Page 66 of Legal Returns
“Oh God, what has that man done to my sweet boy. What am I going to have to unteach him?”
LaSalle pulls me into his embrace and kisses the top of my head. I shake my head before I go to make us some lunch. Then I pause and turn back to LaSalle.
“Wait a minute. Roti? How did they get him to try that? Everything touches.”
“Paloma kept the wet and dry parts separate. Sammy was able to mix them when he wanted, and he liked that. Trust me, itwas good as hell. I can’t blame him. He was scraping the plate by the end,” Maldonado says, rubbing his belly.
CHAPTER 25
Surprise, I’m Here
Micheal
“Tellme how I can make it better,” I say into Sim’s ear as she sits at the piano.
“I don’t know how to explain it. That’s why I am playing.”
“Yes, but your playing has awoken everyone in the house, including our two-year-old son. Please, talk to me,Bella.”
She groans. “See, this is the problem. I am not good enough. I’m doing my best, but I’m not good enough.”
I pull her into my lap and wait for her to give me her eyes. I hadn’t known this had been on her mind. I’m a bit confused.
“Good enough for what? For who?”
“To be your wife, to be a mother. Artemis hates me. Sammy went to California for his training. I’m not good enough for anyone,” she replies.
“Okay, let’s back this up. You,mia cara, are an amazing mother. Our son adores you.”
“He does not adore me. He has no patience for me. Yesterday was terrible.”
“He is two and likes to stretch his boundaries. He has picked up on your bad days, and the little monster likes to push all your buttons to get a reaction. It’s his job to fluster you as much as he can.”
“It’s not nice to call our child a monster, Micheal. CPS might take him from us both if they hear you say things like that.”
I snort. “Why would CPS come to take him from either of us?”
“I had to yell at Art while we were in the store yesterday. He was throwing a tantrum. I was also stimming as I was having a bad day.”
“Sim, no one is going to call child protective services on you for chastising our son. If they did, they would find that our son has two loving parents and a safe, loving, and clean home. Why do you think you are so overwhelmed as of late?”
“I miss Sammy and training with him. I don’t know what I did wrong for him to need to find new trainers,” she says as her lips tremble.
“Cara, you did nothing wrong. Sammy went to learn from others for a while. That’s a good thing. He will return and we will be here waiting to continue as usual.”
“But I could have taught him anything they could and more. Why didn’t he ask me for what he needed? No, I am not good enough. He doesn’t want my help.”
“Baby, you are making this personal when it’s not. We are all trusting Sammy and what he knows he needs to do. Do you realize how important you have been in his life?”
“I thought I was, then he left.”
“Baby, you are overthinking this. You are Artemis’s favorite person in the world. There is nothing you can do to change that.
“Our son adores you almost as much as I do. You are one of the people who I believe Sammy considers a friend. He will return and train with you again.
“Now let’s address me. Your husband. I love you more than anything.
“Good enough? You are perfect in my eyes. I wouldn’t want anyone else over you,” I say and capture her lips for a deep kiss.
