Page 58 of Chasing I Do
It was a place she’d become familiar with, but now that she’d tasted how nice it was to have someone in her corner, alone suddenly felt daunting. Margo had her lawyer and her condemnation to keep her company. And Darcy had—
“Oh, no, don’t do it. Don’t you let that woman get in your head,” Jillian said fiercely. “You are the best mom I know, and there is no court in the world that wouldn’t see that.”
“That’s what I’m worried about,” Darcy admitted. “That Margo will get enough traction that this case actually goes to court. Can you imagine Kylie sitting in a judge’s chambers and answering questions about her home life?”
“I know. I think about that every day with Sam, which is why I decided to settle out of court with Jerry.” Jillian took her hand. “This won’t go any further than today.”
“How do you know?” she asked.
Jillian pulled Darcy into her arms. “Because you’re the nicest person I know and bad things can’t happen to nice people.”
Darcy had an entire lifetime of experience to make a strong case against Jillian’s theory, but for now she decided to believe. It was easier than the alternative.
A big mahogany door opened, and a petite woman in a suit and glasses peeked her head out. “Miss Kincaid, we are ready for you.”
Darcy’s stomach twisted into knots, and her heart raced. With one final squeeze, Darcy let go of her friend, and immediately felt the cold rush of what she was about to face overtake her.
Time seemed to slow with each step she took, the buzzing in her head going faint, until she was acutely aware of every sound in the building. She took in a deep breath, put her shoulders back, and channeled that same brave girl who had more first days at a new school than she did friends.
“You never have to fake it,” she whispered to herself. “You’ve already made it.”
She was a college graduate, a successful business owner, and a fantastic mom. A few of the many things she’d accomplished all on her own.
She was prepared to do this alone too.
But when she walked in the conference room, it wasn’t Margo and her expensive lawyer sitting across the table.
It was Gage.
Dressed in a dark suit with his negotiating face on, he looked up at her and smiled—and she wondered if this was one battle she wouldn’t have to fight alone. Or if karma was so cruel that she’d have to take on the one person she couldn’t win against.
“Sorry for the wait, Pink,” he said, walking over. His eyes were calm, and locked on hers. “I was just telling Mrs. Lamont about our picnic.”
“Our picnic?” she heard herself ask over the pounding of her heart.
“The one we had in the park. I was telling her about playing dress up with Fancy, and how much fun Kylie had putting on a doggy fashion show.”
Still unsure of why he was there, of whose side he was on, she lowered her voice. “If this is about seeing Kylie, I’m not going to cut you off, Gage. You know I wouldn’t do that. She adores you and you make her happy.”
“You always look out for Kylie. I know that. And these people know that too,” he said. “But I’m not here for Kylie. I’m here for you.” He took her hands in his bigger ones, his thumb stroking her lightly, as if giving her some of his strength. “I’m here to make sure you’re looked out for, and that you’re happy.”
Darcy looked around the room. “Where’s your mom?”
“At home, thinking long and hard about where she wants to stand in my life.”
“The suit?” She looked at the mediator, her heart wanting so badly to believe, but afraid to hope.
“It has been dropped,” she said, taking her things and standing. “I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused, but when a concern is brought to our attention, it is our duty to look into matters. Thankfully, Mr. Easton clarified things.”
“So, that’s it?” she asked, needing to hear the words with her own ears.
“That is all from us.” The woman smiled as she was exiting the room. “But I do believe, after the story I heard, that your Mr. Easton has some more groveling to do.”
The door shut, leaving her withherMr. Easton. “Thank you,” she said, so many emotions rushing at her she felt dizzy.
“You have nothing to thank me for,” he said softly. “If anyone should be saying thank you, it’s me. I busted into your world and listed all kinds of demands that you had no reason to listen to. But you did, because you are a good person and a great mom. You let me get to know Kylie, and you let me get to know you, and I promised you I’d protect you. Then at the first sign of trouble, I bailed.”
“I told you to leave.”
