Page 35 of Merry with a Brewmaster
All I can do is wait and brace for the inevitable.
WELLS
“You’re not goingto invite me in?” Kim says as she looks down her nose at her freshly manicured hand before meeting my gaze. Her blonde hair is fluffed and sprayed in a way I used to thinkmade her look professional and put together but really makes her look stuck-up and bitchy.
Stepping aside, I let her pass—for Haven. Because if Kim wants to ruin her relationship with our daughter, that’s one thing, but I won’t ever be the reason.
“Haven will be right down. She just wanted to grab her pillow,” Vienna says pleasantly before turning to leave.
“And who the hell are you?” Kim sneers, and it takes everything for me not to throw her out on her ass.
“Watch yourself inmyhouse,” I murmur so there’s no way Haven will overhear.
“I’m Haven’s nanny,” Vienna says cooly without giving her name.
Kim’s gaze moves from me to Vienna. “Thisis the nanny?” she scoffs, and I can already feel the blood heating in my veins.
“What the hell does that mean?” I grit out even though I have a pretty good idea.
“You just have a lot to say about what I’m doing when you’re fucking the nanny right in front of our daughter, babe.”
“I’m not yourbabeand you haven’t seen our daughter in months, so watch your God damn attitude and don’t ever speak to me or anyone else in this house like you’re better than them because you’renot—not even close.” I take a step closer, towering over her so she’s forced to crane her neck to look at me. “If you even think about trying to mess with Haven’s head, I will take you to court so fast you won’t have time to blink.”
“It’s such a wonder why I divorced you,” she says, infusing as much disdain into her words as possible.
“I got my pillow,” Haven says somberly as she wraps her arms arounds Vienna’s waist.
“Have the best time, okay? I can’t wait to hear all about it.” Vienna’s smile is forced as she bends down to look Haven in theeye before hugging her again and whispering something in her ear.
“Let’s go, Haven. I have the best surprise for you!” Kim says with a faux brightness that gets no reaction from our daughter.
My daughter.
“Love you, baby,” I murmur as I pick her up off the floor, holding her tight as she wraps her legs around me. And I just hold her back. Because I read this article that said you’re supposed to let the child be the first to decide the hug is over, and today—of all days—Haven definitely deserves to make the decision.
Kim glares at me over Haven’s shoulder but I don’t care. The woman standing in my kitchen isn’t the woman I married, and she’s even worse than the woman I divorced.
With a heavy sigh, Haven releases me, and I set her on the ground.
“Have a good time, all right?” She nods and I silently addyou’ll be back before you know it.
Because she will and all will be right with the world.
Until then, all I can do is pray that Kim isn’t half as heartless as she is with me, because if she hurts our daughter, she’ll never see Haven again.
19
WELLS
It’s silent as Vienna and I listen to Kim’s car pull out of the driveway and onto the street. I forgot what this feels like, my heart aching in my chest and the immediate sorrow of knowing I can’t kiss my daughter good night.
“She didn’t want to go,” Vienna says fiercely behind me. “You shouldn’t have made her go.” Her hands are fisted at her sides, her face flushed as she looks past me to the door.
“There’s a court order in place, and short of me going to the court and asking to change it, there’s not much I can do.”
“Then take her back to court!” she shouts as she points to the door. “That woman doesnotdeserve that little girl, and I swear if she harms one hair on Haven’s head?—”
“Enough!” I bark but she doesn’t back down.
