Page 102 of The Bitterroot Inn (Jamison Valley 5)
She huffed and sat back down, crossing her arms.
I fought to keep my laugh inside but Mom’s face was so hilariously red, I lost the battle. The minute I started giggling, the entire table broke out in laughter. Dad was the only one who tried to hide it with a cough.
The thing was, Mom wasn’t wrong.
This was ridiculous. Fucking ridiculous.
So much so, that instead of screaming like I’d wanted to for thirty-six days, I let go of my frustration through hysterical laughter. Laughter that filled the room for a few minutes, easing some of the tension from earlier.
As my laughter slowly faded away, I wiped the corners of my eyes. “Thanks, Mom. I needed that.”
She pouted. “Glad I could help.”
“Oh, Marissa,” Dad chided, pulling Mom into his side with a playful shake. She relaxed and let go of her frown.
“Anyway, what else did Stuart say?” she asked.
“Not much. Mostly just wanted all of us to be prepared.”
“But he’s confident?” Beau asked. “Stuart is confident that Eleanor isn’t going to get the fifty-fifty split she petitioned for?”
I nodded. “He’s confident.”
Though there was still a slim chance that she could get her wish, Stuart had no doubt that Judge Tubor would deny that request.
“Do you think this is all part of her strategy?” Sabrina asked. “She asks for six months; the judge feels bad and grants her more than she would have gotten otherwise?”
“Maybe.” I shrugged. “All I know is that she’s the devil.”
“Did we ever find out why now? Why does Eleanor want custody after all this time?”
“The judge asked her that at our first appearance. She gave him a line about it being because of Coby’s birthday. That she couldn’t bear to miss any more of her grandson’s birthdays.”
“Absurd explanation.” Mom’s hands fisted her napkin into a tight paper ball. “If she’d wanted to be a part of Coby’s life, she would have made an effort years ago. This is all lies.”
“Total lies,” I agreed.
As much as it would have pained me, I never would have denied Eleanor access to Coby. All she’d had to do was call and ask. She could have come out and visited on my terms. Instead, the papers from her attorney were the first I’d ever heard from her.
And what a first impression.
Hunter’s thumb started stroking the back of my hand. “It will be okay.”
I leaned into his side and rested my head on his shoulder.
It will be okay.
Hunter’s ever-present reassurance.
“I can’t wait for this to be over,” Mom said.
I sighed. “Just a couple more days.”
I wasn’t sure if I should dread Monday or wish it would come faster. Until Monday, Coby would be mine and only mine, but I’d be living with the unknown. After Monday, I’d know our fate but Coby could be required to spend time with Eleanor.
“Speaking of things being over, I’ve been meaning to ask.” Mom looked to me. “Have those calls from the reporter stopped?”
“Reporter?” Hunter and Beau asked in unison.
