Page 53

She winced. “Was that a good idea? What if he really is?”
“He was pushy.”
“He could want to get to know Eric.”
“There was somethingoff about him.”
“I could see how you would feel that way, considering you’ve raised him. But we can’t judge based on feelings only.”
“He called Olivia a whore and got way too close to Mollie.”
“Excuse me? He called—” Her face went red, but then she paused. “Wait, he got too close to Mollie? And you were worried about that?”
“I might not like her, but she was uncomfortable. And so was I.”
Jackie hummed, eyeing me. “Interesting.”
“Back to the asshole who tried to take Eric,” I said, refusing to think anything more about my defending Mollie.
“Right. He doesn’t sound like a good person.”
“It’s like he wants Eric for a trophy. And I don’t even know if heishis dad.”
“That’s a tough position,” she said.
“He was angry at my sister. I bet that’s all it was.”
“And if it wasn’t?”
If it wasn’t, then he could sue me for custody. He couldwin.
“He won’t,” I said.
“You might wanna plan, just in case. Don’t worry so much about Mollie?—”
“It’s a little hard not to.”
“Hard to focus when there’s a pretty woman in your house?” she teased.
“More like when a wrecking ball comes through my space in the form of a pretty woman.”
Jackie hummed. “Now that people know she’s here, I have a feeling she’ll be busy. Or you’ll get over it.”
I didn’t know if I could get over Mollie being here, but I needed to. Jackie was right: If Waldren did sue, then I needed to have a plan in place. Which meant depending on Molliemore.
And I would hate every second of it.
Jackie checked her watch. “Oh, I need to get back to thesalon, and you need to pick up Eric. But if this man comes back, let me know.”
“He won’t.”
“Hopefully,” she said. “Maybe he was just a blip.”
My stomach churned at the thought of anything more, but I pushed it away, determined to go on with my day and survive Mollie’s stay.
It was all I could do.
11