Chasing Bailey, page 16
part #3 of Lake Harriet Series
As they entered the townhouse, he glanced around. It was two levels with the kitchen, living and dining rooms, and a bathroom on the main level. He followed Lisa upstairs where there were three bedrooms—Andrew’s large master bedroom and bathroom, Abby’s room, and another room that was used as an office. A third bathroom was also upstairs.
“He certainly isn’t pinching pennies with this place, is he?” Avery said quietly to Lisa. It angered him that Andrew wanted to lower his support for Abby while he lived in a place as luxurious as this.
“He called it an investment,” she said, rolling her eyes. “I think he believed he and Katrina would be together for the long haul and their two incomes would pay for it.”
“He should have been more careful with his money,” Avery said.
Abby grabbed Avery’s hand. “My ruum,” she said, pulling on him.
He smiled down at her. “Let’s go see your room.”
Abby led him into her room which was fit for a princess. There was a toddler bed with railings and a filmy pink curtain hung from the ceiling, draped over it like a fancy tent. A pink bedspread with a Disney princess was covered in decorative pillows and fluffy stuffed animals. The white dresser held a musical carousal, and a toy box on the other wall was filled to the brim with toys. Another shelf was full of children’s books. Avery had to admit that Andrew wasn’t cheap when it came to his daughter.
Abby pulled a white stuffed bear off the bed that looked like it had been hugged and loved a lot. “Snowfrake,” she said proudly, hugging the bear.
“Snowflake. That’s a great name for a polar bear,” Avery said.
Abby walked over to the toybox and began pulling out her favorite toys. It seemed as if every one lit up or played music. She sat on the floor next to Avery and began playing with the toys, handing him one then another for him to play with too. He smiled at how cute she was. She was sharing her favorite toys with him, and he knew that was special.
“Are you two having fun?” Lisa asked a few minutes later as she poked her head into the room.
“Of course,” Avery said. “I’ve learned a lot of new songs. One for counting, one for colors, and one for animals.”
Lisa chuckled. “You can never know too many songs.” She knelt beside Abby. “Come on, honey. Time to pick up the toys and go home.” When Abby protested, Lisa made a game of putting the toys back in the box and Abby cheered up and happily played along. She couldn’t talk her out of letting the bear stay there, though, and gave in and let Abby bring it with her.
“You have to choose your battles,” Lisa told Avery. Avery thought she’d chosen well. He liked how patient Lisa was with Abby. She was definitely a good mother.
Later, after he’d brought them home and Lisa had put Abby to bed, the two sat on the sofa as Bailey snoozed in the hallway, protecting Abby.
“Thanks for bringing me to Andrew’s tonight. You’re so good with Abby. I’m surprised you’ve never had children,” Lisa said.
“Melissa isn’t the motherly type,” Avery said. “And I never really thought about it one way or another. Now, I wouldn’t mind having children. Abby is so adorable. It’s easy being around her. And you’re amazing with her.”
“Well, I’ve had practice,” she said.
“Do you think you’ll want more children someday?”
Lisa shrugged. “It depends on if and when I meet someone I’d want to have children with. I’m thirty-two now. I only have a few more years where I’d still want to have children.”
“You’re so old,” he said, grinning.
She hit him lightly. “And how old are you?”
“Thirty-six. But men don’t have an expiration date on having children. I could be a father when I’m in my sixties.”
“Ugh! Not me! My sixties will be for retiring, traveling, and sleeping in!”
Avery laughed. He wrapped his arm around her, and she laid her head on his shoulder. He liked having her close to him. Her hair smelled of strawberry shampoo and the skin of her arm felt soft as he lightly brushed it with his fingertips. “Where would you like to travel?”
“I want to go to the Bahamas and lie on a sandy beach as the tide rolls in. I want to go to Paris and spend all day at the Louvre and go up to the top of the Eiffel Tower. I want to go to London and Italy, and travel by car all over the United States and see everything.”
“That all sounds amazing,” Avery said softly as he kissed the top of her head. “Can I go with you?”
Lisa nodded. “Sure. Why not?”
She sounded sleepy and Avery just sat quietly and stroked her hair until he heard the slow rhythmic breathing of sleep. He kissed her again and whispered, “I’ll take you anywhere you want to go.” Then he laid his head on hers and held her a while longer.
***
On Wednesday, Lisa stopped by the hospital to check on Andrew. She’d dropped Abby off at Kristen’s before going because she wanted it to be a quick trip. He’d asked her to bring a couple more things he needed, and she planned to drop them off and leave. Avery was grilling hamburgers at her house for dinner that night and she was in a hurry to get home and relax.
When she entered Andrew’s room, she was surprised to see he had a cast on his leg.
“This is new,” she said, and he smiled up at her. He looked much better after a few days of rest.
“They put it on this afternoon. I’m told that if all looks well, I can leave tomorrow.”
She set his things on the table by his bed. “I’ll bet you’re ready to leave and go home.”
“I am, but…” He paused.
Lisa frowned. “But what?”
“I can’t get around on my own for a couple of weeks until they put a walking cast on. I’ll be limited in what I can do. They suggested I ask a friend or relative to let me stay with them for at least a couple of weeks.” He looked at her hopefully.
It took a moment for his words to sink in. Lisa eyed him warily. “What exactly are you saying?”
“I was wondering if you’d let me stay with you at the house. I could sleep in the den downstairs. All the bedrooms in my place are upstairs.”
She shook her head vehemently. “No. Absolutely not. You can sleep on your sofa for all I care.”
“But I’ll need help. And someone to cook for me and help me get around.”
“Ask Katrina to come stay with you for a while. Or hire a nurse,” Lisa said.
“You are a nurse.”
“I don’t care,” Lisa said, growing angrier. “I work all day and I have Abby to take care of. I’m not taking care of you, too, and you’re definitely not living in my house.”
“It was my house once too,” he argued.
“Not anymore. You have your own place. I’m not responsible for you anymore.” She stood there with her arms crossed in front of her, unyielding. She could tell by the look on Andrew’s face that he was trying to think of a way to get her to say yes. There’s no way in hell, she thought.
“I’ll make you a deal,” he said, sounding calmer. “If you let me stay at the house for a couple of weeks, and you help me, I’ll give up pursuing joint custody and I’ll continue to pay the full child support without a complaint.”
She stared at him as she contemplated his words. “You can’t pursue custody for another year anyway and you’re legally required to pay child support. So how do you think this would benefit me?”
Andrew ran his hand through his hair, looking frustrated. “I promise I won’t pursue it in a year, or two years, or ever. And I won’t complain about child support or how it’s spent ever again. Lisa, I need your help. I don’t like having to ask, but at least I’m offering you something in return. Please. I don’t have anyone else to turn to right now.”
Lisa took a deep breath and turned to stare out the window. He seemed sincere about his offer, and she knew it hadn’t been easy for Andrew to beg her for help. But she also knew that his staying at her house was going to be difficult.
And what about Avery? They were just starting to get close. How could she keep seeing him if Andrew was around every corner? But she had to think of Abby first. If Andrew truly meant what he’d said, she’d never have to worry about him paying her less for support when she so desperately needed the money.
Finally, she faced him. “Two weeks. That’s it.”
Andrew exhaled loudly. “Thank you.”
“But I want it in writing that you will no longer pursue joint custody and will pay support without complaint,” Lisa said.
“Fine. I’ll write it up and sign it. I really appreciate this, Lisa. I know it’ll be difficult, and I’ll try not to drive you crazy.” He smiled.
“You already are driving me crazy,” she said. And ruining my social life, what little there is.
“It might be fun,” he offered. “I’ll get to spend more time with Abby, and we can hang out like we used to. Maybe we can do some binge watching on Netflix together.”
Lisa sighed. It was not going to be fun. It was going to mean extra work for her, and she already knew that he was going to annoy her. But she was doing this for Abby. And she’d do anything for her little girl.
She just had to think of how she was going to explain this to Avery.
***
“What?” Avery stared at her in disbelief.
“I told Andrew I’d let him stay here for two weeks until he could get around better by himself,” she said again.
“Why would you do that? You don’t owe him anything. He has a nice house of his own he can go to.”
“He can’t be alone right now,” Lisa explained. “He can barely move around without help and he’s on pain killers. It isn’t safe for him to be alone while he takes those.”
Avery couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Her ex-husband wanted to move in? That sounded crazy. “I don’t see how you can take care of him. You work all day. What’s he going to do while you’re gone?”
“He called Kristen and asked if she’d check on him during the day and make him lunch. His insurance will pay her to do that. I’ll help him the rest of the time.”
“I hope he’s paying you too,” Avery said.
Lisa sighed. “No, he’s not. I made a better deal with him. One that will keep Abby with me permanently.”
“What deal is that?”
“He said he wouldn’t pursue joint custody and lower his child support payments—ever. He even put it in writing. I just have to put up with him for two weeks and I’ll no longer have to worry that I won’t get enough money to help support Abby until she’s in college. It’s a fair trade.”
Avery stepped closer and placed his hands gently on her arms. “He’s blackmailing you, Lisa. He’s bribing you to do what he wants in exchange for something he should do anyway.”
She turned and walked away from him, her arms crossed. They’d had a nice dinner and he’d played with Abby and Bailey outdoors until it grew chilly. She’d held out all evening from telling him what she’d agreed to because she knew he would react this way. But he didn’t understand. How could he?
“Lisa?”
“You don’t realize how important his payments are to me, and to Abby’s well-being. Without them, we’d have to let go of this house. Where would we go? I love this neighborhood. It’s the perfect place to raise Abby. I need to ensure he’ll keep making those payments.”
“You’re going to let him manipulate you? So he can get what he wants?”
Anger welled up inside her. She felt cornered by Andrew, and now by Avery. Lisa spun around and faced him. “Yes. I’m going to let him manipulate me. But who are you to talk? You let Melissa manipulate you. She’s blackmailing you for more money so you can get Maddie back.”
Avery’s expression darkened. “Yeah, but the difference is, I didn’t give in to her.”
“That’s because you don’t have to,” Lisa’s voice rose. “The stakes aren’t as high for you as they are for me. This is about my daughter. This is about making a good life for her. You have enough money to live any way you want. You have the money to live wherever you want and however you want. All you need to do is sell another book to buy your precious mansion back. I need to support my daughter as best as I can. I have no options.” Tears fell down her cheeks and she swiped them away. She hated that he was seeing her cry. She had to be strong. She always had to be strong—for Abby.
Avery looked stunned. “So, that’s what you think of me? That I’m some spoiled rich guy just slumming it here for a while and I’ll leave when I get bored?”
Lisa didn’t think that, but she was too angry to answer. He’d already made her feel bad for the choice she’d made, and she couldn’t afford to feel bad about it. She had to do what was necessary.
“Fine,” Avery said. He grabbed his jacket off the back of the rocker and headed for the door. “I’m sorry I messed up your life. I’ll leave you alone.” He headed out the door, shutting it behind him.
The tears began to fall faster. Lisa fell on the sofa and dropped her head in her hands. Bailey came to her, placing his head near hers. She reached out, hugged him, and cried into his fur.
Chapter Nineteen
Avery stormed across the street, entered the house, and slammed his door. The entire wall rattled, but he didn’t care. He was so angry he could break something. Anything. Instead, he crossed through the living room to the kitchen, grabbed a beer from the fridge, and guzzled it down.
He sat on a stool at the counter and looked around the house. In the past month since he’d met Lisa, he’d spent very little time here except to write. Almost every evening had been spent with Lisa and Abby, going to dinner, eating at her house, or taking long walks to the park. Many afternoons he’d gone to get Bailey while Lisa was at work and trained the dog to heel. One month. That was all it had been. Yet, it had felt like a lifetime. A wonderful lifetime. Lisa and Abby and Bailey had given him his life back. They’d given him a reason to be happy again. Now, it was over.
“That was probably Andrew’s plan all along,” he muttered to himself. “He’s trying to work his way back into her life, and just watch. He’ll do it.”
Avery hadn’t been this furious in a long time. Not when Melissa left him. Not even when Melissa took half of his money. He’d been angry about losing Maddie, and still was, but this was even worse. Losing Lisa was definitely much worse.
Suddenly, his shoulders slumped, and his heart ached. He thought about going back over there and apologizing for what he’d said. But would she listen? He’d still be upset over Andrew manipulating her. And once Andrew moved in, it would be hard to be civil to him, knowing what a jerk he was.
No, it was better if he left things alone.
Defeated, Avery changed into sweats and went to his office. He flipped open his laptop and waited for it to start up. He’d had an email from his agent this morning saying he’d loved the first five chapters that Avery had sent him. “Hurry with the rest,” he’d written. The problem was, Avery didn’t get the ending he’d hoped for. The happily-ever-after he’d hoped both he and his characters might have.
With a heavy heart, he began typing, trying his best to write a happy ending despite how broken he felt.
***
Two days later, Lisa picked Andrew up from the hospital after work and drove him to her house. She’d left Abby with Kristen because Andrew required the entire back seat to rest his leg on. The car was loaded with things he’d need, a set of crutches, a folded-up wheelchair, just in case, and a suitcase she’d packed for him at his house the night before.
Ryan was home from work, so he came over the minute they drove up and helped Andrew out of the car and into the house. He settled him on the sofa, then helped Lisa carry in the rest of the items.
“Thanks, Ryan,” Lisa said. She hadn’t known how she’d get Andrew into the house. She was so thankful for her neighbors.
“No problem,” he said. He headed back inside to see if he could help Andrew with anything else.
As she returned to the car to get the last of Andrew’s things, she saw Avery, wearing a heavy sweatshirt, walking on the opposite sidewalk at a brisk pace with his head down. She knew he was going for his daily walk, but without Bailey. She sighed. They hadn’t spoken since their fight, neither of them making the effort to reach out first. She’d had a moment of weakness the day after, and her finger had hovered over his number on her phone, but then she’d decided against it. He’d been angry when he’d left. And she’d been angry too. Maybe they’d said things they couldn’t apologize for. Besides, with Andrew here, it would only be more complicated trying to see Avery. Maybe it was for the best. Yet, she missed him. Sadly, she’d always wonder what could have been.
The next few days went by in a blur. Every morning was a rush, making breakfast for Andrew, helping him dress and use the bathroom before heading out with Abby to work and day care. The evenings were just as busy: making dinner, Abby’s bath time, Andrew’s shower with one leg out of the tub, (which was awkward to say the least), and getting them both settled into bed before she fell, exhausted, into her own. She knew Andrew was trying to be a good patient, and he did play with Abby as much as possible. But he always had the television on, which annoyed Lisa, and he was always asking for water, a soda, or a snack. She’d forgotten how much he ate. But the worst thing was his constant complaining about Bailey.
“Get out of my face!” he’d yell at the dog. “Get away from the television! Can’t this stupid dog go outside?”
Lisa ignored Andrew as much as possible, but when she’d get annoyed, she’d remind him who’d bought the dog in the first place.
“I can see it was a big mistake,” he’d blurted out, which only angered Lisa more.
One evening while they were eating take-out Chinese food because Lisa had been too tired to cook, Andrew had asked, “What happened to lover-boy?”
Lisa glared at him. “His name is Avery and it’s none of your business.”
“Avrey!” Abby shouted with a big grin.
Andrew scowled. Lisa figured he didn’t appreciate that his daughter liked Avery enough to have learned to say his name. His discomfort made her feel a little better.
