"I swear, Spencer, she better not have been here this weekend. You know Nikki will tell me if she was so you're better off to spill it now."
"For fuck sakes, Brittany, how many times do I have to tell you, she wasn't here. Nikki and I went to see some Christmas lights, and then to the toy store so she could pick out some toys that she wants for Christmas."
"You’re lying, just give it up already, I've already called my lawyer. He thinks I should pursue for full custody."
I chuckled. “Of course, he does.” I muttered.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
I glared at her, leaning forward, "Should we go down the path of what really led to our divorce? Not to mention the shit that goes on in your home now?"
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"How quickly you forget.” I looked down at my phone to see what date it was. Yep, exactly two weeks from today. “November 15th, I returned from a business trip from our Florida office. The house was dark. Figuring you were in bed, I ran up the stairs, checked in on Nikki, who was sound asleep, and then made my way down to our bedroom. I opened the door and heard the shower running. The door was partially open, and so I decide that I'd surprise you in the shower. Only the surprise was on me because, instead of finding you alone in there, I find you wrapped in the arms of another man as he is fucking you up against the shower wall," I said, elevating my voice.
Brittany looked at me shocked. She hadn't known I had walked in on her and witnessed that. She thought the coast had been clear because I had gotten dressed, left the house, and sat at the end of the street in my car until I had seen him leave.
"Keep your voice down," she bit out in a whisper. "How did you know about that?"
"For fuck sakes, Brit, I just told you, because I walked in and found the two of you. Instead of pulling him out of the shower and killing him, like I should have, I realized that was why you had been so withdrawn out of our relationship. You'd been seeing him behind my back for God knows how long. If you really want to draw this all out in court again, I'll make sure the judge knows not only about that, but about the other slew of men you bring home on a weekly basis."
"I don't," she said, crossing her arms.
"Really? Nikki sure seems to mention them. Paul, Sebastian, Cody, oh and my personal favorite, Axel. If you'd like, I can bring her down here and ask her about them."
Brittany let out a huff. "Nikki, honey, you almost ready to go," she yelled to our daughter.
"As always, run when things get tough."
"You're screwing your fucking babysitter," she said, turning her wild eyes on me. "The child you decided to put in charge of my daughter’s well-being when you are away. At least the men I'm involved with are grown adults."
"I seriously doubt that and Ainsley is not a child."
Nikki came down the hall dragging her tiny pink suitcase behind her, carrying her favorite teddy bear under her arm. "Daddy, will Ainsley be watching me next time I'm here. I miss her. She always plays games with me too. I made her this," Nikki said, walking over to me and dropping a pink bracelet into the palm of my hand. "I think she will love it. She said she wanted one just like mine. I even made a card," Nikki said, handing me a pink piece of construction paper with a picture she had drawn on the front.
Brittany let out a loud huff and stood up. "Wonderful," she bit out under her breath.
"I'll make sure I give it to her."
"I'm sure you will," Brittany bit out.
I gave her a nasty look and turned my attention back to my daughter.
My chest felt empty at the thought of possibly never being able to hold Nikki in my arms again. I took the bracelet from her and placed a kiss on the top of Nikki's head then placed my hand on her back and walked her to the door where I helped put her little shoes on.
"Take your bag to the car, Nikki. I'll be out in a minute," Brittany said.
Nikki turned and looked up at me. "Daddy, when I come back can we get the Christmas tree. I want to pick it out, but maybe Ainsley can come with us. She loves hot chocolate with marshmallows, remember. I will save my allowance and buy her one," Nikki said, jumping up and down, waiting for me to say yes.
"I'll think about it, okay. Now do as your mom says and take your bag out to the car."
"Okay," she said with a pout as I bent to kiss the top of her head.
As soon as Nikki was out of earshot, Brittany turned back to me. "Look, I won't pursue full custody until after Christmas, but I swear to God, Spencer, if I find out that child is back in this house looking after our daughter, I will change my mind. It would be a sad Christmas for Nikki if she couldn't see you," she threatened and threw her purse over her shoulder and marched down the front steps of the house. I watched as she got Nikki into the car and then pulled out of the driveway.
The instant I shut the door, anger filled me and I went over to the phone and called my lawyer just to be on the safe side, leaving him a message to fill him in on what was going on. Then I grabbed a glass from the cupboard and poured myself a scotch, dropping two ice cubes into the golden liquid. I downed the first glass, relishing in the burn, then poured another glass and went to watch the news.
That night, as I lay in bed with my arms behind my head, my thoughts traveled to Ainsley. How I missed going to sleep with her lying in my arms. I thought about the call we'd had prior to Nikki arriving on the weekend. I had been wrong to tell her that I wanted to end things. I had strictly done it out of fear.