Page 27 of Pick Me
Damn it all.
I looked around the table for someone—anyone—who was better qualified to have a feelsy conversation with my brother than I was, but of course, theone timeI wished someone else was around was the one time the kitchen table was absurdly empty.
“Hey.” I leaned over, plucked the phone from Webb’s hand like the annoying older brother I was, and set it facedown. “What’s going on with you?”
“Huh? Nothing. Just…” He licked his lips, looked to make sure Aiden was still occupied with Goodman, and said hesitantly, “Amanda might come to town this weekend.”
“Amanda? Your ex-wife Amanda? For fuck’s sakewhy?” I hissed in a low voice.
Nicely done, Knox.Nothing says nonjudgmental listening like hissing.
“Because she has friends here? That’s what she says anyway,” he whispered bitterly. “But while she’s here, she wants to stop by and see…” He jerked his head toward the refrigerator significantly. “And I told her no. Flat out. She’s not happy about that, and she’s letting me know it.”
I grimaced. “Can you stop her from seeing him, though? Legally, I mean? What were the terms of your custody agreement exactly?”
“When we divorced, we signed paperwork saying we have joint custody, though I have primary physical custody because she moved out of town. Technically, I’m supposed to make reasonable efforts to ensure she gets time with him when she’s around if she gives me proper notice, but…Fuck,Knox, I don’t want to. The last time she blew through town, almost two years ago, she took him out for ice cream and fed him a bunch of lies about how she desperately wanted to see him more often, butIwasn’t allowing her to. For weeks after that—after she’d fucked off back to Philadelphia or Moscow or Timbuktu—my son, mybaby, cried like his heart was breaking every night and promised to be a good boy if I’d just allow her to come and see him. And I didn’t have the heart to tell him she’d left town of her own free will.”
“Damn.” I winced. “I had no idea.”
“I know,” he said tiredly. “It wasn’t your problem. I didn’t wanna bother you, and I thought I had it under control. I sat Drew down one night after Aiden was in bed and explained it all, mostly so he’d understand why the kid was being such a pain in the ass those first couple weeks after her visit, but he’s the only one I’ve told.” He sighed, a heavy sound. “Drew thought I needed to go to court and officially get sole custody, but the lawyer I contacted wanted eight thousand dollars just for the retainer,andhe told me that unless Amanda was a convicted felon, she’d probably still get visitation, so I didn’t bother. I couldn’t justify spending the money, and I hoped she’d just… stay gone. But now she’s back, at the busiest time of the year for the orchard—which sheknows—and my choices are letting her see Aiden and fill his head with trash again or else legitimatelybeing the asshole she says I am by not letting my son see his mother.” His jaw firmed. “So I’m going with the option that protects him.”
“Yes!” Aiden cried. “Gage, you rock!” He ran around the island to Webb’s side, brandishing a zucchini the size of my forearm. “Dad, look. Vegetable starts withV! Gage suggested it.”
“Wow,” I agreed solemnly. “Great job with letters, Goodman. Someday, we’ll teach you aboutnumbers, and then there’ll be no holding you back, buddy.”
If Goodman was startled by my teasing, it only showed for half a second before his mouth curved in a grin, and he rubbed his eye with his middle finger behind Aiden’s back.
I started to smile in return, but my amusement died when Webb’s phone buzzed again on the tabletop.
He made a frustrated noise but managed to summon a smile for his son. “Aiden, get your backpack, okay? I’ll drop you at school.”
“M’kay. Mr. Williams says punctuality is super important. Punctuality, honesty, and respect,” he singsonged.
Webb rolled his eyes. “Yeah. Mr. Williams is a paragon of virtue who clearly knows every-flipping-thing.” He raised his voice and snapped, “You know whoelsesays things you should listen to, Aiden?Me. So get your dang backpack right this dang minute, and don’t make me repeat myself, or you won’t see Diana until next year. Understand?”
Aiden looked confused for a moment, clearly not used to being spoken to so sharply. Then his eyes widened and filled with tears, and he ran for the stairs to his room.
Goodman and I exchanged a glance, and then he followed Aiden.
“Webb,” I said as gently as I could.
“I know! Iknow.” He blew out a frustrated breath and slammed his palm down on the table. “I didn’t mean to snap, but I’m just one person. Christ.”
“How can I help? What can I take over for you? Or do you need to talk about feelings? Because… we can,” I offered with a distinct lack of enthusiasm. “If you want.”
“No. Fuck no. You’ve done too much already,” he said shortly. “Giving the orchard the cash, working on the books, being here when I know you’d rather be…Shit.” He pushed his chair back and stood up to pace. “Look, I’ll figure it out. I have lots of help. Jack’s been great. Drew and Marco, too. Take care ofyourself, Knox. I’ve got this handled.”
I ran my hands through my hair, feeling helpless and hating it. “There has to be more I can do, Webb, to help fix this permanently. I have the eight thousand if you want to contact a lawyer, and I can’t think of a better use for the money than keeping Aiden safe. So can I call around and find you an attorney?”
“No, I…No. I told you, I’ve got it handled. Nothing’s changed as far as the lawyer is concerned, and it’s still a waste of money, whether it’s your money I’m wasting or my own.” He snorted. “But if you know a good ex-wife filter for my email… Surely such a thing exists by now. The damned woman won’t stop cursing me out electronically.”
“Are you taking screenshots of this?” I demanded. “Because I think—”
“Yes, Knox,” he said with strained patience. “Not my first rodeo, dealing with her shit. She talks a lot, but she’s not a danger.”
“Right, no, I didn’t mean to imply—”
I broke off when Goodman hesitantly made his way back into the room.
