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No matter what the cost was to my pride, he was staying with me.
And I would make sure it happened, even if I had to beg for it to the people who hated me.
Eric was better a few days later. I was sure he didn’t remember what he’d called me while he was half asleep, and I didn’tknow if that made it easier or harder to make it through each day.
He knew I wasn’t his dad, but I wanted to hear him call me that.
Even if I shouldn’t.
I was focusing on who to ask next. Jackie was monitoring the Facebook group, but most people were asking about the sounds they heard in the night, not talking about my custody battle. I thought I was in the clear until she showed up at the house one day.
She wore that worried expression, biting her lip and shuffling her feet. I knew this wasn’t good news. I was on the way to milk the cows, but when I saw her, I decided it would have to wait.
“They know, don’t they?”
“Not about what you’re expecting. I was looking through some of the posts I missed while I’ve been busy, and I found this one from a few days ago.” She got her phone out and showed me. It started out fine. Grace had made a rare post saying Mollie and I were cute.
But then I got to Kerry’s and Nicole’s comments.
When I was done reading, my stomach sank in the same way it had when I’d heard Kerry talking about me in the grocery store.
“Well, at least I know who not to ask.” I handed the phone back to her. “Though his teacher would have been a helpful addition.”
“To say these kinds of things in a group thatI’ma part of—” She shook her head. “They have no shame.”
They never had. It was why she’d never wanted me to talk about Donny in front of anyone.
“I’ll find other people. I have two already.”
“Three, including me. And Mollie.”
“Yeah,” Isaid. “I’ll make it work.”
Jackie rubbed my back. “Should we tell her? I don’t think she’s in the group. Maybe it’ll show her who not to trust.”
I thought about it. Mollie liked the townsfolk, and most of them liked her. The last thing I wanted to do was pop her bubble while she still had it.
“No,” I said. “I’m sure she’ll figure it out.”
Jackie narrowed her eyes. “You’re protecting her from it, aren’t you?”
“For a little while. She’ll see it eventually.”
“She might just return the favor.”
“I don’t need any protection.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.” Jackie gave me a smile. “One day you’ll see it.”
I didn’t know about that, but I shrugged. “Are you busy at the salon?”
“A little. I could help with the animals, though. To take the sting off what you just read.”
“I’m fine without help. I know this town. This isn’t news to me.”
“But it’s still not okay.”
“No, but it is what it is. I know who not to ask. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to take care of some spoiled cows before Mollie tries to again.”