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“Hayden told us,” Laurie says.
“I’m sorry you had to find out that way,” Amanda says. “I didn’t know a better way to tell you without it being in front of him.”
“It’s okay,” Laurie says. “We’re just glad to meet him.”
I want to ask why he’s just now allowed to be in our lives, but I figure it’s not my place to ask. I’m just the fake girlfriend in this scenario. As much as I want to be a bigger part of Hayden’s life, that’s the truth of the matter.
“Amanda wants to start fifty-fifty custody,” Langston says.
“I have cancer, and it’s become too much for me to care for Hayden on my own. We’ll start with fifty-fifty, but on my bad days, I might need you to take him more. I just know I can’t be the mom that he needs.””
“Do you have family who could help you through this?” I ask.
Amanda shakes her head. “They’ve all either stopped talking to me, or they’ve passed on. I have no one left. That’s why I need your help.”
From what I remember, Amanda’s family was a lot of drama. Something about her dad abandoning them when they were little and her mom struggling with a drug addiction. As a result, a bunch of the kids ended up having a lot of emotional problems as adults. I can’t help but wonder if her mom was one of the ones who’d passed on.
“I don’t understand why you kept him from me all these years.”
Amanda crosses her arms defensively and juts her jaw out like she’s ready to take whatever he can dish. “You’re welcome to be upset about it, but I can’t change the past.”
Laurie pats Langston on the knee. “She’s right, honey. All we can do now is move forward. We’re just glad that you’ve brought Hayden to us now.”
Langston works his jaw, and it’s clear he’s holding back words he doesn’t feel he can say.
“We need to do what’s best for Hayden,” I say, taking my spot back in the armchair. “Right now he’s going to need some stability. He already has lots of things in his life changing beyond his control. Let’s not overwhelm him with too much attention. He has four uncles, an aunt, an almost aunt, two grandparents, friends in town, and loving staff members. Everyone will want to know him. Not to mention kids at his new school. All of a sudden there will be a new Keith in Blue Mountain. You don’t think the town will want to get to know him?”
“I hadn’t even thought about all that.” Laurie sits back on the couch with a pensive look on her face.
“I’ve thought about it a little,” Amanda says. “I think we start with him getting to know the people in this household. Then he can move on to Langston’s house and stay there during the day. When school starts back up after spring break, I’d like to begin the regular fifty-fifty custody arrangement.”
Langston nods. “That all sounds good to me. I’ll have to get my house ready for him, but that’s nothing Maggie, my assistant, can’t handle.”
Amanda nods. “That’s what I’d hoped you’d say.”
“Where are you getting your cancer treatments?” Langston asks.
“I’ll be driving the thirty minutes over to Orchard Blossom to the cancer center at their hospital.”
“That’s the closest hospital,” Laurie says. “It’s a good choice. I’ve heard good things about their cancer center.”
“So have I. I would have chosen to move closer to Atlanta if it weren’t this good, so I’m glad it’s working out.”
“It’s the middle of the school year. Are you putting Hayden in Blue Mountain Elementary?” I ask.
“Yes. I’ll sign him up on Monday after spring break is over.”
“Have you thought about a tutor?” Langston speaks up. We all grew up with tutors, so it would make sense that he would think of that. “I want my son to have the best education imaginable.”
“No.” Amanda scoffs. “Do I look like I have the money to hire a tutor?”
“We’d be willing to cover the expense, of course,” Langston explains.
“He’s going to Blue Mountain Elementary like anynormalkid his age.”
Langston gets another one of those frustrated looks on his face. “We can talk about it later.”
“There’s no need. He’s going to Blue Mountain Elementary, and that’s final. I want him to live as normal a life as possible before he gets swept up in the life you all live.”