Felicity gurgles something unintelligible, but positive sounding around her bottle, almost as if she understands what we’re talking about. What’s at stake. I smile, but it doesn’t last long.
“I don’t want to lose either of you,” I say, “But I think we both need some time to think.”
“About what?”
I try to hold onto her, but she slips out of my arms.
“What part of ‘stupid to let them take this away from us’ needs further analysis?” Her eyes flash, and for a moment all I can think about is how pretty she is when she’s angry, and how much I wish I could spend the day naked with her in our bed, showing her just how much I need her in my life.
But that’s part of the problem.
It’s getting harder and harder to think straight around this woman. The harder I fall, the more it seems like nothing outside our relationship really matters. But I was raised to value family over self. Loyalty to my family and sacrifices made by the few for the good of the many are practically scripture to me. I gave up so much as a kid to help out with my brothers and sisters, but I wouldn’t go back and do anything differently, even if I could.
I treasure the tight, loving bonds I have with almost all of my siblings. My family is a source of chaos and upheaval, but it’s also sacred to me, and such a big piece of my heart that I don’t how much I’ll have left if part of it is cut away. I can’t imagine skipping out on gatherings at my parents’ house, never seeing Felicity run and play with her cousins, never seeing my mom hold her new grandson or granddaughter for the first time.
But if Mom refuses to accept Aria, I won’t be bringing our future babies over to visit Mee-maw Geary. I don’t work that way. I’m not going to let my family treat my wife like an interloper or an outsider.
Aria’s voice breaks into my thoughts. “Nash? Did you hear me?”
“I hear you, I did…” I shake my head, but it doesn’t do much to clear my mind. “It’s a big decision, Aria. A lot to lose, for both of us. I just think we should take some time apart to think about how this situation could affect our future. And Felicity’s. And any other children we might have, who will be innocent and deserving of a big, loving family. It’s not just you and me, as much as a part of me wishes it were.”
“I know.” She reaches out, taking Felicity’s now empty bottle as the baby twists in my arms, ready for her morning crawl to the toy basket in the living room.
I set her down, for some reason feeling more vulnerable without her snuggled against my chest. I cross my arms and glance over at Aria. She’s leaning against the counter, the bottle drooping from one hand, looking so defeated it’s all I can do to keep from going to her.
Instead, I stand my ground. We both need time to think, and delaying will only make the process more painful.
“I’ll go pack a suitcase,” I say. “I’ll stay with Raleigh for a while.”
“No, we’ll go back to my parents’ house.” Aria sets the bottle on the counter with a soft thunk. “It’s safe for us to stay with them now.”
“Are you sure? Do you really think your ex is going to drop his suit?”
She nods, but doesn’t meet my eyes, keeping her gaze locked on the kitchen tile. “My dad hired a private investigator to follow Liam. He got pictures of Liam and his new wife and a few other people naked in the hot tub behind my old house. There was some partner-swapping and cocaine passed around. The guy got pictures of all of it, as well as some dirt on Liam’s wife. Apparently, she was arrested for working the front desk at a brothel in the U.K. a few years ago.”
“Wow.” My brows lift. “That’s some heavy stuff. Thank God Felicity wasn’t there when shit like that was going down.”
She nods “Yeah. I think even Liam will realize it’s enough to ruin his case. Dad’s taking the pictures and other stuff over to Betty’s office in a few hours. Hopefully we’ll have an answer from Liam’s lawyer by the end of today.”
“But you don’t know anything for sure yet,” I say, checking the clock over the stove, knowing I need to jump in the shower if I want to get to work on time. “So, let me go. I’ll stay with Raleigh this week, and you and Felicity can stay here. No sense in moving her again until we know for sure what we’re planning to do next.”
“All right.” Aria finally looks up at me, the sadness in her eyes enough to make my heart skip a beat.