Page 85 of The Husband Diet
I sighed. ‘Maxine, I don’t think that’s a good idea.’
Her face red, she stepped back. ‘I’m sorry you feel that way. In any case, I wanted to warn you.’
Warn me? The nerve of this kid! Was she that insecure? If so, their relationship couldn’t be much better than ours had been.
My brow shot up and I snorted. ‘Oh, you won’t be getting any trouble from me. You can keep him.’
She stared at me, a strange expression on her face. Almost earnest.
‘Erica, please listen to me, for your own good. Ira’s decided to go for full custody of Maddy and Warren.’
Down went my potatoes, my detergent, my popcorn and chocolate, one by one, plop, plop, plop, onto the floor, along with my heart. She instantly bent on her thin haunches to retrieve them for me and I watched the top of her head without really seeing it, the clanging of her charm bracelets enough to make my head explode. No court onEarthwould award him full custody, not after what he’d done to us. Impossible.
‘Ira’s determined to keep the kids. I’ve tried to dissuade him. I think you’re a good mother.’
‘I’m sure,’ I snapped, taking my items from her as if she’d stolen them. ‘You just don’t want them in your life. Well, that’s one thing we agree on.’
‘No, that’s not true. I’m looking forward to spending time with Maddy and Warren and getting to know them…’
My blood pressure must have suddenly hit the roof, because I was seeing spots.
‘But I also think kids should stay with their parents, particularly with their mothers.’
Here was another one of Marcy’s acolytes, God help us.
‘My advice is you get a lawyer fast. I won’t tell Ira I told you. I’ll try to stall him in the meantime and convince him to reason.’
And then I think I passed out, because when I opened my eyes there were shelf-loads of hairspray on the ceiling, with Julian under them, his face hovering close to mine.
‘Erica? Sweetheart, talk to me. Are you OK?’
I scrambled to my feet. ‘I’ll kill him! He wants my children!’
Julian turned to Maxine and said, ‘She’s fine now.’
He helped me up, guiding me through the throng of people who had cordoned around me and were now starting to disperse once the drama was over. Over for them, maybe. Because for me it was only just unfurling.
‘Maxine told me she has no interest whatsoever in taking the children away from you,’ Julian offered.
‘No shit,’ I mumbled. ‘It would ruin her weekends of sex.’
Once outside in the parking lot, I grabbed my cellphone and dialed my lawyer. Julian waited quietly as I calmly explained the situation and made an appointment to see him. Then I clicked the phone shut and buried my face in my hands. This could not be happening. For years Ira couldn’t have cared less, and now he wanted to take them away from me?
‘Let me drive you home, then I’ll come back and get my car,’ he said softly.
‘Thanks.’ I was still feeling a bit woozy, so I was grateful for the help. ‘Who called you anyway?’
Julian grinned. ‘Maxine.’
‘But how did she get your number?’
‘I have no idea.’
‘Yeah, well, let’s hope that homewrecker stays away from you,’ I blurted without thinking.
He grinned and wrapped an affectionate arm around my neck to draw me in for a kiss.
‘Jealous, huh?’ he said. ‘That means you care.’
