"He's served his time. He's allowed to live his life according to the courts." He shrugs his shoulders offhandedly as if I'm supposed to believe this isn't eating him alive inside.
"His name isn't on the birth certificate. He has no rights." I feel the need to point that out even though I'm certain Hunter has already thought of everything.
He walks over and brushes his hand across my chin. "I love when you're on fire like this. You're so strong even in the face of a threat."
"I'm not threatened by him," I lie. The truth is that since Hunter told me about Peter earlier, my heart has been racing.
"Taking extra precaution right now is smart, sunshine." His tone is direct and stern. "You can't risk yourself or Cory."
"I would never do anything that would put Cory in danger." I'm mildly offended by the suggestion that I would. He knows I adore Cory. He knows I would do anything to keep him safe. I'm the one who cuts his food into such tiny pieces because I'm fearful he'll choke.
He effortlessly glides his lips across mine. "I trust you completely with my son. There isn't anyone I trust more."
"Just give Peter what he wants so he'll disappear," I plead. I want this to be over. I don't want the shadow of this stranger to be chasing after us a minute longer.
"He has proof that he's Cory's dad now so he's demanding a lot more."
"Proof?" I scoff. "What proof?"
He closes his eyes and draws a heavy breath. "Christina helped him with DNA when he was released. She got involved with him again."
I feel a rush of rage through every cell in my body. "She wouldn’t do that?"
"She did." His voice cracks. "She gave him some of Cory's hair from a hairbrush she had with her and Peter ran the test."
"This is a nightmare," I say as my eyes scan his face. "Hunter, we have to do something."
"We are." He pulls my hand to his lips. "I am. I'll give him whatever he wants. I'll do whatever it takes to protect my family."
***
"Are these all the colors you want?" I survey the small paint cups in our basket before looking over at Cory.
"That's it." He points one of the paintbrushes he's clinging to in my direction.
"Your giraffe is going to be purple?" I have to work to stifle a laugh. Every color he's chosen is a hue of purple. Obviously it's his new favorite.
"Purple's best." It's simple. I like it. He's right. Right now, purple is best.
"Paper." I point towards a wall covered in samples of papers and canvases. "We need to pick some of that."
He races away from me and I feel a shot of panic course through me. "Don't let him out of your sight, sunshine." Hunter's words for me just before we left the apartment bolt to the front of my mind.
I take off after him and I almost run squarely into the back of a woman he's talking to.
"Sadie." His voice is filled with joy as he bounces up and down. "It's your mom."
I stand silent as I watch the woman turn. "Sadie." A wide smile overwhelms her face.
"Mom?" It's much too loud. The shock I'm feeling isn't about her being in this space, it's about the smile. My mother rarely smiles unless it's in an effort to impress one of her friends.
"You must be Cory." She turns and bends down to grab his hand.
"That's me." He ignores the offer and wraps his arms around her neck.
She
hesitates only briefly before pulling him into a tight embrace. She wobbles on her heels and I have to reach out to steady her balance. I'm tempted to pull my smartphone from my bag just to get a picture of this. This was something I never thought I'd see.