My hands shake as I press the doorbell. Cole’s presence behind me is a comfort I’m not used to, but one I welcome wholeheartedly.
It’s something I’ve never had before, someone to support me—not in a long time anyway, and he only turned out to be someone else who let me down eventually, feeding me to the wolves and walking away.
I shake the thoughts of him away and concentrate on the here and now.
The clicking of Mrs. Lancaster’s heels gets closer as she approaches the solid wood door, and sickness gathers in my stomach. With as much money as they have, they decided to keep the Victorian features of the property. With it comes the ability to hear through the single paned windows and doors. Many a time I have caught the end of conversations about me. About Harper.
“It’s okay, beauty. I’m here.” Cole’s hand glides over my sweater and sits low on my back. I melt into him. The warmth of his hand seeps through the material and onto my skin, creating a newly found inner strength.
The door opens, and as always, my heart races at the feeling of being intimidated, feeling looked down on and worthless, when Mrs. Lancaster glares down her nose at me.
Her appearance is always professional looking: her neck scarf is tight around her throat, her white blouse is tucked into her black pencil skirt, and she has black heels and stockings. Her hair is always tied tightly up in a bun, and her makeup is impeccable, unlike my chipped black nail varnish I’m currently nibbling on.
As always, she slowly trails her eyes from the bottom of my combat boots up my jeans, slowly up my sweater—the one I purposely put on to cover my chest when she said I was advertising myself in a sexual manner around Harper. My leather jacket has been hand washed, and my normally light makeup is absent so I don’t mislead Harper down a path of wrongdoings. Then, her cruel eyes latch on to mine.
They hold me hostage, making my heart race faster and causing my body to tremble. I feel like she’s looking into my soul, like she’s seeing all the disgusting, dirty things about me, and this only makes her despise me all the more.
A throat behind me clears and I jolt, forgetting for a moment that Cole is here too. For me.
Mrs. Lancaster’s eyes widen, as though she’s only just making the same realization.
“You’d best come in. It appears we need to talk, Tia.” She raises an eyebrow on a sneer before turning and walking inside.
I follow behind her, my eyes searching the enormous entrance for a sign of Harper, anything to show me that my little girl lives here, that she’s happy.
Cole’s strong presence behind me gives me a confidence I don’t normally feel. It gives me hope.
Stepping into the kitchen, Mrs. Lancaster leans against the countertop. “Who is he?”
She doesn’t so much as look in Cole’s direction. I can feel him straighten beside me, and I beg for him not to react, not to make a scene, not to give her ammunition to keep Harper away from me.
My heart races in a panic when Cole steps aside. He holds out his hand. “I’m Cole Maguire. Nice to meet you, Mrs. Lancaster.”
My mouth drops open in shock before I quickly mask it.
Mrs. Lancaster glares at Cole’s outstretched hand as though it’s poisonous before finally relenting and reluctantly shaking it. She quickly pulls away and picks up a hand towel, wiping away Cole’s touch. The action makes me squirm uncomfortably, and I don’t miss the noise of Cole’s shocked choke.
“So, who are you, and what are you doing here?” Her eyes narrow on him, and disgust oozes from her eyes, the glare in them a mixture of both malice and disgust.
I take a glance at Cole. He dressed up for today, wearing gray slacks, brown dress shoes, and a white shirt that’s tight over his muscular shoulders. He looks professional and hot; the thought makes me proud that he’s my man. As if hearing my thoughts, he takes a sidestep toward me and entwines our fingers.
“I’m Tia’s boyfriend, and I’m here to meet her daughter.” I bristle with nervousness at his emphasis.
Mrs. Lancaster doesn’t miss the dig either. Her eyes blacken and her nostrils flare. Her fingers grip the countertop until her knuckles are white.
“As you know, Tia, any change in circumstances needs to be given in writing. You cannot simply show up here and expect us to be okay with this.” She waves her hand toward Cole but refuses to acknowledge him.
I release a tremble of panic. She’s not going to let me see her.
Cole’s shoulders expand. “As you know, Mrs. Lancaster, as per your legal documentation, you cannot refuse Tia access to her daughter without your legal representative being informed.”
Oh shit, what’s he doing?
“I contacted your lawyer this morning and gave proof of my clean record as well as my personal and business details. He’s well aware I’m a good, clean influence to have around Tia and Harper, therefore, there’s really no issue here today.” I watch with bated breath at their standoff, the air thick with venom. “Of course, if you’d like to break the contract, my own legal team is on standby,” Cole adds.
My eyes widen in shock.
Mrs. Lancaster takes her time to process her thoughts, watching Cole with a calculated scrutiny before the veins in her neck finally relax. She leans over the counter and picks up the bell, giving it a shake.
The ringing of the bell makes me wince. I hate it.
I hate it for so many reasons, but first and foremost, I hate it because the ringing of the bell is to instruct my daughter’s nanny to bring her to me like cattle being called for food.
I hear her before I see her. The sheer delight in her voice makes my heart hammer against my chest.
Without thinking, I release Cole’s hand and move toward the corridor to embrace my little girl.
