“What does she need that I don’t give her?”
“Like I said. Great schools. Opportunities. Leo has already picked out a nanny who can teach her to speak French.”
&
nbsp; “Nanny? You’re not going to raise her yourself?”
“You have a babysitter, Dylan. Don’t get on me for needing a nanny.”
“But you just said she’d have two parents with you. That means you don’t have to work and can raise her.” I knew that sounded sexist, but I’d be an at-home dad in a minute if I could.
“I still want to work some. But I’m not going to travel as much. And when I do, she’ll come with me.”
“So, you take her out of the fancy school?”
“We’ll get her tutors.”
I frowned. “A nanny and tutors? Who is going to really raise her? Who is going to read to her before bed and sing to her while she’s in her bath? Who’s going to push her on the swing at the park?”
Her lip curled up in a snarl. “I will.”
Deciding this was going to get worse, I worked to pull in my anger. “Listen. You’ve just returned home with a new husband. Why don’t you settle in and have visits? What happens if in a month or even six months you find you don’t like being settled?”
“I’m married now, and the lawyer said that would give me a good chance of winning.”
“Did you tell him you’ve only seen her a handful of times since you left? That it’s been nearly a year since the last time?”
“You’re being a dick.”
“And you’re being selfish.”
“Oh, and you’re not?” she scoffed.
“I am selfish. I want full and total custody of Maisie. But I also want what’s best for her, and that means having her mother in her life. That’s why I’ve never, not once, refused visitation. What about you Veronica? Have you considered what the impact of what you’re asking will be on Maisie?”
“She’ll adjust.”
“That’s how it always is with you. The whole world has to conform and adjust for you. You’re not the center of the world. Maisie is.”
“Daddy …”
Fuck. She didn’t need to hear this. I turned with a big smile. “Oh, that one is pretty.” I said as she stood in what looked like a school uniform.
“Do you want to see my favorite?”
“Absolutely, I do.”
She looked at me and Veronica as if she knew something was up, but then turned back to her room.
“We can’t do this now,” I said to Veronica. “She shouldn’t have to hear this.”
“I’m done talking anyway. We’re going to file for custody, Dylan, so you’ll just have to deal with it. You’ve had her all this time. Now it’s my turn.”
I wanted to fucking throttle her. “I’ve had her all this time because you left. Christ … do you really not see that?”
Her jaw tightened. “Maisie,” she called. “Maisie, I have to go.”
Maisie ran out in her underwear and t-shirt. “Bye, Mommy.”