Page 156 of Love Notes & Lifelines
“I’m checking everything myself,” Teddy assures us for the fourth time. “And my dad is checking what I’ve checked. I promise.” He smiles over us, and when I look at his dad, his expression is one of pride for his son. That’s how it’s supposed to be.
And that’s the kind of parent I want to be. That’s the kind of parent I will be for our girls.
Please, God, if you’re up there, just give me the chance to be that kind of parent to Emmy and Ruby. Please.
“Are you okay?” Beck whispers into my ear. I nod emphatically even though I’m anything but okay.
He holds up our joined hands tightly and I gasp, drawing curious stares, when I glance down and find my nails have broken skin on his knuckles. He quickly tugs our hands under the table.
“I’m so sorry. I’m nervous. Really nervous.”
He rests his forehead against mine. “Breathe, Stella Jane. Breathe.”
Our breaths mingle as we share the air between us. After a few haggard attempts, my body finally relaxes, and I loosen my grip on his hand.
When we lift our heads, I find the judge watching us, but his foreboding glare does nothing to ease my fears. It’s not the same judge we had last time, and that’s setting off alarm bells in every corner of my mind.
He doesn’t flinch when Danica screeches something and points at me. Or when he slams his gavel and calls a recess.
But there’s a slight tilt of his lips as he descends the stairs and exits the courtroom for his chambers.
Please let that be a good sign. Please.
“Stella?”
I bolt upright in my chair and only stay seated because Beck has a hand on my shoulder holding me steady.
A delicate hand reaches out and hands me some wipes. Bella. “They’ll get that stain right out. I tried to get it to you earlier, but you’ve got a big, ah, group here today.”
I offer her a kind smile while Beck gives our apologies and I stand up to attack the dried applesauce. She’s a miracle worker because it comes right out with hardly a wet spot to be seen.
“Thank you, Bella. Honestly. Today has been…trying.”
“You’re doing great, Stella. Really. Here.” She hands me a brown paper bag, then reaches into her oversized purse and pulls out six more to give to each of our attorneys. Too curious not to peek, I open it and find it full of snacks. She shrugs. “It could be a very long day.”
She approaches Teddy next, but she drops the bag, he fumbles to catch it, and they collide headfirst in the mayhem.
“Crap. Sorry,” she mutters, holding her head.
“No, it’s my…” His mouth falls open and he doesn’t finish his sentence. Beck notices the awkward exchange and nudges him in the back, but he jumps into the air like a horse who’s seen a snake and plows forward into Bella, knocking her over. Luckily, she lands with a thud in my vacated chair.
“Bella?”
“Teddy?”
“Wait,” Beck says, pinching his nose. “You two know each other?”
“Um, we sort of dated in high school.”
It’s official. Teddy’s face is not capable of turning any redder.
“I can’t believe I didn’t recognize you,” Bella says with a strange grin and aggressive shake of her head.
“Well, you only saw me from behind…”
Something happens between them, making Teddy spin in place and Bella practically jumps over the table.
“Great to see you, Teddy. See ya.” She sprints from the room, leaving a trail of snacks in her wake.
