Choosing You (Thirsty Hearts Book 2)

by Kris Jayne

  Taryn nodded. “Cocoa grows, and then they make the chocolate from the cocoa. Most of it is grown in Africa. So maybe when we go over for a safari you can stop in West Africa and solve the cocoa shortage.”

  “If we do run out of chocolate, I’m going to become a scientist and figure out a way to bring it back.”

  “What kind of scientist?” Jeff asked.

  “I don’t know. A chocolate scientist.” The thought amused the little girl, and she dissolved into giggles.

  “Hmm, maybe I should have majored in chocolate science instead of computer science when I was in school.”

  “Computer science is treating you pretty well. Speaking of that, did you hear back from your partners on the acquisition?”

  “Yes, we’re looking at the latest offer with finance. Brad thinks it’s undervalued. I don’t know. It’s so hard to tell how much you should hold out for, but you don’t want to miss your opportunity. Honestly, I’d like to get this wrapped up pretty quickly. The uncertainty is killing me.”

  “What about your staying on after the sale? Have you decided if you want to do that?”

  “Yes. No. At least, not for an extended time. Since I’m the head technologist, I’ll have to stay on during the transition, but I don’t see hanging on to watch a new set of suits muck up what I’ve done.”

  Taryn understood what a labor of love this latest project had been for Jeff. Getting that labor to pay off meant either selling the software platform or running it long-term. Jeff had other ideas he wanted to develop, so selling it off seemed like the right thing to do.

  “Well, you can stick around to make sure they don’t.”

  “But I won’t be in charge. I can’t just turn my baby over to someone else and sit on the sidelines.”

  “Yeah, I can see how that’d be hard. Can you pass the cheese?”

  Jeff picked up the bowl of orange and white shreds and handed it to Taryn.

  He shouldn’t have used that expression. Things were tense enough without his stupid choice of words. It’d get even worse when he told Taryn what the lawyer had proposed.

  Harold suggested Jeff start thinking about a detailed custody agreement that clearly outlined the expectations and requirements for Shannon’s involvement with their daughter. Once they’d introduced Olivia and Shannon, they would start spending time together—even if it was only at Jeff’s house. It wouldn’t be long before Shannon would want time with Olivia alone or for overnight visits.

  All of that, Harold said, requires clear parameters, such as regular drug testing. Jeff would demand that, and he also was adamant he have sole, primary custody. He had no intention of splitting time and having Olivia bounce back and forth between two houses.

  Not to mention, he didn’t want to have to pay Shannon child support. He still didn’t trust her and certainly not with large sums of cash. Pursuing an order for retroactive support would put Shannon in a bind, but Harold insisted Jeff consider it.

  While Harold only represented Jeff in family law matters, he’d also suggested presenting Shannon with the custody agreement now—before selling his business left him flush with new income. Jeff balked. He didn’t want to trick Shannon, but he also didn’t want Shannon dragging out the custody issue in an attempt to extract money from him. Legally, she had no standing.

  If he had just filed for termination of her rights months ago, his request likely would have been granted. Even though Shannon returned, her drug use, absence, and lack of stability were strikes against her. However, none of that accounted for Jeff’s hating the idea of an extended legal battle. He held all the cards, but that gave him no satisfaction.

  Harold had one other suggestion, but he knew it would be a touchy topic with his fiancée. Wanting to put off the conversation, Jeff agreed to let Olivia stay up a little later and watch Frozen on DVD for the fiftieth time. By the time Elsa received her royal orb and scepter, Taryn’s tow head had fallen onto his chest.

  He shifted to cradle her in his left arm. Taryn’s head was tossed back, mouth slightly open. She might as well have been darted with a tranquilizer. Snuggled under his right arm, he saw a mop of curly blond hair. The reassuring rise and fall of his daughter’s ribs brushed his forearm.

  Jeff would be content to stay in that exact position, but he had to get Olivia to bed and then face Taryn. The first thing took little time. He’d already put Olivia in her pajamas, so he carried her carefully upstairs and snuggled her under her American Girl bed covers. Taryn rolled over and mumbled but was awake by the time he got back downstairs.

  “I should head home.” She yawned and stretched. Jeff might have worried, but he knew his request would jolt the sleepiness right out of her.

  “Before you go, there’s one other thing I wanted to talk about, but I didn’t want to talk about it in front of Olivia.”

  “Hmm. That sounds ominous.”

  “Harold had one other recommendation. He gave me the name of a family counselor. Her expertise is reunification.” Jeff moved toward her, dropping onto the hard glass and wood of the coffee table so he could look Taryn in the eye.

  “Reunification? Is that what they call it?”

  “Yes. The process for re-introducing a child to their birth parent.”

  “You’re going to meet with the counselor? That’s probably a good idea.”

  “Well, yes, but ideally, the entire family goes. I spoke to the therapist’s office and for the first session, she wants me, Shannon, and our spouses. Or, you know, significant others.”

  Taryn’s drowsy expression cleared. “I’m supposed to go to therapy with your ex-wife? I don’t even know her.”

  “That’s part of the reason for doing it. We can all get on the same page in a therapeutic environment,” Jeff explained. When the words came out of his mouth, he felt like a puppet. He’d never in his life referred to a “therapeutic environment.”

  Taryn threw herself back on the couch and pounded the cushions with her fists. “Sweet Jesus, take me now!”

  Jeff moved over to the couch and sank down next to his fiancée.

  “I know. I know. But this will help us put parameters in place how we tell Olivia about Shannon and when and all that. The therapist will back us up about going slowly and making sure Shannon doesn’t rush everything.”

  “Will Shannon’s felonious life partner be there too? Because if so, I need to know if I can bring my pistol.” Always the country girl at heart, Taryn did, of course, know how to shoot. Luckily, he didn’t think he had those fireworks in his future.

  “They’re not together anymore. The therapist said it should only be actual spouses, but I explained that we’re just a few months from getting married and that you’ve been Olivia’s mother figure for the past two years.”

  “That’s what I am now, huh? The ‘mother figure.’”

  Taryn sniffed, and her eye twitched. He hoped she wasn’t going to cry. Taryn’s tears would undo him right now. He put an arm around her, pressing his face into the crown of her head.

  “Please, Taryn. I need you there. I want Shannon to know that we’re a united team.” His words seemed to calm Taryn’s nerves.

  “Okay,” she replied in a low voice. “When is this?”

  “Friday at lunch. I’ll send you a calendar notice, so you have all the details.”

  “Can’t wait.”

  Jeff rubbed Taryn’s knee. “I’m not looking forward to this any more than you are, but I think it’s a good idea.”

  Taryn sighed. “I know you’re right, but I hate this. All of it.”

  “Me too.” Jeff helped Taryn gather up her things and head out the back door to her car. A chill ran through him as he stepped outside and put her work bag in her backseat. She threw her arms around him and looked up at him with pleading eyes. “Where are a Delorean and a flux capacitor when we need one?”

  “No Back to the Future time machines here.”

  “Shit.”

  “No kidding.” Jeff gave her a lingering kiss and sa
id goodbye.

  Taryn pulled out of the driveway, gripping the steering wheel so hard her shoulders and neck began to ache. Counting to ten and deep breathing only ratcheted up her angst.

  Somehow, she would shake her growing abhorrence of this woman before their journey to a “therapeutic environment.” Rise above the loathing. Stopped at a light, she huffed and dropped her face into her hands. Enough. She flipped her head back to view the road in front of her.

  “Do it for Jeff.” She repeated the words aloud all the way home.

  Chapter Thirteen

  TGIF, my ass.

  Taryn pulled up in front of the office of reunification expert Dr. Simone Baker, ready to meet in a “therapeutic environment” to ensure they were of “common mind” regarding introducing Olivia and the ex-wife.

  She spent the night before looking at the doctor’s website and reviewing her materials to get a feel for her approach. It all sounded good, but none of the very professional-sounding buzz words could tease out the knot in her stomach. Nothing on the site could prepare her for a formal introduction to her nemesis. She banged her head back against her car’s headrest.

  No, not nemesis. She had to think positive. Everyone within a five-mile radius had better cross their fingers, she thought.

  Taryn entered Dr. Baker’s office and streams of light poured into the waiting room through a window on the far end. Taryn shielded her eyes and looked around the room through squinted eyes. She had arrived before everyone else.

  “I’m so sorry,” the receptionist said. “I kept meaning to get up and close those blinds. It’s nice in the winter to have some sun, but it does get hard to look that direction in the afternoon.” The willowy, cotton-haired woman jumped up and crossed the room in a few long strides. After closing the sheer curtains, she returned to her post.

  “My fiancé and I have a one o’clock with Dr. Baker.”

  “Last name?”

  “Umm, probably McConnell.”

  “I see here. Do you have your paperwork?”

  “My fiancé has it. We’re meeting here.”

  The woman nodded and pointed to the waiting area. “Have a seat, and I’ll call you when we’re ready.”

  Taryn checked her watch. Somehow she’d managed to be ten minutes early. She turned to the row of chairs opposite the windows at the end of the large reception room. A thin blonde had entered behind her.

  They looked at each other. The other woman stared at her wide-eyed. Taryn recognized Shannon from her photos, but now, up close, she looked very different. Older and more tired. Shannon must have sensed the scrutiny because she darted her gaze away. Taryn lifted her shoulders and approached the other woman.

  “Shannon? Hello. I’m Taryn. We didn’t get to meet the other day at the party.” She smiled until she thought her face might crack.

  “Yeah. I saw you. Nice to meet you.”

  They shook hands and then stood silent. Shannon stood between Taryn and the seating area, so she had to step around her awkwardly to find a seat.

  “They’ll call us when it’s time. Jeff’s not here yet.”

  Shannon turned heel and found a seat two chairs down from Taryn. She plopped a large hobo bag in the chair between them and turned up the corners of her mouth in a facsimile of a smile when she met Taryn’s eyes again. Taryn opened her mouth to begin making small talk, but she saw Shannon sit up straighter and look over her head.

  “Shannon, Taryn, hi. Sorry, I’m just getting here.”

  Taryn turned around to see Jeff striding into the office. She stood and stepped over to greet him with a kiss on the cheek. He smiled at her and took her hand.

  “The receptionist needed your paperwork.”

  Jeff handled the pre-appointment check-in and went back to sit opposite Taryn. He shuffled his legs and then straightened them.

  “You guys did introductions already?”

  “Yes. I was just about to ask Shannon how she’s liking Dallas.”

  Shannon smirked but answered the question. “It’s good. More stuff to do here for sure.”

  “You’re adjusting to the new job, then?” Jeff interjected.

  “Yeah. I mean it’s the same job. Good thing about Wal-Mart is that it’s always the same.”

  “That’s good.” Jeff rocked his head side to side as if to crack his neck. Taryn stroked his palm with her thumb. “Are you looking forward to the weekend?”

  “I’m working,” Shannon replied.

  “Me too, actually,” Taryn added.

  Shannon looked at Taryn quizzically. “What kind of work do you have on a weekend?”

  “We’re going through a merger, and I owe my boss some project updates early next week. I’ve been waiting on some information to do what I need, but I didn’t get it until this morning. That means working over the weekend to get it done on time.”

  “What do you do?”

  “I plan corporate events like conferences and customer meetings. We’re trying to find a venue for our analyst conference. I have to review the proposals and pick two or three to visit. Plus, I’m working on a trade show that starts in a couple of weeks. I don’t normally do those, but our trade show person is pregnant and was just put on bed rest so she can’t travel. It’s been crazy.”

  “You travel a lot for your job?” Shannon asked.

  “Yes. It comes in waves, but spring through summer I’d normally be gone two or three times a month. It depends. Since Jeff and I are planning the wedding, I’ve offloaded some work. I won’t be able to attend the events in late June and July.”

  Shannon gave Taryn a tight smile. “Sounds exciting.”

  Somehow Taryn doubted that, but since everyone had decided to keep grinning, that’s what Taryn did.

  A few minutes later, a plump woman with long salt and pepper hair emerged from a door next to the welcome desk. She took a folder from the receptionist and bounded toward them.

  “You must be Jeff.” The woman shook his hand and looked pointedly at him. Jeff took his cue and introduced the two women now flanking him as he stood.

  “This is my fiancée, Taryn Lieber.” He pointed to his right. “And this is my ex-wife, Shannon.”

  Taryn was pretty sure Jeff still didn’t know which last name Shannon was using. It could be her maiden name or one of her would-be married names. Who knew?

  “Shannon McConnell,” Shannon proclaimed, settling the question.

  So Shannon Clifton and Shannon Nelson suddenly dropped dead? Taryn glued that grin to her face and focused hard on the doctor to keep from rolling her eyes.

  This session would be torture.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “Let’s start by establishing our goals. I’d like each of you to tell me where you would like to be in, say, three months. Ninety days from today, how do you see this situation shaping up?” Dr. Baker inquired.

  “You mean with custody?” Shannon asked.

  “That’s part of it. Will Olivia have met you? Will she know that you’re her biological mother? How will each of you relate to one another? Will you be having family meals together? Just whatever you think is optimal to achieve in the next three months. And by optimal, I mean a balance between realistic and ideal. It might be a stretch, but it’s within the realm of possibility for you. Let’s start with you, Jeff.”

  “In three months, I think we’ll have introduced Shannon to Olivia. We’ll have to tell her that Shannon is her mother. I can’t imagine making up a story. Shannon will be coming over to visit, or maybe we’ll go to dinner together occasionally.”

  Taryn blanched at the thought of telling Olivia who Shannon was, but they couldn’t lie. They’d have to see Jeff’s ex-wife and spend time with her. Taryn pursed her lips and widened her eyes at Shannon as the other woman began to speak.

  “I think I’ll be spending time with Olivia like a mother and daughter,” Shannon offered.

  The doctor nodded. “What does that mean to you?”

  “Going shopping. Picking her up from sc
hool. Going to see her in the school play or whatever. Just being her mom.”

  “Is that part of what you see, Jeff?”

  “Somewhat, but,” Jeff paused for a deep breath, “I think the next three months is too early to allow Shannon to have unsupervised visits with Olivia. Maybe in a year. That’s going to take some time. I think there should always be an adult present who Olivia already knows and trusts. Myself, Taryn, or my parents.”

  Taryn stayed silent and thought about what she would say that would be any different from what Jeff said. She wanted to back him up. She also wanted to say Shannon would never have unsupervised visitation because the woman couldn’t be trusted.

  “A year?” Shannon looked apoplectic. “I’m her mother. I have rights.”

  Jeff’s eyes narrowed, and the doctor jumped in.

  “Shannon, let’s talk about some realities here. You left Olivia when she was very young. You’re a stranger to her. I know you don’t see it that way, but think of this from Olivia’s perspective. Being left alone in the care of a stranger would be very scary for her, and she trusts the adults in her life to protect her from scary scenarios like that. Jeff’s point of view is that getting to know you is going to take time under the best of circumstances. Now, if you add in that you have had some trouble with the law and substance abuse, protecting Olivia means added caution. Thinking of protecting Olivia, what would you do if you were Jeff?”

  Dr. Baker brought her hand to her chin, giving Shannon an inquisitive look.

  “I don’t see how I should have to jump through a bunch of hoops to see my own daughter. Already Jeff is trying to say that I’ll have to always have him looking over my shoulder. Or his family, which would be even worse. They hate me, and having them around judging me is only going to make Olivia hate me, too.”

  “That’s a valid concern when there’s a level of contention between the parties involved, Shannon. However, think back to the question of what would you do if you were Jeff. You gave birth to Olivia, and nothing can ever change that, but still, to her, you are a stranger.”