Holiday Terminal, page 12
I would love to trust him. I want to believe there's some misunderstanding here, but there isn’t. I heard what I heard. And that was enough for me to close my heart again to Artemis Warren.
It’s the only way to protect myself and Max.
“Taking Max from his life isn’t ‘the best idea,’ Artemis. It’s going to be hard enough for him to adjust to being told you’re his father without also ripping away all the people and places he knows and loves. New York isn’t any place to raise a child. Look what it did to you.”
He recoils slightly.
Shit. Maybe that was a bit too harsh.
But part of me wanted to wound him with my words. The same way what he said on the phone drove a knife straight into my heart.
His eyes darken with his pain, and the old need to comfort him tries to hack its way out of my chest. But Artemis Warren doesn’t need saving. He’s perfectly capable of taking care of himself. He’s more than proven that over the hours we’ve spent here together.
He shoves a hand through his hair and sighs. “If that’s what you think of me, Pen, then I must have completely misread what’s happened here tonight.”
No.
He didn’t misread it at all. I fell hook, line, and sinker for the Artemis Warren I thought he still was. The one he was all those years ago. But that’s not who the man standing in front of me is anymore. That Artemis would never…could never try to take my child from me, no matter what the circumstances were, no matter how angry or hurt he might be by what I had done.
I let myself be swept away in old feelings and desires I tried to push down and ignore for so long. I let myself be my focus instead of Max for just a few moments, and it was long enough for Artemis to work his way into my heart again.
It’s my fault. Not his. He doesn’t even realize when he’s doing it. It’s just a natural Warren attribute. Engrained in their DNA. They’re manipulators. Through and through.
I clear my throat of the lump sitting there and shake my head. “I’m sorry, Artemis, but whatever it is you think was happening was in your head. I scratched an itch with an old flame. Forced proximity makes people do strange things. Nothing more.”
The words burn—both Artemis and me.
It’s like watching him be struck by a hail of bullets from a firing squad. But I can’t feel sorry for him. Not after what I heard. Not after what he said.
Stand your ground, Pen. Don’t give in.
Chapter 16
ARTEMIS
I’ve never seen Pen like this. Even when we ended things, when she thought the worst of me, she wasn’t like this. She’s being…spiteful. Almost like she wants to hurt me. That’s so not her. That’s not the Penelope I know and love.
Two steps close the distance between us, and I grab her biceps and force her to look at me. “Tell me what’s really going on, Pen. This isn’t you.”
Her shimmering, tear-soaked eyes stare back at me for a moment, and her mouth opens, ready to argue. Then she swallows. “I wasn’t going to tell you. Not until I knew what my rights were, but there’s no sense in playing games with a Warren. Not when you always win.”
What the hell is she talking about?
“I’m not playing any games, Penelope.”
One of her dark brows rises. “I heard you, Artemis. On your phone call. You’re going to sue me for sole custody and try to prove I’m an unfit mother. You’re going to take him from me.”
Shit.
“No, Penelope. You misunderstood—”
“Did I?” She tugs out of my grip and takes a step back. “Who were you talking to? Your father? One of your family lawyer friends? A judge you have in your back pocket?”
God. No wonder she’s so fucking pissed.
If I had overheard my side of that conversation, it’s exactly what I would think too.
I shake my head. “No. The only person who knows is Archimedes.”
She snorts and tosses her head back to stare at the ceiling for a moment. “Of course. Your little brother. He’s just another weapon in the Warren arsenal, isn’t he?”
Yeah, kind of.
“It isn’t like that, Pen. I told him because I needed to talk out the situation with someone I knew I could trust. Someone who wouldn’t tell my parents or grandparents.”
“So, the entire conversation was innocent? I didn’t hear what I think I heard?”
Crap.
She’s got me there. It really wasn’t innocent. Not at all.
“I just needed to talk to a friend, Pen. Someone who was on my side in all this. A neutral party who wouldn’t let his personal feelings about you fog his logic.”
She frowns and takes another step back. “That’s what I do? Fog your logic?”
“Christ, Pen. I haven’t had a single cognizant thought around you since the moment I laid eyes on you that summer. You completely unravel me.”
Even only a few hours ago, those words probably would have been viewed by her as some sort of major declaration. A sign that my feelings are real. But now, she stares at me with confusion and anger rolling off her in waves.
She crosses her arms over her chest as if they offer her some protection from me. “How does that all lead to you taking Max from me?”
“Oh, come on, Pen. You had to know I needed to find out all of my options. It would be stupid not to. Archimedes suggested those two things. They had never even crossed my mind until then.”
She bites her bottom lip and rolls her eyes. “Sure, you hadn’t.” Her gaze darts across the terminal to where Max and Jolynn are still gloriously unaware of the argument happening over here. “Look, Artie, maybe we should just leave this to our attorneys. I think that may be what’s best for everyone involved.”
Leave it to our attorneys? Is she fucking serious?
I have to take a second before I can respond to her. The words won’t form in my head to express how totally twisted I am. “How did it come to this, Pen? How did we go from,” I lean into her to ensure no prying ears will hear me, “from fucking in a dark corner to not even being able to have a discussion as adults without going through intermediaries?”
“It came to this when you even considered taking Max from me. I know I have to pay the price for what I did in keeping him from you, but I don’t deserve that. I don’t deserve to lose him.”
I reach up and cup her cheek, a gesture she’s leaned into so many times.
Not now.
She pulls away.
I drop my hand. “You don’t deserve that, Pen. And I never would have done that. I swear.”
“Unfortunately, I learned a long time ago not to believe a Warren.”
That stings more than she can possibly know. She has no idea how much I agree with her on that. On how much I know it to be true. I just never thought she’d group me in with them that way. I thought she understood how I felt about the family back then and how I still feel.
There are a lot of things about each other we’ve failed to see. Whether we’ve been blinded by old feelings, lust, or misplaced love for Max, it seems we’ve both paid the price while trapped here in this airport.
One I’m sure we’ll both feel for a very long time.
“Miss Barnes? Mister Warren?”
We both turn toward Clarence. He stands a few feet away from us, his bushy, white brows raised in concern. “Sorry to interrupt. I thought you two would want to know that the storm is letting up. It should only be a few hours at most before we can get the runway cleared enough for your planes to take off.”
Perfect fucking timing.
PENELOPE
I use the distraction of Clarence’s arrival to slip away from Artemis and back over to Mom and Max. The moment Artemis started talking to him, I bolted across the terminal.
Being anywhere near Artemis sucks me into his orbit. Into a place where I can’t control myself. His explanation was this close to bringing me to believe him. I was right there, dangling on the precipice of throwing myself into his arms and begging him to come with us to figure out a way to make things work.
I’m so damn weak.
Even now, I glance over my shoulder at where he stands, talking to Clarence, undoubtedly asking piloty questions I wouldn’t understand.
Mom and Max glance up at me. She gives me a knowing look. There’s no way she missed that fight. We may have managed to keep our voices down for Max’s sake, but the body language should have said everything she needed to know to assess the situation.
She plasters on a smile. “What did Clarence say?”
I settle on the other side of Max. “Good news. The storm is almost over. We should be out of here in a few hours, tops.”
Max twists to look at me. “What about Mister Artie?”
My chest tightens. I should have seen that question coming and prepared myself. “What do you mean, buddy?”
He chews on his bottom lip. “Is he coming with us?”
The knife in my heart twists, just a little deeper. “No, buddy. Mister Artie lives in New York. He needs to go home.”
There’s no need to try to explain the truth right now, not when things are so undecided. He will have too many questions that I won’t have answers to yet. Ones that could really hurt him…and me.
“But…when are we going to see him again?”
It’s possible no human being has ever been torn into two directions at once so hard before. Part of me wants to say never. The other part knows Artie will be a fabulous father, and continuing to try to keep Max from him would be the most selfish thing I’ve ever done.
There’s only one answer I know for sure is the truth. “You’ll see him again, buddy. I just don’t know when yet.”
He pouts and jumps to his feet to rush over to the chairs along the wall again. Mom starts to rise to go after him.
“No.” I hold out a hand. “Let him be by himself for a couple minutes. He’s not going anywhere. And we need to talk. Alone.”
She nods. “I thought we might need to. What happened? Your whole attitude toward Artemis seemed to flip in the last hour.”
I bury my face in my hands. “God, Mom. Things have gone to shit so fast. I don’t even know how to wrap my head around it.”
Her warm hand lands on my shoulder, and she gives it a gentle squeeze. “Tell me what happened.”
“Artemis talked to his brother. I overheard him say he was going to try for sole custody and to prove I’m an unfit mother.”
“What?” Mom recoils.
I glance over my shoulder at her. “Yeah. I called Kristy and asked her to find me a good family lawyer, but it’s Christmas. I don’t know that she’ll be able to get a hold of anyone before we’re ready to leave.”
“You don’t think Artemis would try to take him when he leaves today, do you?”
A few hours ago, when Artemis had me pressed against that wall, when he was moving inside me and kissing me senseless, I would have said no without even considering it. But now…
“I have no idea, Mom. I sure as hell hope not.”
But I have no idea what the legalities of this are.
If he walks away with Max, takes off on that plane of his and flies back to New York, would he really be in trouble?
There’s nothing legal proving he’s Max’s father, no DNA test, no birth certificate. But that doesn’t mean the law would do anything about it.
These are the Warrens. His grandfather was a Supreme Court Justice for fuck’s sake. You can’t get any more connected than that.
What district attorney is going to file charges against Artemis Warren the III for kidnapping his own son once a DNA test comes back?
None. That’s who.
So, what power do I really have here?
None.
Clarence walks past us on his way back to the office. I peek over at Artemis, hoping to somehow be able to glean where he stands on this whole thing, but all I find is his back to me, his phone against his ear again.
Whoever he’s talking to…it can’t be good.
I doubt he’s calling Archimedes to tell him how insane his suggestions were. And he sure isn’t coming over here to assure me he won’t touch Max.
This day went from the worst to the best, and back to the worst again so fast, I have whiplash.
Mom grabs my shoulder and tugs. “Pen.”
“What?”
She holds my phone up in front of my face. “Your phone is ringing.”
Unknown number.
Normally, I wouldn’t answer it, but right now, I’m desperate for a lifeline.
Chapter 17
PENELOPE
“You’re choosing a big enemy, Miss Barnes. The Warrens don’t like to be challenged, especially where their family is concerned. You’ve kept an heir a secret from them. That won’t be taken lightly.”
Like he’s telling me anything I don’t already know.
Saying the Warrens are a big enemy is like saying Jaws was a large shark.
Mike Hall is a great lawyer—according to the text I got from Kristy almost as soon as my phone rang. He seems to really know his shit. It hasn’t helped ease any of my fears, though.
“But does that give Artemis a legal leg to stand on? Does it give him a basis to take Max from me?”
That’s the question I’ve been waiting to have answered. I’ve already explained to Attorney Hall that the runway will be cleared soon, and even if Artie doesn’t try to take him today, he will come for him eventually. Warrens aren’t known for their patience. It won't surprise me if he shows up on Mom and Dad’s doorstep tomorrow with a court order.
Mister Hall sighs. “You could contact the local police there. Explain the situation. Tell them there’s no legal finding as to paternity and no custody agreement permitting Mister Warren to take Maxwell with him. But…”
There’s always a but…
“That could get ugly. And in front of your son. If you want him to have a good relationship with his father, and you want to maintain any semblance of a cordial relationship with his father, then I highly suggest you make another attempt to talk to Mister Warren before that tarmac is cleared.”
I was afraid he’d say that. I don’t know if I have the strength to go another round with that man.
My silence must give away my reluctance.
“Miss Barnes, I understand how extremely trying this situation is for all involved. I’ve dealt with some very contentious custody battles in my career. And one thing I’ve learned in three decades in the courtroom is that the children who always end up winning are the ones whose parents don’t consider them a prize or a weapon to use against one another.”
“That’s not what I’m doing.”
“Let me finish, Miss Barnes. You may not be doing that, but my point, if you had let me continue, is that those parents who work together to do what’s in the best interest of the child, the ones who put their own feelings aside, those are the ones whose children are happiest.”
It’s exactly why I kept hoping things could work out amicably between us, but Artemis is making that impossible by tugging at my heartstrings and throwing my greatest fear at me.
“Could he prove I’m an unfit mother and get sole custody if that’s what he really wants?”
“He can try to do whatever he wants, Miss Barnes. And knowing the Warrens, they won’t even hesitate to stoop to less than legal or ethical levels to achieve their goal. From what you and your friend have told me, there’s nothing in your past that points to any concern for how you care for Maxwell. In fact, I think most courts would agree, you’ve done a wonderful job on your own, and you provide a stable, happy living environment for him.”
That eases a bit of the tension in my shoulders. If a lawyer thinks that, then I’m not a totally shitty parent.
“But you cannot discount the Warren name.”
And there it is.
That name has been the bane of my existence for so long…hearing someone else confirm how powerful and unscrupulous they are actually feels like more of a win than it should. It certainly isn’t good news.
“The opportunities it will present to Maxwell if he were to live with Artemis, and the fact that Artemis was denied the ability to raise his child will come into play. The court will always do what’s in the best interests of the child, and there is a very real chance, that could be split custody or even sole custody to him after a period of adjustment for Maxwell. If we ended up in front of a judge who was swayed by the Warrens in some fashion—whether through promises or threats—that outcome could be even more devastating for you.”
I sigh and recline back in the hard-plastic chair down just a few from Mom and Max. “So, my only hope is to reason with him and come to an agreement. That’s what you’re saying?”
“Pretty much, Miss Warren. Believe me, I know it’s not what you want to hear right now. And I do feel for you…this all happening on Christmas and like this. It really seems some twist of fate has happened.”
No shit.
It doesn’t sound like I have much choice. I have to do what’s best for Max. And the attorney is right, that isn’t having the police show up to intervene with Artemis. Max already loves the man, even without knowing who he truly is. I see it in the way Max is with Artemis every moment they’ve spent together. He’s desperately searching for a father figure without even realizing he’s doing it, and now his real father is sitting right here, begging to be part of his life.
Surely, we can work something out that doesn’t involve firearms and badges.
“I’ll talk to him again.”
“Excellent. Please, keep me posted, Miss Barnes. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I am going to try to get a few more hours of sleep before my grandkids arrive at the crack of dawn to open their gifts.”
“Thank you again for taking the time to speak with me, today of all days.”
“You’re very welcome, Miss Barnes.”
The line goes dead.
It’s time to summon up every ounce of courage I have to try to get this resolved.
ARTEMIS
“You're a dad. Wow. I mean, what the fuck, Artie?” Athena chuckles. “Honestly, I figured, if anybody would have a baby, out of the three of us, my money was on Archie. He can't seem to keep it in his pants.”
