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“What about living here, but not in the clubhouse?”
“You mean building on the property?”
She nods, excitement filling her eyes.
“I don’t think I’ve been here long enough to even ask for that opportunity. A house in town would probably be best.”
“Do you think living in town will help our chances to keep the baby?”
I cup her jaw, making sure she’s looking at me when I speak. “It doesn’t matter where we live. The baby isn’t going anywhere.”
She gives me a smile that I believe, and it’s the first real one I’ve seen since her run-in with Cory at the high school.
We shower and dress quickly. I can’t seem to keep my hands off of her, and I know that if I push her to a certain point, she’ll forego breakfast and beg me to stay in bed with her. Since I know my own limitations and inability to say no to her, I keep a little distance between us until we’re out of the bedroom.
The kitchen is bustling with activity when we enter, but we’re no longer the circus show for these people. Most wave, smile, or acknowledge us when they notice us, but then they quickly go back to what they were doing.
Surprisingly, April chats with Rivet and Cannon as she makes coffee. I begin getting something together for her to eat because I know she’s making that cup of coffee for me. I haven’t failed to notice just how inefficient she is in the kitchen when it comes to cooking, but she makes up for it by being helpful in other ways.
“Tell Rivet about the pacifier I picked out,” Cannon says with a wide grin.
April shakes her head.
“It has lips and giant buck teeth,” Cannon continues. “It’s the cutest thing. She also got a onesie that says You Bet Giraffe I’m Cute with a little baby giraffe on it.”
Rivet chuckles. “Of course that had to be added.”
I smile as I turn back to the stove, plating some of the already-made food for April.
“And another onesie that says Eat Local with the outline of a pair of ti—breasts.”
I spin around in time to see Rivet slap her man upside the head. It doesn’t even bother him as he laughs.
“You should see the ones I’ve found online, but those won’t get here until next week.”
“I can only imagine,” Rivet says as I carry the plate of food to April. My steaming cup of perfectly made coffee is positioned in the spot to her right. “April, don’t feel obligated to put your sweet innocent child in anything this idiot buys.”
Cannon is currently wearing a shirt that says If You Beard It She will Come with a man’s heavily bearded face to the side of the words.
They continue talking, and I just sit back and relax, enjoying the fact that she’s grown comfortable enough with everyone that she’s initiating conversations.
A knock from the front door echoes around the room, and Legend jumps up from the very end of the table and nearly loses his balance from rushing out of the room so quickly.
“Probably that sex doll he had on backorder,” Grinch mutters.
Chuckles, even one from my wife, fill the room.
When Legend comes back less than a minute later, he isn’t carrying a box but a single letter.
“Certified mail,” he says as he hands the letter to April. “I had to sign for it.”
I watch over her shoulder as her fingers tremble trying to open the letter. The room grows quiet, everyone here sensing the tension.
“It’s from an attorney’s office in California,” she whispers.
She pulls the letter out of the envelope, reading it to herself before she turns her attention to me.
“It’s a request for mediation. There’s a date set for next week.”
“I can drive the two of you,” Legend says. “I know you’re going to want to focus on the matter at hand.”
I look up at my best friend, narrowing my eyes. He either has something going on with Faith Robbins or he’s hoping to get in the middle of that.
“We need to call Faith,” I tell April, and she immediately stands.
Legend does, too, but he takes a seat when I glare at him.
“I’ll take care of that,” Rivet says when April reaches for her plate.
“Thank you,” she whispers before letting me escort her out of the kitchen and back to our room.
I place the call to Faith, already having saved her contact information to my phone. I put it on speaker phone and wait for it to connect.
“Faith Robbins,” she says when she answers.
“Faith, hi, it’s Nathaniel Fosse.”
“I was just getting ready to call you. I was considering waiting until Monday, not wanting to bother you on the weekend.”
“Always bother us when there’s news on the case,” I tell her. “April just got a letter for mediation.”
“Those people in California never sleep. I’ve worked out a deal for mediation with the Clarks.”
