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"A coffee. Black. No sugar," he says without looking at her.
Her face falls, but she walks away.
Tyler and I exchange a glance. He chuckles.
"What’s wrong?" Connor’s brow wrinkles.
"Nothing." Tyler shakes his head. "Seriously, you needn’t have come. You had to fly halfway around the world to get here."
"It was worth it." He surveys my husband and me with a piercing expression on his face, the one indicating there’s little that escapes him. There’s more to this man than meets the eye. Secrets lurk behind that exterior. People would do well not to underestimate him. With his gorgeous features and movie-star build, it would be easy to get distracted and not see him to what lies deeper.
“How are you two holding up?" he asks.
"We’re better, now that Serene is out of danger." Tyler wraps his arm about my shoulders.
"What happened?"
Tyler looks at me. I see the question in his eyes and interpret it correctly. He’s seeking permission to share some of what happened. I half nod, trying to tell him without words, I prefer to keep the details to us… For now.
Tyler hesitates, then lets out a sigh. "The woman who dropped Serene off at my doorstep showed up."
I relax a little. He’s not giving away all of the details of how Serene was conceived. I feel almost ecstatic that we could have a silent conversation, and he understood what I was trying to signal him. It makes us feel like more of a unit. More of an us-against-the-world feeling I never thought I’d have.
Connor's jaw drops, then he seems to gather himself. "Thought she'd left the country."
"She did. But then she tracked us here. Said she realized how much of a mistake she’d made by giving up Serene," Tyler says slowly.
He rubs my upper arm in a soothing gesture. Which, I admit, feels very good.
"Took her only a year to realize that, huh?" Connor asks in a wry voice.
"It must have been difficult for her—both to give up Serene because she thought it’d be best for her, and then to admit to herself that she’d made a mistake," I say in a soft voice.
Both Tyler and Connor look at me in surprise.
"I know. I’m not supposed to empathize with someone who could theoretically be a rival for my daughter’s affections. But as a mother—" I swallow. It’s the first time saying those words makes me realize, I’m Serene’s mother by blood. And truthfully, I should be ecstatic about it, but all I feel is a sense of befuddlement. It's like the events have been unfolding on the other side of a curtain, and I’m watching the shadows move, but can’t quite tell what they’re up to.
"—as a mother, I can’t help but feel for what she’s going through."
Tyler stares at me.
"What?" I draw down my eyebrows.
"You’re a better person than me, though that doesn't surprise me at all," he confesses.
The waitress brings Connor his cup of coffee. He murmurs thanks, takes a sip, and sighs. "I needed that. So, the woman who dropped Serene off with Tyler shows up, and it leads to Serene being injured?"
Tyler’s body stiffens. A ripple of tension runs through him, then he seems to get a hold of himself. "I’ve complained to the security about the incident and had them escort her off the premises. I’ve also asked my lawyer to apply for a restraining order, so she’s not allowed near Serene again."
I whip my head in his direction. "When did you do that?"
"While you were with Serene." His features gentle. "Meanwhile, I’ve asked for additional security to be allocated to you and Serene while we're here." Then he studies me closely. "I hope you agree that it was the right thing to do?"
I purse my lips. "She is Serene’s—" I hesitate. What should I call her? She’s not her mother. She’s a surrogate. "She thought she was Serene’s mother. I don’t condone her actions, but cutting her out of Serene’s life seems heartless."
My husband’s expression grows disapproving, then considering. "After what happened, I can’t let her be alone with our daughter. I will not risk anything that could hurt Serene."
"Me neither." I place my hand on his. "But it seems coldhearted to not allow her to see Serene."