“But now he has the both of you.”
A slow smile lit up Veronica’s face. “Yes. Now we can be the family we were always meant to be.”
The air in Clara’s lungs froze. “Excuse me?”
“Oh, not right away,” she said, reaching over to pat Clara’s hand. “I know I have a long climb back into Walker’s good graces. But seeing how good he is with my child, and how easy being a parent can be here, makes me want to try in a way I wasn’t sure I did before.”
“There’s more to being a parent than writing checks to his nannies,” Clara snapped.
“Of course. But you can’t deny money makes child-rearing easier. Why not take advantage of the possibilities if we are fortunate enough to be able to?”
“Don’t you want to be the one looking after him? Putting him down for his naps when he’s tired or heating him a bottle when he’s hungry?”
Veronica waved her hand. “I’ve already talked to Emily about extending her hours and she’s agreeable. Don’t worry, Hunter will always have an adult by his side who loves and wants to protect him. He’ll be safe and happy, I promise.”
“Of course, he’ll be safe and happy. He has me to look after him.”
A frown crossed Veronica’s face. “Forgive me, but I’m confused. I thought you were Walker’s college friend. The one helping him learn how to be a parent.”
Her cheeks heated even as she lifted her chin. “I am.”
“Yet you speak as if you have a right to Hunter. A right to my son.”
“Walker and I…we’re more than just old friends.”
“Ah,” she said, leaning back. “I see. I’ve stepped into something.”
“That’s why I wanted to have a chat so we can straighten everything out and come up with a solution that’s best for everyone, especially Hunter.”
“A solution,” Veronica murmured. “To me, you mean.”
“I’m not saying this very well, am I? I just meant, I want to try and make this transition as smooth as possible. Of course, you should have a place in Hunter’s life. You’re his mother. But I’m here, too, and I’m not going anywhere.”
Veronica’s eyes dropped to her left hand. “I don’t see a ring on your finger.”
She clenched a fist. “We’re getting to that part.”
“Really? Was that before or after the mother of Walker’s child came back into the picture?”
Direct hit. Score one for stay-at-home Barbie.
“It doesn’t matter. I’m here and that’s not going to change.”
“No, I’m here. I’m Hunter’s mother. I carried him for nine months. I made a mistake, but it’s one I’m trying to correct. I’m not going anywhere, and I’ll bring a judge into this if I have to.”
Clara held up her hands. “No one is threatening you. We’re all adults here and we all want the same thing. What’s best for Hunter.”
“What if what’s best for him is me? A child should be raised by both their parents, don’t you think? And Hunter can have that, as long as you don’t deprive him of it.”
Clara reared back. “Me?”
“I know this isn’t fair. In fact, it’s massively unfair. But this is the reality we’ve found ourselves in. Walker and I got along very well before the pregnancy. There’s no reason to think we wouldn’t be able to fall into old habits again. Our relationship will only continue to strengthen, and together we’ll watch our son grow up. The only detriment to that future is you.”
“The reality of the situation is you waited too long. You’ve come back to a couple who is happy together and will raise your child with you, not in place of you. We want you to be a part of Hunter’s life, but you have to accept that I’m here, too.”
“Do I?” she asked. “Are these your words or Walker’s? Have you said all of this to him?”
The words died on her tongue. Veronica had a point. She didn’t even know if she had the right to argue. Maybe she really was the detriment here and Walker was going to say exactly what Veronica was.
But if so, she wanted to hear it from his lips, not this perfect woman who hadn’t thought twice about abandoning her child in a basket.
“He doesn’t know you’re here, does he?” Veronica said.
“It doesn’t matter. I’ve known him for ten years. I know what he would say right now.”
“Ten years and yet you’re only now becoming a couple? It took me less than ten days.”
“What does that matter?”