Page 63 of Make Me Trust Again
“Well, yes, but that’s different.”
“Is it?” Jessica quirks her brow. “You know firsthand how hard that is, and let’s not even start on the topic of kids like Kyle getting the help they need to adapt, especially when it comes toschool. There is a severe lack of teaching assistants in our school system, but it’s the worst in rural areas. You know the most important part; you’d still need to have a degree to work, but…” She shrugs. “Think about it.”
Just then, the doorbell chimes, making us both look up.
“Hey, Aiden.” Jessica smiles at the newcomer. “What brings you here?”
The dark-haired guy rubs at the back of his neck as he moves closer to the counter. “I need to get some decent coffee in me.”
“Long shift?”
“Yeah. It’s been one of those days.”
“I’ve gotcha covered.” She winks at him, our gazes meeting as she grabs a coffee cup, and explains, “Aiden and I went to the same school. He helped me when I shifted my degree to nursing, although he’s recently graduated and works as a nurse at our medical center.”
“That’s nice of him.”
“Yeah, it is.” She pours him a plain black coffee and puts it on the counter.
“Thanks.” He slides his hand into his pocket and pulls out a wallet. “How have you been doing?”
“Good. Busy. I’ve been trying to finish these last few classes over the summer?—”
A soft buzzing sound draws her attention.
“Sorry, let me just—” Jessica grabs her phone from the counter, checking the caller ID before picking it up. “Hey, what’s up?”
There is a short pause as she listens to whoever is on the other side of the line. Aiden starts to take a sip of his coffee, but pauses as Jessica’s tone lowers.
“I told you, I’m working, and then I have to finish my paper later. I can’t today.” She pulls the phone away from her face as the person starts yelling loud enough for us to hear.
“That’s what you said yesterday and the day before! Are you fucking for real, Jessica? What’s that bullshit? You’ve never been so busy before…”
“Damian…”
“Don’t you Damian me, Jessica! Are you cheating on me? Is that it?”
Jessica clenches her jaw. “I’m not doing this now. I’m at work. I’ll talk to you later when you get your head out of your ass.”
With that, she hangs up, letting out a long breath.
“You still with that douche?” Aiden pulls out a few bills and places them on the counter.
“He’s not a douche.” Jessica gives him a pointed look before rolling her eyes. “He’s just… worried.”
Something dark flashes on Aiden’s face. “More like controlling. You’re too good for a guy like that.”
“Yeah, well. It’s been a very busy few weeks with work and studying and everything.” She takes the money and runs his order, as she explains, although I’m not sure who she’s trying to convince—herself or us. “He’s generally not like this. I’ve just been busy, and he doesn’t like it. Things will go back to how they used to be once I’m done with classes.”
For her sake, I really hope she’s right because I know all too well how quickly things in a relationship can take a turn.
“I don’t want him near Kyle, Mrs. Lewis.”
“I understand that, Miss Hathaway, and I’ll try my best to lower the time he gets with him. However, you know that without a proper cause, he has a right to see his son.”
The need to scream at my lawyer’s placating words is overwhelming, but I swallow it back, running my fingers through my long hair.
I had a cause. John was a deadbeat dad who didn’t bother learning ASL in the seven years his son’s been alive. How is she expecting me to just let my son go with him when they have no way of communicating? Not that he’s ever been much interested in talking to Kyle.
