Chương 4
I carried Oliver into the living room and placed him in the second bassinet.
Leo stirred, opened one eye, and immediately objected to consciousness.
"Perfect timing," I whispered.
My mother moved toward him.
"I've got Leo."
I checked my phone on the entry table.
Naomi's message from seven thirty was still open.
DO NOT BLOCK ACCESS TO HIS PERSONAL PROPERTY.
DO NOT ALLOW REMOVAL OF THE CHILDREN.
KEEP COMMUNICATION BRIEF.
CALL IF POLICE ARRIVE.
I opened the door.
Julian stood on the porch holding an infant car seat in each hand.
Behind him were Evelyn, Richard, Caroline, and two men I did not know.
One wore a gray suit and carried a leather portfolio.
The other was broad-shouldered, maybe private security, maybe just someone Julian had found who looked impressive beside a luxury vehicle.
Sienna was not there.
That surprised me enough that Julian saw it.
"She's not coming inside," he said.
"I didn't ask."
His eyes moved over my hospital sweatpants, oversized cardigan, and compression socks.
"You look terrible."
"Good morning to you too."
Evelyn stepped around him.
"We don't need to prolong this."
I blocked the doorway.
"You aren't coming in."
Julian's expression changed.
"This is my house."
"It is jointly owned, and you moved out eleven weeks ago."
"I still own it."
"You can arrange to collect your belongings."
He lifted the car seats slightly.
"We're here for the boys."
"No."
The answer came out quieter than I expected.
Evelyn looked almost offended by how small it sounded.
Julian lowered the car seats.
"You signed."
"I signed documents your lawyer prepared."
"Exactly."
"That doesn't mean you take two newborns off the porch."
The man with the portfolio cleared his throat.
"I'm Daniel Price, counsel for Mr. Vance."
I looked at Julian.
"You brought a lawyer to pick up babies?"
Price did not react.
Julian did.
His cheeks colored.
"We came to complete what you agreed to."
"Is there a court order?"
Price glanced at Julian before answering.
"No."
"Then we're done."
I started to close the door.
Julian put his hand against it.
Not hard.
Not enough to push.
Enough to stop it.
My mother appeared behind me.
"Take your hand off my daughter's door."
Julian looked past me.
"Helen, stay out of this."
She gave him a look I had seen only twice in my life, both times when someone had threatened one of her children.
"I held her hair while she vomited at three this morning because your sons were crying and she was afraid to take the pain medication on an empty stomach."
Her voice stayed level.
"You don't get to tell me where to stand."
Evelyn inhaled sharply.
"Your sons?"
My mother turned her eyes on her.
"You understand biology, Evelyn."
"I understand that those children are Vances."
"Not exclusively."
Caroline rubbed one temple.
"Can we not do this on the lawn?"
A neighbor across the street was pretending to bring in a recycling bin that had already been empty for an hour.
Richard noticed him too.
"This is becoming unnecessary."
I looked at the attorney.
"Mr. Price, did you tell them they could take the twins today?"
He adjusted the portfolio under his arm.
"I advised my client that the agreement should be presented to the court."
Julian turned toward him.
"That's not what you said."
Price's mouth tightened.
"I said the signed agreement strengthens your position."
"You said we had custody."
"I said you had a signed custody agreement."
"Same thing."
"No."
The silence after that was almost satisfying.
Almost.
Then Leo began crying inside.
Julian's entire posture changed.
It was instant.
His head turned toward the sound.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
I watched something pass through his face that I had not prepared for.
Wanting.
Real wanting.
Not possession.
Not victory.
He took one step toward the doorway.
"Is that Leo?"
I tightened my grip on the door.
"I don't know."
"How do you not know?"
"They're newborn twins, Julian."
"Let me see them."
The request caught me harder than the demand had.
I hated that.
I wanted him monstrous because monsters were easy to fight.
Instead, my husband stood on the porch with two empty car seats and looked frightened that his son was crying somewhere he could not reach.
"You can visit," I said.
Evelyn turned sharply.
Julian stared at me.
"Now?"
"No."
His face closed again.
"Of course."
"After we establish something appropriate."
"Appropriate?"
"Yes."
"I'm their father."
"And yesterday you brought your girlfriend into my hospital room while your mother called me a burden."
Evelyn started to speak.
I lifted a hand.
"No."
She actually stopped.
"We are not arguing about yesterday on my front porch."
Price shifted his weight.
"That is probably wise."
Julian looked at him with open contempt.
"You work for me."
"I represent you."
"Then represent me."
"I am."
Richard stepped closer to his son.
"Julian."
Whatever passed between them made Julian pull his hand away from the door.
I closed it.
Not slammed.
Closed.
My knees began shaking before the latch clicked.
My mother caught my elbow.
"Sit."
"I'm fine."
"That sentence should be illegal after abdominal surgery."
Leo's cry had become furious.
Oliver joined him because apparently solidarity begins early.
I lowered myself onto the couch while my mother brought Leo over.
Outside, voices rose.
I could hear Julian saying something sharp.
Then Evelyn.
Then Price.
I looked at the two boys.
They had matching red faces when they cried, although Oliver's lower lip trembled and Leo's did not.
"Your timing is terrible," I told them.
My mother handed Leo to me.
"Or excellent."
The doorbell rang again.
She stared toward the entry.
"If that's his mother, I'm going to jail."
"Please don't."
I checked the doorbell camera.
Price stood alone on the porch.
I opened the door three inches.
"What?"
His voice was lower now.
"Mr. Vance would like to collect clothing and personal items."
"Today?"
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"He says he needs work documents from the home office."
My stomach tightened.
