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Kelsey

Me to Sister Group Chat: FUCK guys, it leaked before we got a chance to contact Tom.

Kylie: What??? How?

Me to Sister Group Chat: I have no idea! Everyone we worked with signed an NDA. The only other people who know are family.

Kylie: What about Sam’s family?

Me: No way, they’ve been through enough with the press over the years. They’d never.

Kylie: Kendra? What do you think?

Me: Yeah, Kendra, why so quiet?

Kendra: Fuck, Kelsey. I’m so sorry.

Me: Yeah. It sucks.

Kendra: No, I think it’s my fault. I told Lucas, and he just admitted that he posted it on Reddit.

Me: What the fuck!!!

“ S am, can you search your name and Tom’s on Reddit?” I asked, panic rising once more.

Once Sam pulled up Reddit, we found an entire subreddit on the connection between Tom Campbell and Sam Drummond. Lucas had held back no details. He even included Crew’s conception in Cancun.

FunkyMonkey2622: The chick has a type. If one pro-sports player isn’t your ticket out of poverty, keep trying.

Sam had Anne on the phone within minutes.

She had called Tom’s agent, explaining that things were about to go public and that it was not the original plan.

By the night's end, Tom’s agent had made a statement indicating that this was all breaking news to them, but if Tom was indeed the baby’s father, he would take full responsibility.

Me to Sister Group Chat: Ugh. We cannot talk about my private life outside this circle. If I can’t trust you to maintain the circle, I won’t share things with you anymore.

Kendra: I’m sorry, Kelsey. I didn’t think Lucas would do this. I trusted him.

Me to Sister Group Chat: I know you didn’t mean it.

But did I? I don’t think she wanted this to get out publicly, but knowing Kendra, she had embellished the story to once again portray me as a fuckup.

She hadn’t bonded with Crew and made minimal effort to be an aunt, and her judgment was evident in practically every encounter we had.

I had shared the news with her to involve her in my life and our lives, which resulted in betrayal.

Sam accepted Anne's call and placed it on speakerphone so we could all talk. Jake quietly made dinner and gestured to the other room, silently asking if we wanted him to leave. Sam and I both shook our heads no.

Anne didn’t waste any time with greetings, “We made contact. Did you guys see his statement?”

“We did,” I answered.

“He’s agreed to the paternity test but has asked to arrange a call, preferably a video chat.

He’d like to see you first, and then if he agrees that you’re the girl from Cancun, his agent’s words, he’d like to see Crew.

I’ve arranged a cheek swab for him in Colorado and found a lab in Houston where you can submit Crew’s DNA.

He’s only just relocated to Colorado; the NHL training camp won’t start until mid-September.

If the paternity tests support your claims, he’s asked to meet with you guys. ”

“You mentioned our series in Colorado starting in two weeks,” Sam offered. “We can plan a meeting then.”

“Ok, I’ll work on that. We should have the results well before that.”

“What is your sense of the situation?” I asked.

“Well, the way the news broke was less than optimal. He’s either very skilled at handling the press or a decent guy who will do the right thing. He needs to talk to you and wants to see Crew.”

“There’s no way that he could get custody of Crew?” Sam asked.

“It’s doubtful. For a mother to lose custody, there has to be evidence that she is unfit or her living situation is unsafe.

Kelsey is currently breastfeeding, which is another factor to consider.

Plus, he will be starting his rookie season in a sport with a ton of travel.

It’s not conducive to a single dad life.

But I think you’ll need to be willing to negotiate some form of shared custody or visitation.

Ideally, you negotiate the agreement quietly, with no drama and minimal press. ”

“Ok, schedule the call and send us the video link,” Sam said as we ended the call with Anne.