Page 36 of Wed to You-
“My mother took off a week after I was born with some rich baron or something. She’s working her way through men as fast as my father works through women. My father was relieved my mother left. He got a vasectomy and resumed his womanizing. Neither of my parents wanted me and each tried to pawn me off on the other.”
Chelsea’s heart lurched in her chest and then broke for the little boy unwanted by his parents. “Who raised you?”
“Mrs. Stanton.”
Jagger stared at her with hard eyes and then turned away as if he couldn’t look at her. She suspected her face shone with pity and shock. Having been on the receiving end of such expressions, she knew it wasn’t a good feeling. She adjusted her expression and stepped up next to him.
“How’d you end up being Kaden’s guardian?”
He sighed, as he watched Kaden swing a stick and wield it like a sword. “I told you about how she got involved in drugs and left. By that time, my grandfather was sick. That’s when I went to himand made the arrangements for Kaden’s trust, guardianship…all of it. He’s worth a lot of money and I didn’t want Tanya and my father fighting over him and his money.”
“So you got both?”
He nodded. “I’m just the executer of the trust. It’s separate from the guardianship. If she’s planning on getting at his money, she’ll be sorely surprised.”
He’d said Tanya initially had married for love, but eventually took money from Jagger’s father to leave the Talbot family. Maybe she’d spent that money and after living without it, she saw Kaden as a source of income. Chelsea’s first thought was how wrong it was. Then she felt sick as she realized she wasn’t much different. After all, she was marrying Jagger for money.
Wanting to lighten the mood a little, she moved on to a new series of questions. “So, where does the name Jagger come from?”
He shook his head and rolled his eyes. “My mother liked soap operas. I was named after some biker character.” He stared at her, as if he was daring her to laugh in response.
She bit her lip to stop the laugh. “And Kaden?”
“Who the hell knows?” He scanned the area again.
“Are you looking for something?”
“I’m watching for Tanya. I wouldn’t put it past her to show up here to try to see him.”
“Maybe she’s given up.” Which, of course, would make this marriage plot unneeded.
He shook his head. “No. If she’s clean, she’ll follow through.”
“Is it possible to arrange a joint custody?”
Jagger whirled on her. “No. She abandoned him. Being a parent isn’t something you do when you feel like it.”
“No, of course not.” Still, she was Kaden’s mother, and Chelsea wondered if maybe she should be allowed access, if not for Tanya, then for Kaden. Chelsea kept that thought to herself.
“You think I’m being a hard-ass about this? You agree with society that biology is more important than who’s been there?”
Chelsea shook her head. “No.”
“Are you sure? Because you don’t look sure.”
She sighed. “I just thought Kaden might want that relationship someday.”
“Well, someday, if he wants it, he can find it. Until then, she gave up her right to him.”
There was a mixture of resolve and sadness, that made Chelsea long to soothe him. She reached up and touched his face. “He’s lucky to have you.”
His eyes shone with surprise at her gesture. “I’m lucky to have him.”
“Hey, Miss Beemer, watch!” She turned as Kaden threw a rock into the water, where it appeared twice before disappearing.
“Hey, two skips. You did it.” She forced excitement into her voice.
Kaden grinned.
