PART 15:

Love, Sophie. P.S. You’re still being weird, but now it’s okay weird. He smiled, tucked the note in his pocket, and allowed himself to hope that maybe, just maybe, this would work out. Then his phone rang. Miranda’s name flashing. He stared at it for three rings before answering. What? We’re having a family dinner Tuesday night. You’re coming. Both of you.

Miranda, I’m not Mother insists. She wants to discuss some things with you about custody arrangements. His blood ran cold. What custody arrangements? Nothing’s changed. Just come to dinner, Daniel. Don’t make this harder than it needs to be. She hung up. Daniel stood in his kitchen, the warmth from the day evaporating, replaced by cold dread.

It was starting. Whatever Miranda had planned, it was starting, and he had no idea how to stop it. Daniel barely slept that night. He lay in bed staring at the ceiling, running through every possible scenario. Eleanor Blake didn’t do casual family dinners. She did strategic meetings disguised as social obligations.

Whatever was coming on Tuesday wasn’t going to be pleasant. He thought about calling Ariana, then decided against it. She just left. He didn’t want to seem desperate or clingy, but his phone felt heavy in his hand and the silence of the apartment pressed down on him. At 2:00 a.m., it buzzed. Can’t sleep, either.

Keep thinking about today. About that kiss. About the fact that Miranda’s probably plotting something terrible, and we’re going to have to deal with it, but mostly about the kiss. Daniel smiled despite the anxiety churning in his gut. The kiss was good. Good? That’s all you’ve got? Good? Great. Amazing. Life-altering. Better. What are you doing up? He hesitated, then typed honestly.

Miranda called, demanded I come to a family dinner Tuesday night. Said Eleanor wants to discuss custody arrangements. The typing indicator appeared, disappeared, appeared again. Yeah. She’s moving faster than I thought. This is my mother’s playbook. Summon everyone, make it formal, apply maximum pressure.

Should I not go? If you don’t go, they’ll say you’re being difficult, uncooperative. They’ll use it against you. If I do go, they’ll ambush me. Probably, but at least you’ll know what you’re facing. Daniel rubbed his exhaustion and stress making everything feel worse. I don’t want Sophie anywhere near this. Agreed.

Can you get someone to watch her? Peterson next door maybe, if I bribe him with casserole. Do it. And Daniel? Yeah? I’m coming with you. His fingers froze over the keyboard. What? No, that’s exactly what they want. Proof that we’re together, ammunition to use against me. They already know we’re together. Miranda made sure of that when she called this dinner.

Having me there changes the dynamic. Makes it harder for them to bully you. Or it makes everything worse. Possibly, but I’m not letting you walk into that house alone. Not for this. Ariana, you don’t have to I know I don’t have to. I want to. Besides, this stops being just about you the moment they decided to make it about me. I deserve to be there.

Daniel wanted to argue, wanted to protect her from what he knew was coming. But she was right. This involved her now, whether she wanted it to or not. Okay. But when it gets ugly, and it will get ugly, don’t say I didn’t warn you. I grew up in that house. I know exactly how ugly it gets. See you tomorrow? Sophie’s school thing is at 10:00.

Could do lunch after? Send me the address. I’ll meet you there. They texted for another hour, neither wanting to be alone with their thoughts. Eventually, Daniel fell into restless sleep, dreams full of courtrooms and disapproving faces and Ariana’s hand slipping out of his. Monday morning came too fast.

Sophie was excited about the school assembly, chattering through breakfast about the solar system presentation her class was doing. Daniel tried to focus on her enthusiasm, but his mind kept circling back to Tuesday. You’re doing the worried face, Sophie observed. Just thinking about work stuff. You’re a bad liar.

Your eye twitches when you lie. Does not. Does too. It’s doing it right now. Daniel gave up. Fine. I’m a little stressed, but nothing you need to worry about. Is it about mom? Why would you think that? Because you always get stressed about mom, and you have that thing with her tomorrow night. He’d forgotten he’d mentioned the dinner to Sophie.

Vaguely. Not the details. How do you know about tomorrow? I heard you on the phone. You weren’t exactly quiet. She pushed her cereal around. Are you in trouble? No, bug. I’m not in trouble. Then why do you have to go to Grandma’s house? Just to talk about some things. About me? Daniel’s heart squeezed. Some. But nothing bad.

Just boring grown-up stuff about schedules and arrangements. Sophie didn’t look convinced. She was too smart, too aware of the undercurrents adults tried to hide. Is Ariana going? Yeah, she’s going to be there. Good. Grandma’s scary. Ariana can help. Grandma’s not scary. Sophie gave him a look that said she knew better. Eleanor Blake was absolutely scary, even to adults.

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