PART 17:

Hot date? Family dinner. Same thing with your ex-wife’s family. What’s the occasion? Ambush, probably. They want to discuss custody. Peterson was quiet for a moment. They got grounds? No, but Eleanor Blake doesn’t need grounds. She needs leverage and intimidation. And you’re walking into it anyway? Don’t have a choice.

There’s always a choice, son. Sometimes they all just suck. Peterson sighed. I’ll watch the kid. But you owe me that casserole you keep promising. I’ll make two. Damn right you will. Daniel hung up feeling marginally better. At least Sophie would be safe, away from whatever happened tomorrow. His phone buzzed. Ariana. Second thoughts yet? About 50 of them.

You? At least 100. Still going, though. Why? Because running away doesn’t stop the problem. It just postpones it. Better to face it head-on. You sound very rational about something that’s going to be a disaster. I’m good at sounding rational. The internal screaming is very quiet. Daniel smiled despite himself.

What time should I pick you up? I’ll drive myself. Meet you there at 7:00? You sure? If things go really badly, I want my own exit. Don’t want to be dependent on anyone for a ride home. It was practical and depressing in equal measure. Daniel understood completely. Tuesday arrived with unseasonable cold, like the weather was matching his mood.

He dropped Sophie at Peterson’s with her overnight bag and strict instructions about bedtime. I know how to put a kid to bed, Peterson grumbled. Raised three of my own. I know. I’m just nervous. I get it. Go. Face the firing squad. We’ll be fine. Sophie hugged Daniel tight. Good luck at Grandma’s. Don’t let her be mean to you.

I’ll try, bug. And don’t let her be mean to Ariana, either. That’s the plan. He drove to Eleanor Blake’s house in a daze. The neighborhood looked the same as it had years ago when he’d first visited as Miranda’s boyfriend. Old money, old trees, old families who’d been important since before importance meant anything different.

The Blake mansion sat at the end of a circular drive. White columns, perfect lawn, the kind of house that appeared in architecture magazines and made everyone else feel inadequate. Ariana’s car was already there. She stood on the front steps, arms crossed, staring at the door like it might attack her. Daniel parked and joined her.

Ready? Absolutely not. You? Same. She took his hand, squeezed once. Whatever happens in there, we’re in this together. Agreed? Agreed. They rang the doorbell. A housekeeper Daniel didn’t recognize answered, led them through the marble foyer to the formal dining room. The table was set for five.

Crystal glasses, fine China, centerpiece flowers that probably cost more than Daniel’s monthly rent. Eleanor Blake sat at the head of the table. She’d aged in the two years since Daniel had seen her. New lines around her mouth, gray threading through her perfectly styled hair. But her eyes were the same. Sharp, calculating, missing nothing.

Miranda sat to her right wearing the expression of someone who’d already won. Beside her was a man Daniel didn’t recognize. Late 40s, expensive suit, lawyer written all over him. Daniel, Eleanor said, voice cool. How kind of you to join us? And Ariana, what a surprise. I doubt anything surprises you, Mother, Ariana said evenly. Sit, both of you.

We have things to discuss. They sat across from Miranda and the lawyer. The housekeeper poured wine. Daniel didn’t touch his. Neither did Ariana. This is Robert Chen, Eleanor said, gesturing to the lawyer. He’s been advising us on some family matters. What family matters are Daniel asked.

Your custody arrangement with Sophie, primarily. We have some concerns. What concerns? The arrangement’s been working fine for 2 years. Has it? Miranda leaned forward. Because from what I’ve observed, you’ve been making questionable decisions lately. Exposing Sophie to inappropriate relationships, creating instability. Having coffee with someone isn’t creating instability.

Having coffee with my sister is. It’s confusing for Sophie. It’s inappropriate. It demonstrates poor judgment. Daniel’s hands clenched under the table. Sophie met Ariana. She liked her. There was nothing inappropriate about it. You introduced our daughter to your girlfriend without consulting me first, Miranda snapped.

That’s absolutely inappropriate. She’s not my girlfriend. We’re He stopped. What were they, exactly? We’re seeing each other. That’s all. And I don’t need your permission for who I date. You do when it involves my family and my daughter. Our daughter, and no, I don’t. Eleanor raised a hand. Silence fell immediately. This is precisely the problem, she said calmly.

You’re being defensive, combative, unable to see reason. These are not qualities we want influencing Sophie’s development. Daniel felt ice forming in his veins. What are you saying? We’re saying that perhaps the current custody arrangement isn’t in Sophie’s best interest. Perhaps she’d be better served with more stability. More appropriate role models.

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