cooked us all breakfast before I took Avery to school.

Gosh. I want to lick that man. Not only is he a doting father, but he’s such a damn good man that it makes me want to slap Brittany around and drown her in the lake.

Speaking of the ex, not a peep from her since. The court date is next Wednesday and Morgan doesn’t think she’s even going to show up after the shit she pulled here. Especially not after he had his attorney head down to the courthouse and file for restraining orders and let them know what she tried to pull that day…

I still can’t believe she tried to take the girls. She has nowhere to live, no job, no money, and didn’t even have a proper vehicle.

It blows my mind how selfish someone can be, she just wanted Morgan to wire her more money. She doesn’t care about the girls, and that just breaks my heart.

I zip up the bag and step away, rubbing my hands on my sore knees. A glass of wine should clear my mind right about now.

I slip out of my room and head into the kitchen, grabbing a glass before searching for an open bottle in the fridge. We usually have a glass with dinner at night when Morgan’s home to eat with us.

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