Page 83 of The Yips

FunkyMonkey2622: The chick has a type. If one pro-sports player isn’t your ticket out of poverty, keep trying.

Sam had Anne on the phone within minutes. She had called Tom’s agent, explaining that things were about to go public and that it was not the original plan. By the night's end, Tom’s agent had made a statement indicating that this was all breaking news to them, but if Tom was indeed the baby’s father, he would take full responsibility.

Me to Sister Group Chat: Ugh. We cannot talk about my private life outside this circle. If I can’t trust you to maintain the circle, I won’t share things with you anymore.

Kendra: I’m sorry, Kelsey. I didn’t think Lucas would do this. I trusted him.

Me to Sister Group Chat: I know you didn’t mean it.

But did I? I don’t think she wanted this to get out publicly, but knowing Kendra, she had embellished the story to once again portray me as a fuckup. She hadn’t bonded with Crew and made minimal effort to be an aunt, and her judgment was evident in practically every encounter wehad. I had shared the news with her to involve her in my life and our lives, which resulted in betrayal.

Sam accepted Anne's call and placed it on speakerphone so we could all talk. Jake quietly made dinner and gestured to the other room, silently asking if we wanted him to leave. Sam and I both shook our heads no.

Anne didn’t waste any time with greetings, “We made contact. Did you guys see his statement?”

“We did,” I answered.

“He’s agreed to the paternity test but has asked to arrange a call, preferably a video chat. He’d like to see you first, and then if he agrees that you’re the girl from Cancun, his agent’s words, he’d like to see Crew. I’ve arranged a cheek swab for him in Colorado and found a lab in Houston where you can submit Crew’s DNA. He’s only just relocated to Colorado; the NHL training camp won’t start until mid-September. If the paternity tests support your claims, he’s asked to meet with you guys.”

“You mentioned our series in Colorado starting in two weeks,” Sam offered. “We can plan a meeting then.”

“Ok, I’ll work on that. We should have the results well before that.”

“What is your sense of the situation?” I asked.

“Well, the way the news broke was less than optimal. He’s either very skilled at handling the press or a decent guy who will do the right thing. He needs to talk to you and wants to see Crew.”

“There’s no way that he could get custody of Crew?” Sam asked.

“It’s doubtful. For a mother to lose custody, there has to be evidence that she is unfit or her living situation is unsafe. Kelsey is currently breastfeeding, which is another factor to consider. Plus, he will be starting his rookie season in asport with a ton of travel. It’s not conducive to a single dad life. But I think you’ll need to be willing to negotiate some form of shared custody or visitation. Ideally, you negotiate the agreement quietly, with no drama and minimal press.”

“Ok, schedule the call and send us the video link,” Sam said as we ended the call with Anne.

CHAPTER 72

Sam

Knowing her history with Kelsey, it was hard for me to give Kendra the benefit of the doubt, but not everyone grew up in a family in the public eye. Josie and I had a long list of former friends who were never, in reality, our friends. When my parents divorced, my best friend Jamie’s mother took me under her wing. She listened intently and then sold every detail to the press. It took my parents several months to realize who was leaking the story, but when we figured it out, it destroyed my trust in everyone outside my family. With this betrayal coming from within Kelsey’s circle, that violation hit hard.

Anne sent us a confirmation with a time and a link. She assured us that she would be on the call and would stop it if anything made her uneasy. Crew had woken from his nap, and Kelsey had taken some time to try to relax. She changed into a bathing suit and got Crew into his swim diaper and shorts. Kelsey tossed me my suit while I searched the internet, trying to learn as much as possible about the Colorado Blizzards and Tom Campbell. I likedhockey and watched it during the off-season, but I needed to learn more about the teams and players.

“Come on, it’s Crew’s first swim, don’t miss it.”

“OK, but we only have an hour,” I reminded her.

“No, the call is Mountain Daylight Time, not Central. We’ve got two hours to kill, and my anxiety can’t handle sitting around and worrying about it. Crew has been cooped up all morning driving here. Let’s bring him for a swim in this award-winning pool.”

I changed quickly in the cabana, finding a bin with a baby float that Crew could use. Kelsey sat on the side of the pool, waiting for me before bringing Crew into the water. Jake stood off to the side with his phone ready to capture the video of Crew’s first swim, holding Kelsey’s phone as she Facetimed with her parents so they could watch, too.

“Here, let me hold him while you get in the water. I’ll pass him to you once you’re in there,” I said, reaching for the baby. I held him while Kelsey slipped in the water, acclimating to the temperature.

“Well, that wasn’t as cold as I expected.”

“That’s Texas for you. I can swim most of the year down here,” Jake said.

“I’m still not moving to Texas. I like my seasons,” Kelsey said, reaching for Crew as I walked down the steps into the pool.

Crew’s immediate reaction was shock, but quickly looked to both of us for reassurance. Once he realized he was safe, he started to kick his legs and splash around. Kelsey focused her attention on her phone, still held by Jake, and talked to her parents for another minute before they ended the call. Crew giggled as we pulled him around in the float.

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