Chapter 2 - The Family That Thought They Owned My Daughter|
For several seconds, I couldn't understand what my mother-in-law had just said.
My daughter was sitting barely ten feet away.
Poppy wore a yellow sweater, dark leggings, and the little pink sneakers she'd begged me to buy.
Her backpack rested between her feet.
She was staring at the floor.
I looked at Constance.
“What do you mean Poppy is staying here?”
My mother-in-law straightened her pearl necklace.
“Ross needs stability during this transition. We believe it would be best if Poppy remained with her father's family.”
I almost laughed.
“Best for whom?”
Delia crossed her legs.
“Lydia, don't become emotional. We're trying to make this civilized.”
I turned toward her.
“Your brother is sleeping with his assistant.”
Tiffany lowered her eyes.
Constance sighed dramatically.
“Men in positions of power sometimes develop complicated relationships.”
I stared at her.
“And wives are supposed to accept that?”
“A sensible wife understands what she can and cannot control.”
I looked toward Poppy.
She was gripping the straps of her backpack.
“Sweetheart, come here.”
She stood immediately.
But Constance raised one hand.
“Poppy, darling, stay where you are.”
My daughter froze.
Something inside me turned cold.
“Constance, don't give my child orders when I'm telling her to come to me.”
The older woman's smile disappeared.
“You should remember whose family you're dealing with.”
I stepped closer to Poppy.
“Poppy, get your coat.”
She hurried toward me.
Constance slammed a folder onto the coffee table.
“Before you leave, you need to understand the consequences.”
I glanced down.
The first page was a proposed divorce settlement.
Ross would retain the company.
I would waive claims to marital assets.
I would release any interest in business distributions.
And I would acknowledge that the marriage had produced no jointly accumulated wealth worth dividing.
I looked at Constance.
“Who prepared this?”
“Ross's attorneys.”
“Then Ross needs better attorneys.”
Delia stood.
“Don't pretend you contributed to his success. My brother built that company.”
I smiled faintly.
“Did he?”
Tiffany finally spoke.
“Mrs. Calloway, maybe we should all calm down.”
I turned toward her.
“You're wearing my bracelet while discussing my divorce. I don't think you're qualified to give marital advice.”
Her face reddened.
Constance leaned forward.
“Ross has already consulted someone about custody. If you refuse to cooperate, we'll make certain the court hears about your instability.”
I stared at her.
“Threatening me in front of my daughter is an interesting way to demonstrate concern for her.”
Poppy reached for my hand.
I took it.
Then I looked around the room.
“You don't get to decide whether I keep my child.”
Constance's face hardened.
“You have no idea what this family can do.”
I opened the front door.
“Neither do you.”
Outside, Poppy looked up at me.
“Mommy, am I going to live with Grandma now?”
I knelt beside her.
“No, sweetheart. You're coming home with me.”
She hugged my neck.
And as I held her, I made myself a promise.
Ross could destroy our marriage.
His family could insult me.
But nobody was going to use my daughter as a bargaining chip.
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What they didn't know was that I had already made one telephone call.
And that call was about to cost Ross far more than his marriage.
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