Scalding Hot Chocolate

by Jaliza A. Burwell

  “They are stable. They don’t need you,” I said.

  “For now, that may be the case, but I am concerned for their wellbeing.”

  “How so?” Koen asked.

  “I’ve come across some concerning information. You used to see your therapist maybe once a month, but now you’re back to weekly appointments since you gained guardianship of the twins. It’s obvious that taking care of them is putting a strain on you. I can take that away.”

  Her words hurt more than a titty twister or a knee to my gut. She might as well have shoved me over a cliff for how her simple statement felt. And to make it worse, they were true too. I had done that because between losing Mandy and taking care of the twins it had been hard. Still was.

  “Miss Daniels’ sessions with her therapist has no bearing on her ability to care for the twins,” Koen said. His hand went to my knee, and I nearly jumped from the simple touch of support. He squeezed to let me know he had my back. My smile to him was shaky as fear gripped my insides and made mincemeat of all my guts.

  “If there is a question of if she is able to support the children, I think it has a lot of bearing,” Olivia answered smoothly. “I can’t simply dismiss her past mental issues. She was admitted before. What will happen if she has to get help again?”

  “No.” I shook my head furiously, a panic attack pressing close against my lungs and throat. “No, you have no right to bring that up. The only reason I was admitted was because you didn’t want to be bothered. You blew my problems out of proportion so you could put me in that place.”

  It was so hard not looking at Koen. I hadn’t told him about that. I hadn’t told anyone. Not even Mandy had known. She was traveling at the time. Shortly after I moved in with them and everything became real, I had a breakdown. Olivia decided it’d be best to leave it up to the professionals, and I was involuntarily detained in a psychiatric hospital. When they realized I was in the midst of grief and change in my life, they released me after the seventy-two hours was up. Those were the worst three days of my life.

  “It still brings into question your mental wellness.”

  “No.” I gritted my teeth, wanting to jump across the table and choke her to death. Then they’d have no choice but to commit me to a hospital.

  Koen cleared his throat to get our attention. His eyes were dark with fury as he said, “As I’ve mentioned before, her mental health has no bearing on this. She is of sound mind, verified by her therapist. She is not at risk of ever harming the children and has proven herself more than capable of taking care of them.”

  Olivia sniffed, feigning hurt. “I’m just worried about my babies.”

  “Babies?” I snorted. “You don’t know anything about them. Why now? They’re already six years old, in school, building a life, having a personality, and suddenly you want to pretend that you care, that you’re a grandmother.”

  “They should have come to me to begin with, I’m their grandmother. Their blood.”

  “Then where were you during the funeral, when I had to explain to them that their mama was no longer going to be there for them. You refused to meet them. I asked you. You were the one who avoided them. Did you even look at them then?”

  “I lost my daughter. I was mourning too,” she seethed. “They are the only blood family I have left now, and I can’t let you take them away from me.”

  “They were never yours to begin with,” I snapped back.

  “Miss Daniels,” Koen warned.

  I drew in a sharp breath and wanted to say something not so nice to him. Instead, I reminded myself he was on my side, and then swallowed all my words. It ended up feeling like I was choking.

  “We should probably discuss why Mrs. Hansen feels the need to claim sole custody of the twins,” Mr. Tyson said, finally speaking up, his voice soft, patient even. “And this time, exclude any allegations against Miss Daniels and her mental welfare.”

  William Taylor cleared his throat, managing to make himself sound douchey while doing it. “My client has concerns about the welfare of Lawson and Lee Hansen. They have only recently lost their mother and need the support and love that we believe Miss Daniels cannot provide.”

  “Why?” I asked.” What makes you think like that?”

  “Don’t forget I raised you, Madison,” Olivia said. “If you’re lucky, you won’t burn down the house with your cooking. It’s obvious you’re incapable of taking care of yourself, let alone the twins. They need a place where they can flourish, and I can provide that for them. They won’t want for anything. I can get them into a good school, give them the upbringing they deserve, surrounded by people who will only benefit them. We are a wealthy family. They will want for nothing and all their needs will be more than met.”

  I wanted to smack her so hard I’d tattooed my handprint on her perfect face. “What exactly are they wanting for?” I asked. “They have everything they want, they get all the support they need. I don’t hold back from them.”

  Confusion washed over me as Olivia’s expression turned into something more motherly, as if truly concerned for me.

  “But at what cost?” Her question was soft. If I didn’t know her, I’d think she was kind and gentle. Unfortunately, she was full of a shrewdness that she was incapable of scrubbing away.

  I frowned. “What do you mean?”

  “You’re a consultant. You don’t even have a salary paid job. All your income is based off your clients. What if something happens and you no longer have that income coming in?” Olivia’s smile was sickly sweet and sympathetic. “And it isn’t only about the twins either. What about you? Madison, you had to up the amount of sessions to once a week. You moved recently right? So higher rent. Kids are not cheap. How much did your health insurance increase? Taking care of those boys is obviously stressing you out.”

  “Again,” Koen said, tone as hard as steel. “Her sessions with her therapist has no bearing on her ability to care for Lawson and Lee. I ask that you desist bringing it up. If anything, the fact that she is seeking help only proves that she is responsible and mature. In matters concerning her income, before the twins were put in her care permanently, she was able to prove that she was able to provide for all their needs without a strain on her.”

  Olivia snorted, but hid it behind her hand. I gave her the stink eye.

  “Mrs. Hansen is simply expressing her concern about the welfare of not just the twins but of Miss Daniels too,” the lawyer said. “Taking care of twins is not easy. It’s a stress someone Miss Daniels’ age shouldn’t have to deal with when she doesn’t need to. There is a stronger support system for the twins if Mrs. Hansen takes them in. We all know that Miss Daniels never expected to become a mother to children who aren’t hers. We are offering to take that burden off her shoulders.”

  There was so much wrong with what Mr. Taylor said. All the miss and missus was driving me crazy. It was like they were nailing in the fact that I didn’t belong in the family, that I was the unwanted bastard baby. And a burden? The twins? Things were hard, but they’d never be a burden. Ever. I wanted to face it all, call them out for making assumptions like that.

  Instead, I changed the topic, needing to at least know one answer. “How do you even know about my sessions with my therapist?”

  A smug look filled Olivia’s expression. “I had a private investigator watch you since you gained guardianship of the children. Why else would you go to a therapist office once a week?”

  “You’re having me followed?” I asked, my anger rising. “Is that legal?” I turned to Koen, hoping he’d agree with me. That had to be illegal. It just had to be. I shuddered, feeling completely violated. Suddenly, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up, as a new need of awareness washed over me.

  Koen’s expression was locked down as he stared at the other lawyer.

  “Koen?” I asked.

  “Yes, it’s legal. As long as he didn’t do anything to break the law like going on private property, phone tapping, videography, running licen
se plates.”

  Olivia sniffed, as if affronted by the idea. “I only hired the best. I can assure you, everything is above the law. All he had to do was follow Madison around.”

  I briefly wondered what it’d feel like to stab her through the eye with a pencil. It wasn’t worth it though, because then they’d toss me into prison before I can plead insanity, and the twins would still end up in her hands.

  “I have nothing to say,” I said. “Nothing. I will not hand the twins over to you.”

  Olivia’s eyes turned ice cold. “That’s unfortunate.”

  Mr. Tyson cleared his throat. “I can see that neither side is able to come to an amicable agreement concerning the twins. This case will move on toward the judge.” He did well, keeping his expression blank, but there was something there that told me he was annoyed. If I had time to get to know him, and pick him apart, I’d know better.

  Koen stood up, his glacial eyes narrowing on Olivia. I gave the stepmonster credit, she held her own against Koen. Then again, she never knew when to back down or pick her battles. “Mrs. Hansen, you better prepare yourself for court. It won’t be as simple as you may think.”

  She was ready to say something, but her lawyer grabbed her arm in warning, and she remained silent.

  Shortly after, the meeting concluded, and I sat there as the enemies retreated.

  “Did that really happen?” I asked Koen. He had a brief whispered conversation with Mr. Tyson while he escorted him to the door. He turned, frowning.

  “Maddie, wait in my office please. I need to make a phone call and then we’re going to have a quick talk.” Basic instructions given, he slipped out of the room, pulling out his phone.

  I stared after him, surprised by his abruptness, until Denise came in and escorted me to his office.

  By the time Koen returned to his office, I was frowning at his bookshelf.

  “Did my books offend you?” he asked with a hint of humor.

  “Might as well have,” I said. “How do you not fall asleep reading this?”

  He chuckled. “Sorry, I’ll add in some Disney or Dr. Seuss.”

  “Good. Maybe Junie B. Jones books. Those are fun.”

  “Alright, I’ll consider it. Have a seat, Maddie, and leave my books alone.”

  I settled down and leaned forward, my hands in my lap. “Okay, give it to me. No need to go easy.” It was hard to not fidget. I wanted to do something, anything other than sitting there, waiting for Koen to give me the bad news. I felt like I was waiting for him to tell me I was dying from cancer. I nearly threw up at that thought.

  That was an experience I didn’t need to go through again and never wanted to.

  “I’m dying here,” I whispered.

  Koen’s expression softened. “You have nothing to worry about. They don’t have a case, and most likely, the judge will just laugh in their face. Doesn’t mean we can take it easy. I want us prepared on all fronts for anything they throw at us.”

  “Okay. I can do that. You said I need others to support my existence?”

  “Character letters will work. It’s a letter written by your friends, family, coworkers, anyone who knows you well and can make comments about who you are as a person and as a caretaker, how you treat the twins.”

  He paused.

  “And? Is there more?”

  After releasing a sigh, he said, “I had my suspicions because of the timeline, but now after this meeting, I’m sure. I think your stepmother is the one behind you losing your clients. I talked with the investigator, and he’s going to dig into it for us.”

  My shoulders slumped, and I leaned back. “It does make sense, doesn’t it? I know being a self-employed consultant is risky when it comes to income, but I’ve had a steady income for the last two years, and I’m good with my money. Losing the three client hurts, but not dangerously.”

  “We can prove that you’re still financially stable despite the loss?”

  “Yes.”

  “Okay, we will go more in depth with that at a later time. For now, go home, rest, and really start thinking about the kind of life you’re able to give those kids.”

  I stood up, feeling exhausted and a bit brain dead.

  “And Maddie, they are going to bring up your mental health. You are taking care of yourself and getting help, and no one is in danger, but they’ll throw whatever they can out there to make you look like you’re not capable. Are you prepared for that?”

  “I’m not crazy,” I said. “My life just hasn’t been the best. That can break a person down. But anything I do, I do with everything I can. I’m more than capable of taking care of those boys.” I made sure to meet Koen’s eyes so he could see how serious I was. “I’m more than prepared for them to try to drag me through the mud. Too bad it’ll be Olivia who will be the one kicking and screaming at the end.”

  He smirked as he stood up and walked around his desk. “Good. I’ll see you soon, and once we get a court date, we’ll meet again to start planning.”

  “Thank you, Koen,” I said, standing up. “I-I don’t know what I’d do without you at my side.” Before I lost any kind of confidence, I nearly tackled him into a hug.

  He grunted as I wrapped my arms around his waist and squeezed, needing him to understand how much I appreciated him. A few seconds after hugging, I realized he probably did not like this at all. Not everyone was a hugger, which was a shame. Hugs had a way of taking an issue and pulverizing it until it wasn’t a problem anymore. It was an eraser of problems. I was ready to pull away and apologize when I felt his strong arms wrap around me.

  “You’re a hard worker, Maddie. Don’t let some woman with money and power tell you otherwise. We’ll make sure Lawson and Lee stay with you.” He gave me a light squeeze.

  I buried my head into his chest, loving how soft the fabric of his fancy lawyer suit was. The clothes smelled fresh and clean and matched with the warmth of his body, and his scent made my body hum in approval. He was leather wrapped in warm cinnamon, and I was only a little tempted to gnaw on him to see if he was as earthy and sweet as his scent suggested.

  Realizing I was on the verge of being charged with sexual harassment, I forced myself to pull away from him. A small, sad sigh escaped me, already missing his warmth. I smiled up at him, needing him to understand how much I really did appreciate him.

  “Thank you.” Before I could embarrass myself, I made a rush for the door, calling out a goodbye, my face flaming with embarrassment.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Wednesday was the day my world began crashing. After that, it was a stress-fest of anxiety and fear, with a dash of no sleep. By Friday morning, I was a bit of a mess, but it was field trip day and I was determined to pretend everything was right with the world. It was only two days, but for me it felt more like a month as I worked and when I wasn’t doing that, I was staring at the twins like a creepy stalker as they slept. I definitely felt like one at night. There was no way I could follow Dr. Adam’s rules, I needed to be sure they were okay, that they were healthy, and that they were there.

  I kept thinking if I looked away from them, they were going to be swept away from me. Sure, Koen was confident there wasn’t going to be any issues, but it didn’t mean it wasn’t going to wreak havoc on my psyche. As long as there was even a 0.001% chance of losing them, then it was still possible they’d be ripped away from me. Odds had never been in my favor in my life.

  So I wasn’t doing too well by the time the twins were ready to have a whole day of adventures. There was no way I was going to put a damper on Lawson and Lee’s day, so I sucked it up and plastered a wide smile on my face. The morning was a whirlwind of chaos, the kids too excited to be still. By the time I was ready to leave, they had been waiting at the door impatiently, ready to sprint to school.

  “I swear, the only way I can get you guys this excited about going to school is for a field trip,” I grumbled.

  “Hurry up, Sissy,” Lee said. “We don’t want to miss the bus.”

>   “We won’t miss the bus. The bus doesn’t leave for—”I pretended to stare at my non-existent wristwatch“—two hours.”

  “Do you have our lunch?” Lawson asked.

  I blinked. “They aren’t feeding you?” I asked.

  They stared at me and we had a confusing moment of ‘oh shoot’ since none of us knew the answer.

  “Okay. Don’t panic. No way am I letting you guys starve. Let me work some magic.”

  They looked like they didn’t believe me. I grabbed my phone.

  I sent a quick text to Dayton. Food. Children. How?

  His reply was quick. We have bag lunches, and there will also be a food stand there.

  “We’re good. Your teacher is feeding you.”

  “Good,” Lee said as he zipped up his jacket, refusing to let me help him. It was a recent request from him, and I had to hold myself back as he struggled to do it. When he managed to get it right, sadness settled low in my stomach. It felt like just last week that he was asking me to help him with his jacket. Oh, wait. It was just last week.

  The ride to school was fast, Lawson and Lee keeping up a constant chatter about everything they planned to discover on their trip. There were talks of bears, but I put a stop to that nonsense as soon as possible.

  I was suppressing a yawn when we walked into the classroom.

  “Not enough sleep?”

  I jumped at the deep, low voice.

  “B-Bryce!” I tried to smile. “I didn’t realize you were coming.”

  “Yeah.” His gaze roamed over me slowly, his smile slipping into a slight frown. “Dayton asked us for help.”

  “Us?”

  “Koen too.” He smirked. “I heard you’ll be joining us, and that you even promised to play bait if a bear showed up.”

  “No way. Dayton is bait. I volunteered him as tribute.”

  He chuckled, and my smile turned goofy at the sound. His dimple even came out to play. “I’ll help you trip him,” he said.

  I lifted my hand up in a fist, and he bumped it with his own.