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Matt cleared his throat. “Heck, you’re an orphan now, too. You can understand me not wanting my daughter to grow up without both of her parents, right?”
Pain slammed into the center of her chest. She was blindsided. For a second she could barely breathe, thinking about how Matt had so cavalierly thrown that fact in her face, as if he didn’t know she grieved the loss of her parents so deeply. “I don’t know what to say,” she whispered, more tears streaming down her face.
Matt pulled back, a frown on his face. “This is Charlene’s first nursing job. She couldn’t choose where to live.”
Anger flared through Lucy. “She didn’t even apply here.” It was childish, but Lucy stomped her foot. “Last time I spoke with her, she said she hadn’t even asked around atthishospital.”
Matt dropped Lucy’s hands and shook his head. “I know it’s complicated with Charlene, but I just can’t have it be complicated for Tatum.”
Frustration coursed through her. “Matt, can’t you see the truth? Charlene is all about herself. She doesn’t care one fig about keeping Tatum close; she only cares about being with her new boyfriend in Raleigh, and she doesn’t want to pay you more in child support.” Charlene always bamboozled him. It’d been the reason for countless fights between him and Lucy.
“Stop it.” Matt’s eyes grew wide, but his tone was a low whisper. “Just stop it. That’s not true. She loves Tatum as much as I do.”
Lucy wanted to recount how many times Charlene had called and told Matt she couldn’t take Tatum on her assigned day. Too often. In fact, Lucy had covered for both of them because Charlene failed to be supportive and Matt was swamped with some construction project.
Pain squeezed her heart. She wouldn’t rub that in Matt’s face. He didn’t deserve to hear it. No. It had been herprivilegeto watch Tatum. She loved the little girl like her own. Traitorous tears ran down her cheeks as she said, “Matt. Think about it. Does Tatum really want to go?”
Matt’s expression stayed the same. “She told Charlene she wants to live by her.”
Lucy almost snapped at him, but she didn’t. She sucked in a long breath.Calm. Calm. Calm.She had to stay calm. For the past few months, Matt had talked about Charlene getting a job in Raleigh and then him giving up his company and moving there so Tatum could be by her mother. The whole time, Lucy had battled. She’d battled hard, trying to show Matt how wrong that decision was. Now, all she could do was stare into his beautiful blue eyes. Stubborn eyes. She wished so badly that he could see the truth. Yet it was clear he was stuck in some past childhood pain of his own, wishing his mother had wanted him, missing his father. “Matt … I don’t know what to say anymore.”
For a long moment, neither of them spoke.
Matt’s phone buzzed, and he pulled it out of his pocket. “It’s Charlene,” he said. He checked his text. “She says Tatum can’t wait until I get there tonight. She’s doing a welcome dinner for me.”
Jealousy flared inside her, and she glared at him.
“Luce, it’s fine. It’s nothing. I mean, Charlene and I are just trying to get along because we want to co-parent Tatum in a loving way.” But his face was bright red.
She wanted to say something mean, something that would hurt Matt the same way she was hurting. “Sure. Okay.” More pain bubbled inside her chest, but she squashed it down.
“Hey,” he said, taking her hand. “Don’t worry. Charlene’s boyfriend, Ricky, is going to be there,” Matt said, like that would make it all fine. “We are just co-parenting, that’s all. And you know how much Tatum enjoys it when everyone gets along.” He took her other hand, too. “You’re going to come next week and visit, right? I’ll do dinner and invite everyone. It’ll be great. You’ll see.”
She imagined being one little combined family with Charlene and Ricky, two complete idiots. The thought made her want to vomit, but she didn’t say anything. The truth was, she missed Tatum something fierce and she was looking forward to spending time with her and Matt next weekend, but this whole “let’s be a happy family with Charlene and Ricky” thing ticked her off. Not to mention the fact that Matt wasn’t dealing with the real issue; he was leaving and there was no plan for him and Lucy. He hadn’t even asked her if she wanted to move there.
Matt’s phone buzzed again. He let go of her hands and pulled it out, then grinned. “Charlene says she can’t wait to have you come next weekend.”
That was the straw that finally broke the camel’s back. “Did she?”
Lucy fumed. Over the past two years, she’d seen the way Charlene jerked Matt around and the way she buoyed Tatum up or put her down depending on her own selfish needs that day—like maybe she’d gone drinking the night before and had a hangover. Lucy had no respect for Charlene. Why couldn’t Matt see she didn’t deserve respect? Tears poured down her cheeks, but she would not allow herself to ugly cry. No. Way.
Matt let out a long sigh and tried to pull Lucy back into his arms.
“Just don’t.” She pivoted away from him, wishing she could stop her emotions from streaming down her face.
“Luce, I have to get going to get there in time.”
She didn’t move.
“Will you walk me to my truck?”
Annoyance filled her, but she turned to face him, wiping her face. “Fine.”
Matt reached out his hand.
She hesitated, then took it, wishing they could have a bigger fight. Wishing he had more time. Wishing … he’d stay with her.
They got to his truck, and he opened the driver’s side door. He paused and turned to her, putting his hands on her hips. “So I’ll see you next weekend, right?”
