Mom, Don't Cry! Here comes a new Daddy! novel Chapter 40

Chapter 29 2

Chapter 29-2

+25 Points

“Can we order pizza?” Jake asks, climbing onto one of the double beds. “Aunt Sophia always lets

us order pizza on Sundays.”

“It’s Monday, baby.”

“Oh.” He deflates a little. “Can we still get pizza?”

“Sure. We can get whatever you want.”

I order from the hotel phone because my cell is still blowing up with calls and texts I don’t want to see. While we wait for the food, I help Jake set up his dinosaurs on the nightstand, trying to make this sterile room feel more like home.

It doesn’t work.

Nothing about this feels like home.

A home carries a warmth no hotel room can imitate. Placing personal belongings around the room can’t recreate that warmth.

The pizza arrives-greasy and lukewarm-and we eat it cross-legged on the bed while Jake tells me about all the things he saw on the cruise. The big pool. The buffet with unlimited ice cream. The art class where he painted a sunset.

He doesn’t mention Jason. Neither do I.

After dinner, I give Jake a bath in the small hotel bathroom and tuck him into bed with Rexy. He falls asleep almost immediately, exhausted from the emotional day.

I sit in the chair by the window and finally, finally allow myself to check my phone.

Forty-three missed calls. Sixty-two text messages. Twenty-seven voicemails.

Most are from Sophia. A few are from unknown numbers that are probably Jason. One is from Richard, my lawyer, with the subject line: URGENT – CUSTODY UPDATE.

My stomach drops as I open it.

Sabrina – Dustin filed for emergency custody this morning. He’s using the viral videos as evidence that you’re exposing Jake to inappropriate content and unstable relationships. We need to talk ASAP. Call

I read it three times, each pass making my chest tighter.

Emergency custody. Because of the videos.

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Chapter 29-2

I’m going to be sick.

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I run to the bathroom and barely make it to the toilet before I throw up everything I ate tonight. When there’s nothing left, I sit on the cold tile floor, shaking, tears streaming down my face.

This is my fault. All of it. If I’d been stronger from the start. If I’d refused Sophia’s help. If I’d found my own job and my own apartment and handled my divorce like an adult instead of falling apart.

But I didn’t. And now Jake might lose me because I was too weak to stand on my own.

I wash my face and call Richard, even though it’s past nine at night.

He answers on the first ring. “Sabrina. Thank God. I’ve been trying to reach you all day.”

“I know. I’m sorry. What’s happening with the custody case?”

“Dustin’s claiming the cruise videos prove you’re prioritizing your love life over Jake’s welfare. He’s arguing that exposing a minor to that kind of public scrutiny constitutes emotional abuse.”

“But Jake wasn’t even with me! He was with Sophia!”

“I know. And we’ll argue that. But the optics aren’t great, Sabrina. You’re all over the internet kissing a man you just met while your divorce is pending. And Jake-your five-year-old son-orchestrated the whole thing and broadcast it to hundreds of thousands of people.”

“I didn’t know about any of it! I didn’t consent to being filmed!”

“That’s what we’ll argue. But you need to prepare for this to get ugly. Dustin’s painting you as unstable and attention-seeking. Jessica’s backing him up, claiming you’ve always been erratic and that losing your job pushed you over the edge. And if we claim everything was a set-up…then the ones who set you up might face charges.”

Oh, God.

Sophia.

Is Dustin out to get Sophia? Is that why he’s doing this? Because if he saw those videos, then he should know the one behind this is Jake and her. Jake can’t be sentenced because he’s a minor.

But Sophia…

I laugh, but there’s no humor in it. “Do we have a chance to win this case?”

“I can’t make any promises right now. But we have a hearing on Wednesday. Can you be there?”

“Yes. Of course.”

“Good. And Sabrina? I need you to stay off social media. Don’t post anything. Don’t comment on

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anything. Don’t engage with anyone about this case. The less ammunition we give Dustin, the

better.”

“Okay.”

“One more thing. Where are you staying? I tried calling Sophia and she said you left.”

“A hotel. Just temporarily.”

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